PEORIA — The Peoria Rivermen needed no introduction Friday, but they told about 800 adoring fans exactly who they were as they celebrated the SPHL's President's Cup with a downtown parade and gathering inside the Peoria Civic Center.
"Dynasty," said Rivermen coach Jean-Guy Trudel, in a message while away in Chicago on a youth hockey coaching trip. "We've been to the finals five times in eight years and won the President's Cup twice in three seasons now.
"When we won it in 2022, we made our legacy. Now, it's a dynasty. And we have no intention of stopping."
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It was the first time the Rivermen could bring the President's Cup to their fans and celebrate together, but really, it was a goodbye party, especially for their great Peoria-born captain, Alec Hagaman.
The Rivermen had been on a celebration trip in Nashville since Wednesday, and arrived back in Peoria on Friday hours before the public presentation.
The crowd on hand saw highlight videos of the Cup-clinching night, swarmed over the playoff merchandise table and stayed for 3½ hours to collect autographs from the players in lines that were still going at 11 p.m.
"Growing up, I watched the Rivermen my whole life," Hagaman said, after bringing out the Cup and standing on a stage with his teammates behind him in the exhibit hall. "I never thought I'd be able to accomplish the things we've accomplished. Wearing this Peoria Rivermen jersey, it's pretty emotional … that this is probably the last time I'll ever be able to talk to you."
The team started with a 5:30 p.m. parade downtown, disembarked at the Civic Center and joined a crowd of about 800 waiting in two exhibit halls opened up together. Giant screens on either side of the stage played video highlights from the championship series.
The crowd roared when Hagaman scored the empty-net goal that sealed the Cup for Peoria, as he skated toward the bench, shaking both arms in triumph.
"Those last two games were something I'll never forget the rest of my life," Hagaman said. "I want to say thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."
A mayor and a playoff hero
Peoria mayor Rita Ali led off the speakers Friday night, clutching a Rivermen championship T-shirt.
"On behalf of the City of Peoria, we want to congratulate the Rivermen leadership, the fans and the team … for bringing the President's Cup home again," she said. "When it's nice, you do it twice. Two of three years is pretty amazing.
"The City of Peoria will continue to support the Rivermen team."
Also on the stage was Peoria City Councilman Denis Cyr, an ex-NHL winger who was IHL MVP for a Rivermen team that brought Peoria its first professional hockey championship in 1984-85.
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"I'm so proud to be here tonight, it's an emotional night for me," Cyr said. "May 25, 1985 — you guys weren't born yet — that was the night I became part of a championship hockey team for the first time here in Peoria.
"Thank you to the Rivermen ownership team, Bart Rogers … bringing Peoria championships in two of the last three years is just tremendous."
Cyr turned to Hagaman and recalled coaching the Rivermen captain when he was a boy in youth hockey.
"I could see the fire in Alec Hagaman, he had all the qualities to be a leader," Cyr said. "All of you (Rivermen players), take it from an old man now, in 20, 30, 40 years from now, you will remember the faces of (the fans) and your teammates."
A leap of faith
Rivermen defenseman Zach Wilkie is beloved, with the energy and enthusiasm of a puppy when it comes to hockey, teammates and fans.
"This team means the world to me," he said. "Hags … thank you. People behind the scenes don't get enough credit, they do everything for us on a daily basis.
Then he led the fans through a chorus of "We Are The Champions" and leaped off the stage to join them.
The Peoria Villains
"This is my favorite part of the season," said veteran Rivermen center JM Piotrowski, whose game-winner in overtime at Roanoke in 2022 brought Peoria's first SPHL Cup home. "I get to stand up here and be the center of attention.
"It's pretty obvious Alec Hagaman was our MVP, the last 10 years giving his heart and soul to this entire community and I know all of you appreciate that. Three years ago I got here and literally just watched Hags every day and said, 'I'm just going to do what he does.'
"Now I've got two championships in three years."
Piotrowski thanked the fans for their part in helping the Rivermen build a 28-1-3 record on home ice this season, the best home record in professional hockey.
"Our record speaks for itself," he said. "I think if you took a poll of the SPHL (asking) who they'd want to play in the SPHL and in what arena, they'd say 'Not with the Peoria Rivermen at Carver Arena.
"It's no secret we're not everyone's favorite team in the league. You're just a couple scrolls away on your favorite social media and you'll see 'We paid the refs' or Peoria gets 'home cooking.' "
The Rivermen, for the record, ended up with a minus-13 differential between power plays and penalty kills in the postseason, as officiating leaned toward their opposition in every round.
It didn't matter in the end. The Rivermen hoisted the Cup on their fifth trip to the SPHL finals in eight years.
"We are the villains," Piotrowski said. "We embrace that, and we want you to embrace it too."
'You saved my life'
Alisa Pederson-Davis and her husband, Dewy, approached Rivermen co-owner Bart Rogers after the presentation, while lines were forming for autographs.
"We just want you to know this team saved me," she said. "I had brain surgery in December, during the season. I was really down, wasn't recovering well."
Hagaman, defenseman Wilkie and rookie winger Tristan Trudel drove out to the couple's home in Washington and visited her.
"Everything changed for her after that," Dewy said. "She came back. The Rivermen team saved her. So we need these guys to continue."
'You're a sexy town, Peoria'
Rivermen trainer Trevor McClary drew some laughs when he strode to the on-stage microphone and left the crowd with this:
"This is the most-real experience of my life. You're a sexy town, Peoria. I can't wait to celebrate with all of you, especially you ladies."
How long would you wait for anything?
Rogers watched over his players and staff as the line for autographs and pictures with the team wrapped around three times. For 3½ hours the team hung in and took every picture, signed every autograph for their fans.
It was 11:07 p.m. when the 6:30 event — which headed into autograph phase around 7:30 — finally ended.
"Something special is happening," Rogers said. "It's been electric like this all over Peoria. We sold 13 new season tickets again just today, random people who want to support the team."
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That doesn't scratch the surface of what has happened, though. The Rivermen won the President's Cup on Sunday night. Since then, they have sold over 200 new season tickets. That's an unprecedented number for the franchise.
And it comes on the heels of consecutive seasons in which the team saw increases in attendance of 20% and 21%, respectively.
"We're excited to welcome what will probably be 250-300 new season ticket holders — that's a commitment of 28 games," Rogers said. "You can feel a difference in everyone. I'm seeing a new kind of fan, younger, more involved. So many children here, too.
"Clearly, the community wants the Rivermen here."
It's been a whirlwind for the Rivermen players and staff and their owner. Rogers has spent the last couple days with the joyous task of designing the team's championship ring.
"My staff has just been phenomenal," he said. "I'm blessed to have them all around me. We've had no times to even process our emotions yet."
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 'Dynasty': Rivermen celebrate hockey championship with parade in Peoria
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