Three goals. Eight seconds of overtime. But the Evansville forward's performance against Carmel Gold revealed something bigger — the evolution of a goal scorer into one of Indiana's most complete players.
Photo by Kirsten Milewicz | THE FINAL. Press Corps
Will Rideout didn't need to wait for an opportunity. He knew exactly what he wanted when he lined up for the opening faceoff of overtime against Carmel Gold on Saturday night.
Eight seconds later, he was celebrating a hat trick, an overtime winner and a 4–3 victory for Evansville.
"Whenever we lined up on that dot I knew what I wanted to happen," Rideout said. "I wanted to be the quickest to the puck and made it happen. After I picked it up I didn’t look back and just wanted to put it in the back of the net."
The goal was his third of the night, but for Evansville head coach Nathan Moon, it represented something bigger than another impressive offensive performance.
It was the kind of moment Rideout has spent three years growing into.
"Will is trusted in high-pressure situation like overtime, protecting a one-goal lead with great defense, or needing a goal when trailing because he genuinely wants to be on the ice," Moon said. "He embraces the moment, handles pressure without hesitation, and has the rare ability to control a game regardless of the score or situation."
There was a time when Rideout's game was defined primarily by what he could do with the puck.
He had the speed, the offensive instincts and the confidence to carry the puck from one end of the ice to the other. But according to Moon, becoming a complete hockey player required learning when not to rely on those abilities alone.
Over three seasons with Evansville, Rideout has developed from a player focused on scoring into someone his coach trusts in nearly every situation.
"Beyond his hat trick, what stands out is his overall contribution to the team game," Moon said. "He brings far more than just offense every single night, providing a level of reliability and control that impacts the entire flow of the game."
That transformation required breaking habits.
Moon said Rideout has learned the importance of defensive responsibility, trusting his teammates and recognizing that controlling a game doesn't always mean carrying the puck himself.
A significant part of that growth came through the influence of Tanner McFadden, a former Evansville captain who helped mentor Rideout during his sophomore season.
"He took Will under his wing and kind of showed him the way on how you need to play if you want to be one of the best players in the state," Moon said.
The lessons stuck.
Moon now sees a player whose willingness to learn and commitment to his teammates have made him a leader within the program.
"And in my opinion you’re not going to find a better all around player in the state this year," Moon said.
It's high praise, but Rideout isn't particularly interested in treating any single performance as proof that he's arrived.
"It means a lot to me to play the way I did, but I know that I still have a lot of improvement and need to keep working," he said.
Saturday's performance against Carmel Gold demonstrated both sides of Rideout's game.
His speed and ability to recognize opportunities helped him score three of Evansville's four goals. His first tied the game in the opening period. His second came with 2:56 remaining in regulation, pulling the Thunder even again and forcing overtime.
But it was the final goal that captured the confidence Moon has come to expect.
"My mindset was be the quickest out there don’t get beat," Rideout said. "My plan was to use speed and take my time during it and let things develop."
The apparent contradiction — playing quickly while allowing a play to develop — speaks to the instincts Rideout has refined over time.
He doesn't simply depend on being faster than the opposition. He's learning to recognize when and how to use that speed.
"My speed was a big factor in helping, and observing the ice and knowing how to get the puck around the d and in the back of the net," he said.
When Carmel Gold took a 3–2 lead late in the third period, Rideout's approach remained simple.
"The mindset was go out there and win the shift you had and be the best player on the ice," he said. "I had been looking for a chance to tie it up and I saw one and I took off with it."
He tied the game, then finished it eight seconds into overtime.
"I was ecstatic," Rideout said.
His teammates quickly surrounded him, screaming and celebrating.
For someone who had spent much of his hockey career learning how to become a better teammate, the celebration was a fitting end to the night.
Rideout's hockey journey began when he was seven years old.
Since then, two people have been constants in his development: his mother and grandfather.
"Both of them have always been there to support me since I was 7 years old," Rideout said. "They have put countless hours, time and money into the game I love and made me into the player I am today."
Their commitment helped create the opportunities for Rideout to develop his game, while mentors like McFadden and coaches like Moon helped shape the player he has become.
It's a combination of support, experience and a willingness to improve that has carried him from a young player relying on individual talent to someone his coach considers among the state's best.
And while Saturday's hat trick provided another highlight, Rideout says he never entered the game expecting anything extraordinary.
"During the game I was just playing the game I love and doing what I know I can do on the ice pushing myself," he said.
Three goals, an overtime winner and eight unforgettable seconds may be what people remember about his performance against Carmel Gold.
But when asked what he hopes people understand about him beyond the goals and statistics, Rideout offered a much simpler explanation.
"I just love to play the game and I’m here the same reason as everyone else. To just have fun and play."