How a rookie's hat trick helped the Peoria Rivermen snap a streak
A new player helped the Peoria Rivermen end an old losing streak.
Rookie Ryan Nolan scored three goals to lead the Rivermen to a 6-3 victory over the host Evansville Thunderbolts — Peoria's first victory there since Dec. 31, 2021. Evansville was 20-8 overall at home last season and 4-0 against the Rivermen.
“He’s a warrior,” assistant coach Eric Levine said about Nolan, on a line with Joseph Widmar and Mike Gelatt. “His line was going right from the start. (They) have been really good. They’ve been pretty much our most consistent line and those guys do the right things.”
BOX SCORE: Rivermen 6, Thunderbolts 3 | STANDINGS: SPHL 2023-24
That line certainly shined. Widmar, Gelatt and Cayden Cahill added goals for Peoria in addition to Nolan's big game. It was the first professional hat trick for the rookie and the first for the Rivermen since Jan. 15, 2023, when Jordan Ernst did it against the Knoxville Ice Bears.
With the win on Tuesday, the Rivermen improved to 5-0-1 to remain the lone SPHL team without a loss in regulation. They have a .917 win percentage and are one of four teams in pro hockey without a regulation loss.
“Guys stepped up,” Levine said. “When you put guys in situations, good players are going to find a way to produce and that’s what we did here tonight.”
Previous game: Peoria Rivermen hockey team back on track with big home victory
The Rivermen return to the ice at 7:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday against the defending President’s Cup champion Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs.
“It’s going to be a good barometer of where our 200-foot game and for the guys who are here, this is the team that knocked us out of the playoffs and a team we’ve had some really good battles with,” Levine said. “I expect it to be a President’s Cup-like series.”
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria Rivermen hockey: Rookie Ryan Nolan scores hat trick at Evansville
