Not a Drill! Louisiana Claims Fraser Cup Championship

March 31, 2025
by Brian Gornick

The Drillers celebrate a second period tally in their championship win over West Bend

Louisiana 5 @ West Bend 1 - For the first time in franchise history, the Louisiana Drillers are Fraser Cup Champions after defeating the West Bend Power. The 15 minutes of play were a defensive deadlock, before Cameron McEwan got a bounce off Power goaltender Adam Prokop’s pad to give the Drillers the lead. That lead lasted only four minutes, until Andrew Browe found Michael Maillette right in front of the net in the final seconds of the first for the tying goal. McEwan was called upon once again in the second period, breaking the stalemate for the Drillers a second time seven minutes into the period. Leading-scorer Skylar Bawcom later rifled his own goal in, extending the Drillers’ lead to two goals entering the final period of regulation. The Drillers were primarily on the defensive in the final period, notching only three shots compared to the Power’s 17 in the period. They made them count, however. Alexander Thomas furthered the gap to tie with a fourth Drillers goal, and in the final minutes of the period Jonathon Berndt scored on the empty net to strike the dagger for the Power’s chances of coming back. Drillers goaltender Cole Schmidt made an impressive 33 saves on 34 shots in the victory.

NA3HL Fraser Cup All-Tournament Team

Forward: Alexander Thomas, Louisiana Drillers

Forward: Skylar Bawcom, Louisiana Drillers

Forward: TJ Lepisto, Granite CIty Lumberjacks

Defense: Kelly Coldwater, West Bend Power

Defense: Trace Shumlas, West Bend Power

Goaltender: Trent Peterson, Granite City Lumberjacks

All-Time Fraser Cup Champions

2025 Louisiana Drillers

2024 Helena Bighorns

2023 Granite City Lumberjacks

2022 Rochester Grizzlies