Rocky Thompson

Last updated
Rocky Thompson
20140927-Rocky Thompson.jpg
Thompson at the 2014 Edmonton Oilers training camp
Born (1977-08-08) August 8, 1977 (age 47)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Right Wing, Defence
Shot Right
Played for Calgary Flames
Florida Panthers
NHL draft 72nd overall, 1995
Calgary Flames
Playing career 1996–2007

Rocky Lee Thompson (born August 8, 1977) is a Canadian former ice hockey right wing, who currently serves as the head coach of the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League. He was most recently an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL. He was drafted in the third round, 72nd overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. This Cree forward/defenseman [1] was born in Calgary, Alberta and raised in Whitecourt, Alberta. [2] Along with hockey, he showed promise in boxing as a teenager, winning gold in the 1993 North American Indigenous Games as well as in provincial Golden Gloves tournament championships in Alberta and Saskatchewan. [1]

Contents

Playing career

After playing four seasons in the Western Hockey League, Thompson made his professional debut with the Flames' American Hockey League affiliate, the Saint John Flames. He appeared in 15 NHL games with the Flames during the 1997–98 and 1998–99 seasons. He made a brief return to the NHL with the Florida Panthers, appearing in ten games during the 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons. In only 25 NHL games, Thompson racked up 117 penalty minutes.

Thompson with the Edmonton Road Runners in 2004 Rocky Thompson Roadrunners.jpg
Thompson with the Edmonton Road Runners in 2004

Most of his professional career has been spent with various AHL teams, tallying numerous penalty minutes. Most recently, he played in 55 games for the Peoria Rivermen during the 2006–07 season, recording 127 penalty minutes.

Coaching career

Following his professional career, Rocky Thompson turned to coaching, becoming the assistant coach for the expansion Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League in 2007. [2] He would later become an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Barons.

On July 16, 2014, Thompson was promoted to assistant coach of the Edmonton Oilers. [3]

On July 3, 2015, Thompson was hired as head coach of the Windsor Spitfires. [4] In his first season, he took a Spitfires team that finished last in the conference and guided them to 87 regular-season points and second place in the OHL West Division, before losing in five games to the London Knights in the first round of the playoffs. Thompson coached the Spitfires as they became champions of the 2017 Memorial Cup.

On June 7, 2017, Thompson was hired as head coach of the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. [5] He spent three seasons in the position before joining the San Jose Sharks as an associate coach on September 22, 2020. [6] He did not return for the 2021–22 season, as he would not be vaccinated against COVID-19 as required by the NHL for people in close contact with the players. [7] [8]

In the summer of 2022, it was announced that Thompson was hired by the Philadelphia Flyers as an assistant coach for the 2022–23 season. [9] He remained in this position through the 2024–25 season. [10]

On June 23, 2025, he was hired as head coach of the Bridgeport Islanders, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders (NHL). [11]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1993–94 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 6814516630002
1994–95 Medicine Hat TigersWHL63167220500017
1995–96 Medicine Hat TigersWHL7192029260523526
1995–96 Saint John Flames AHL 400033—————
1996–97 Medicine Hat TigersWHL476915170—————
1996–97 Swift Current Broncos WHL22358901012322
1997–98 Saint John FlamesAHL513031871811247
1997–98 Calgary Flames NHL 1200061—————
1998–99 Calgary FlamesNHL300025—————
1998–99 Saint John FlamesAHL27224108—————
1999–00 Saint John FlamesAHL532810125—————
1999–00 Louisville Panthers AHL30115440004
2000–01 Louisville PanthersAHL55358193—————
2000–01 Florida Panthers NHL400019—————
2001–02 Hershey Bears AHL42033143810119
2001–02 Florida PanthersNHL600012—————
2002–03 San Antonio Rampage AHL791111227530004
2003–04 Toronto Roadrunners AHL6918919631120
2004–05 Edmonton Road Runners AHL69336231—————
2005–06 Peoria Rivermen AHL59145247300019
2006–07 Peoria RivermenAHL55178127—————
AHL totals56617526019193932593
NHL totals25000117—————

References

  1. 1 2 "Rocky Thompson still hopeful of an NHL career | Windspeaker - AMMSA". www.ammsa.com. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  2. 1 2 "Rocky hangs up skates to coach with Oil Kings". Sherwood Park News. Sun Media Corporation. July 24, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Rocky Thompson hired as assistant coach by Edmonton Oilers". NHL.com. July 16, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Rocky Thompson new head coach of Windsor Spitfires". CBC.ca. July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Rocky Thompson Named Head Coach of AHL's Chicago Wolves".
  6. ↑ "San Jose Sharks Announce Organizational Coaching Staff". San Jose Sharks . National Hockey League. September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  7. ↑ Pashelka, Curtis (28 January 2022). "Evander Kane details heated altercation with former Sharks assistant coach". The Mercury News. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  8. ↑ "Rocky Thompson Will Not Return to Sharks Coaching Staff". San Jose Sharks . National Hockey League. September 4, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Flyers name Rocky Thompson assistant coach". Philadelphia Flyers. July 28, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Flyers announce changes to coaching staff". Philadelphia Flyers. April 23, 2025. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Rocky Thompson Named Bridgeport Islanders Head Coach | New York Islanders". www.nhl.com. 2025-06-23. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
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