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Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
Nobody pushed round Rocky Thompson throughout his enjoying days.
Spending most of his 10-year profession skating within the AHL, Thompson constructed a popularity as somebody who protected his teammates and introduced an lively, all-in mentality with him every day.
Now as he steps behind the bench for the Bridgeport Islanders, Thompson desires to deliver that very same enthusiasm to a staff that endured a 57-loss season in 2024-25. The guardian New York Islanders named Thompson the top coach in Bridgeport on June 23 as a part of an in depth makeover for his or her AHL affiliate. New basic supervisor Mathieu Darche rapidly recognized righting the AHL affiliate as a prime organizational precedence.
“We’re not going to be the punching luggage anymore,” Thompson vowed.
Administration has been aggressive about fortifying its organizational depth. To begin, Bridgeport re-signed ahead Chris Terry, the franchise’s all-time chief in factors and assists and the third-leading scorer within the AHL in 2024-25. New York additionally signed defenseman Ethan Bear, a Second Crew AHL All-Star this previous season, and reliable two-way ahead Matthew Highmore, who break up the season between Ottawa and Belleville. David Rittich to addresses depth in internet, and ahead Julien Gauthier, a former Calder Cup champion who was restricted to 9 video games this previous season by damage, is staying on a brand new one-year contract.
Thompson final labored within the AHL when he spent three seasons as head coach of the Chicago Wolves, main them to the Calder Cup Finals in 2019. He has since spent two years as an affiliate coach with the San Jose Sharks and three extra as an assistant on John Tortorella’s employees with the Philadelphia Flyers.
One in all Thompson’s key duties might be to create a brand new id round a Bridgeport membership that has missed the Calder Cup Playoffs for 3 seasons in a row.
“There was no id right here in Philly after we acquired there,” Thompson mentioned. “And [Tortorella] created an id with this hockey staff. He’s very demanding, he’s very passionate, and he’s very caring. And I used to be in a position to see how gamers can reply to his model of teaching due to the kind of particular person that he’s, and so they know that he cares about them.
“It’s not for everyone, and there have been a handful of gamers over time that perhaps didn’t really feel like they excelled in that surroundings. However I noticed how he created an surroundings that was aggressive.”
That mentioned, Thompson has his personal sturdy character that he’ll deliver with him to Bridgeport. For the gamers who will return from final season’s staff, Thompson may even need to work to construct confidence throughout the dressing room. A few days after his hiring grew to become official, the always-talkative Thompson had a 45-minute dialog with Terry.
“The AHL humbles all people after they come there,” mentioned Thompson, who performed 566 video games within the league earlier than retiring in 2007. “It’s such a tough league to play in. Being in that surroundings (final season), it may be very powerful for everyone. However that was final yr. We’re now not the punching bag of the American Hockey League.
“This can be a recent begin for everyone. They know that coming in. While you come to the rink, they’re not going to see me strolling down the corridor all the time holding a pc in my hand exhibiting them what they did fallacious. I’m going to be asking them what they did final night time. That’s my character. I like attending to know the blokes. I like speaking with them and simply socializing. To me, that’s enjoyable.”
The group’s first steps towards rebuilding Bridgeport have been taken this summer time. Extra will comply with come coaching camp and into October as Thompson’s roster begins to return collectively.
“When it’s time to work,” Thompson mentioned. “it’s time to work.”
On the American Hockey League beat for 20 years, TheAHL.com options author Patrick Williams additionally at the moment covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a daily contributor on SiriusXM NHL Community Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his excellent protection of the league in 2016.
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