PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Rivermen are back on the ice as they look to reclaim the top spot in the Southern Professional Hockey League.
Training camp for the Rivermen takes place this week at the Civic Center. Peoria is coming off a campaign where a repeat bid for the President’s Cup came up short in the semifinals of the SPHL Playoffs.
12 players return from last year’s team, but only 5 players from the 2024 President’s Cup championship team are suiting up for Peoria.
Captain Alec Baer is one of the five, and says getting back on top is all about getting back to basics.
“It started yesterday (Tuesday), it’s a very long grind to get where we need to be for a championship. We’re there every year, it’s just some things don’t work out,” Baer said.
Head coach Jean Guy Trudel signed a contract extension in the offseason that will keep him the head of the Rivermen. This year will be his 12th season leading the team, winning 4th SPHL Coach of the Year awards and is the league’s winningest coach.
Trudel says he is looking forward to working with the fresh faces in Peoria this year, and teaching the younger players, helping everyone get to a championship culture.
“They learn, they want to be here, they want to play extremely well for the city of Peoria, and for us, it’s important to teach those new guys the traditions we have here,” Trudel said.
The Rivermen open the season on the road at the Quad City Storm on October 18th, before the home opener on October 24th against Fayetteville.
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