Hockey: Peoria Rivermen advance to the SPHL President's Cup finals

Peoria's JM Piotrowski, second from left, celebrates with his Rivermen teammates after his game-winning goal against Evansville in Game 2 of the SPHL semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at Carver Arena. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 victory.

Peoria goaltender Nick Latinovich pokes the puck away from Evansville's Brendan Harrogate in the third period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 victory.

Peoria's Meirs Moore (28) and Evansville's Mark Zhukov try to gain control of a flying puck in the third period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 victory.

Peoria's Joe Drapluk (7) and Chase Spencer (4) tangle with Evansville's Scott Kirton in the third period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 victory.

Peoria's Alec Baer (91) navigates through the Evansville defense in the third period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 victory.

A pair of Evansville players celebrate a goal in front of Peoria goaltender Nick Latinovich in the third period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 victory.

Peoria's Zach Wilkie (19) moves the puck against Evansville's Lincoln Hatten in the first period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win.

Peoria's Mitch McPherson, right, tries to put the puck past Evansville goaltender Cole Ceci in the first period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win.

Evansville goaltender Cole Ceci deflects a shot as Peoria's Jordan Ernst (11) moves in during the first period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win.

Peoria's Alec Hagaman (17) moves the puck against Evansville's Chays Ruddy in the first period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win.

Peoria's Mitch McPherson (16) battles for the puck with Evansville's Adam Pilotte (9) and Vadim Vasjonkin in the first period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win.

Peoria's Mike Gelatt (27) tries to force the puck past Evansville goaltender Cole Ceci in the second period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win.

Peoria's Jordan Ernst (11) and Evansville's Vadim Vasjonkin move the puck along the boards in the second period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win.

Evansville's Scott Kirton (91) slips the puck past Peoria goaltender Nick Latinovich in the second period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win.

A young Rivermen fan shares his opinion of a goal by Evansville in the second period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win.

Peoria goaltender Nick Latinovich stops an Evansville shot in the third period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win.

Peoria's Mike Gelatt (27) and Evansville's Dmitry Yushkevich tangle over the puck in the third period theGame 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win.

Peoria's Jordan Ernst (11) eye the puck as teammates move in to help against Evansville in the of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win.

Fans share their emotions as the Rivermen battle the Evansville Thunderbolts in the second period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center.

The puck slides through the crease as Peoria's Jordan Ernst (11) crashes the net and Evansville goaltender Cole Ceci in the second period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center.

Peoria's Meirs Moore, right, and Alec Hagaman battle Evansville's Matthew Hobbs in the second period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center.

Rivermen goaltender Nick Latinovich blocks a deflected puck against Evansville in the first period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center.

Peoria's Meirs Moore moves the puck against Evansville in the first period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 victory.

The Peoria Rivermen huddle up late in the third period as they battle Evansville in Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 victory.

Peoria's Cale List falls to the ice while chasing the puck with Evansville's Scott Kirton (91) and Benjamin Lindberg in the third period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 victory.

Peoria's Braydon Barker, left, moves the puck past Evansville's Chays Ruddy in the third period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 victory.

Peoria's JM Piotrowski celebrates his game-winning goal against Evansville in the third period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 victory.

Peoria's Mike Gelatt celebrates his empty-net goal against Evansville in the third period of Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the finals with a 5-2 victory.

The Rivermen gather around goalie Nick Latinovich to celebrate their 5-2 victory over Evansville in Game 2 of the SPHL President's Cup semifinals Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center.