The SPHL’s President’s Cup Championship series has been set with the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds reaching the final week of the long season. The Knoxville Ice Bears and Evansville Thunderbolts will square off for the league’s top prize starting Wednesday night.

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• SPHL Postseason Scoring Leaders
• Watch Evansville and Knoxville's Road To The Finals

For the Thunderbolts, this will be their first ever trip to the President’s Cup Finals. Knoxville, meanwhile, is looking for a record fifth championship with their most recent title coming in 2015.

The @evvthunderbolts are headed to the President's Cup Finals after sweeping the Peoria Rivermen! 👀🏆@SPHL #SPHL #LetsGoBolts #WhoseHouse pic.twitter.com/DmMXoYVSG8

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) April 19, 2025

The best-of-three final starts in Knoxville with the Ice Bears hosting Game 1 at 7:05 p.m. ET before the series shifts to Evansville for Game 2 on Thursday. If necessary, Game 3 will be held on Sunday, April 27.

On the road to the President’s Cup Final, both teams had to pull off upsets to get their chance at the trophy. 

Evansville stunned No. 2 seed Huntsville Havoc before downing the defending champion Peoria Rivermen to punch their ticket to the finals. Knxoville took out No. 3 Roanoke and No. 4 Birmingham to get a very unlikely home-ice advantage in the final series.

Knoxville forward Jimmy Soper, who returned to the SPHL after spending each of the last three seasons in the ECHL, is leading the President’s Cup Playoffs in scoring with eight points. Dawson McKinney and rookie Ryan Kuzmich are also among the top four scorers in the SPHL postseason with six points apiece. 

Evansville is led by Tyson Gilmour and Logan vande Meerakker, who each have four points so far in the playoffs.

Goaltending will be a big factor in the series as that has been a big reason why both these teams have gotten to where they are. 

Cole Ceci has been a wall for the Thunderbolts with a sparkling .970 save percentage in five games. He has not lost a game in regulation in the postseason and has two shutouts.

Across the ice from him will be Stephen Mundinger, who has been lights out himself for Knoxville. He has a .952 save percentage over six appearances. Mundinger has seen 248 shots this postseason, most of any goalie in the President’s Cup Playoffs by far.

In a best-of-three series, it feels like anything can happen. Will Knoxville add another jewel to their well-populated crown or can Evansville drink from the Cup for the first time? Don't miss any of the action right here on FloHockey.

SPHL President’s Cup Finals Schedule

Knoxville Ice Bears vs. Evansville Thunderbolts

• Game 1 – Wednesday, April 23 at Knoxville – 7:05 pm
• Game 2 – Thursday, April 24 at Evansville – 7:00 pm
• Game 3 – Sunday, April 27 at Knoxville – 3:00 pm (if necessary)

SPHL President’s Cup Champions All-Time

• 2024: Peoria Rivermen
• 2023: Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
• 2022: Peoria Rivermen
• 2021: Pensacola Ice Flyers
• 2019: Huntsville Havoc
• 2018: Huntsville Havoc
• 2017: Macon Mayhem
• 2016: Pensacole Ice Flyers
• 2015: Knoxville Ice Bears
• 2014: Pensacola Ice Flyers
• 2013: Pensacola Ice Flyers
• 2012: Columbus Cottonmouths
• 2011: Mississippi Surge
• 2010: Huntsville Havoc 
• 2009: Knoxville Ice Bears
• 2008: Knoxville Ice Bears
• 2007: Fayetteville FireAntz
• 2006: Knoxville Ice Bears
• 2005: Columbus Cottonmouths

How To Watch The SPHL Championship Series

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