Former Hawks reflect on SPHL Championship

Stead, a 29-year-old native of Merritt, B.C., played two seasons with the Hawks from 2015 through 2017, before advancing to the University of Alaska Anchorage for four years of NCAA Division One hockey.

Following the college stint, the netminder moved up and down between the SPHL and ECHL, along with a quick stint in Australia, suiting up for six different teams over four years.

He then landed with the Thunderbolts for the 2025/26 campaign, his final season of pro hockey, as he heads to retirement with his first-ever league cup.

“It’s obviously pretty cool to finally win that title, and it comes in my last year; can’t really go out better than that in my mind. I knew it was going to be my last year going in, so I just tried to have a little more fun and just take things a bit lighter. I just wanted to enjoy each day and make the most out of it,” Stead added.

“The team had won the championship the year before, so the goal was definitely there and felt very achievable. There were a lot of comebacks and close games in the postseason, so I definitely dealt with some nerves at times. Once we won, it was just pure release, and now the last couple of months have just been reflection and enjoyment… I can definitely see myself staying in the game as a coach because I know I’m going to miss it.”

For Simoneau, he will continue on in Evansville and chase a three-pete with the Thunderbolts, something that’s never been done in SPHL history.

“It was pretty sweet to go back-to-back. There was definitely a little more pressure this year because we were the defending champs and we were a higher seed going into the playoffs. Every title is special, especially when you consider how many hockey players go their whole careers without one. I also feel like we’ve really grown the game in Indiana; the support and number of kids playing is definitely a lot more than when I first got here,” Simoneau told northeastNOW.

“We know we won’t be able to take anything lightly, and chasing history this coming year is definitely great motivation. I’m honestly just really grateful that I’m still getting to play hockey; I definitely don’t think I ever envisioned 10 years ago that I’d still be playing. I’ve absolutely loved every minute of it.”

The Tisdale, SK native will be suiting up for his fourth season with the Thunderbolts this fall, after playing in Nipawin for three seasons from 2017 through 2020, where he won his first championship, doing so with the Hawks in 2018.

Unfortunately for Stead and Simoneau, they never officially crossed paths with the Black and Gold as teammates, a place they credit their true start and some of the best days, of their hockey lives.

That didn’t stop them, however, from quickly forming a strong bond in East Central United States.

“Our relationship kicked off right away. I remembered being a young guy at Hawks fall camps and knowing the Stead name. I watched him in the stands the year before I started with Nipawin, so we immediately shared stories with one another about the gold ol’ days. When we picked him up, I knew the kind of high-calibre goalie we were getting, and he was just the backbone of our group all season. We definitely couldn’t have done it without him,” Simoneau continued.

“There’s always a sense of camaraderie when you play with someone who came from the same program. It’s definitely an easy conversation starter, and I would have absolutely loved to play with him there. He’s just a stand-up guy and really one of my favourites on the team. He’s one of the most well-rounded hockey players I’ve played with, and he really came up clutch a handful of times to lead us to the top. Super fortunate to have gotten to play with him after all these years,” Stead concluded.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8

by Ben Tompkins

Former Hawks reflect on SPHL Championship

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