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By Sam Laskaris
Windspeaker Contributor
CHICAGO
After a pair of seasons coaching in the junior ranks, Rocky Thompson is heading back to the pros.
Thompson, a 39-year-old Cree, who had brief playing stints in the National Hockey League, was hired on Wednesday to be the head coach of the Chicago Wolves.
The Wolves, who compete in the American Hockey League, will serve as the top affiliate for the NHL’s newest expansion squad, the Vegas Golden Knights.
Thompson spent the past two seasons as the head coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires.
Thompson left the Spitfires’ organization less than two weeks after leading the Windsor club to this year’s Memorial Cup championship. The Memorial Cup is annually contested among the top teams from the OHL, Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The Spitfires, who hosted this year’s Memorial Cup tourney, edged the Pennsylvania-based Erie Otters, this year’s OHL champs, 4-3 in the championship final staged May 28.
Thompson had inked a three-year deal with the Spitfires back in 2015. But there was a clause in the contract allowing him to explore pro options after two seasons.
“I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to serve as head coach of the Chicago Wolves,” Thompson said in a news release. “Chicago is a tremendous hockey community and I look forward to helping the Golden Knights develop top players on and off the ice in front of this dedicated fan base.”
Thompson has earned a reputation of being a solid coach during his days behind the bench.
In fact, he even spent a season coaching in the NHL. He served as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers during the 2014-15 campaign.
During his two seasons in Windsor, Thompson led the Spitfires to an impressive 81-40-11-4 record. But perhaps his most impressive feat, was getting his squad ready for this spring’s Memorial Cup tournament.
Windsor had been eliminated in the opening round of the OHL playoffs. And the Spitfires had to endure a lengthy 44-day layoff before participating in their first Memorial Cup match.
But under Thompson’s tutelage, the Spitfires showed no signs of rustiness, winning all four of their tournament matches to forever claim Memorial Cup bragging rights.
Wendell Young, the Wolves’ general manager, is pleased Thompson will now be guiding the Chicago club.
“He knows how to win,” Young said of Thompson. “He was a tough, hard worker when he played and those characteristics have carried over as a coach. He is meticulous in every area. Everybody I’ve talked to in the hockey world has given him rave reviews. He’s going to be a tremendous asset when it comes to developing players and continuing the Wolves’ winning ways.”
Golden Knights’ GM George McPhee is also excited that Thompson will be working with the organization’s prospects in Chicago.
“As a player, he was competitive, tough, team-oriented and hard working,” McPhee said of Thompson. “As a coach, he is now coming off a Memorial Cup championship season with the Windsor Spitfires and has enjoyed success at multiple levels. Player development is a significant priority for our organization and he has proven to be very capable in that area as well. Rocky is the right coach to help us win championships in Chicago.”
Thompson primarily played his junior career in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers. But he was traded to the Swift Current Broncos midway through his final junior season.
During his own 10-year pro playing career, Thompson, who was born in Calgary, appeared in about 600 AHL games. He also suited up for 25 contests in the NHL, 15 with the Calgary Flames and 10 with the Florida Panthers.
He had been selected by Calgary in the third round, 72nd overall, at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. After his own playing days were done in 2007, Thompson got right into the coaching ranks. He spent three years as an assistant coach with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings.
He then spent the next four seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons, who at the time were the top affiliate for the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers.
Thompson becomes the 10th head coach in Wolves’ history. The Chicago squad has competed in the AHL since 2001. The franchise had previously served as the top affiliate for the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers, Vancouver Canucks and most recently St. Louis Blues.
This will obviously be the first year the Wolves are the affiliate of the Golden Knights, who have become the NHL’s 31st team.
The Wolves will kick off their 2017-18 regular season on Oct. 14.