Rivermen leader Alec Hagaman with an opportunity to end career as a champion

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Alec Hagaman is where he wants to be.

He’s practicing with his guys and getting his team ready for this week’s President’s Cup finals.

Hagaman thought he’d played his final game last spring. When the Rivermen were eliminated from the playoffs, he was one his way to retirement.

But during training camp in the fall ended, Hagaman ended his retirement to come back and play one last season with the Rivermen.

“To get to the championship in my final year, it’s what I wanted,” said Hagaman, the first Peoria-born captain in Rivermen history. “We put together the team to make it happen. I couldn’t be more proud of the guys.”

The Rivermen veteran is sure this will be his final week as player. He is set on retiring once this President’s Cup championship series with Huntsville ends.

His teammates know it. And they understand what a championship would mean for their team and their emotional leader.

Alec Baer/Rivermen forward: “I’ve been on his line most of the time I’ve been here and we’ve gotten very close,” said Rivermen center Alec Baer. “(A championship) would be super special, he deserves it.”

The best-of-three series opens Thursday night in Huntsville. Game two is Saturday night at Carver Arena and, if necessary, a deciding game three would be Sunday at Carver Arena.

“He’s been the captain, he’s still the captain, the leader of this ship,” said Rivermen defenseman Zach Wilkie, who was named captain of the team after Hagaman retired. “Playing in his last year officially, we want to send him out on a high note as a champion. I’m playing for him, the boys all have his back. We are all jumping on this ship to go to war for him.”

This week could have a Hollywood ending for Hagaman, who graduated from Dunlap High School. He grew up going to Rivermen games and dreamed of playing for the team.

Now he has a chance to win a championship for the Peoria Rivermen in his final game as a player. And he can do it on home ice.

“It’s everything you dreamed of at the beginning of the season. This year we actually have the chance to win it in Peoria,” said Hagaman. “It would be super special for my family, my wife and kids. It would be amazing.”

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