The Vegas Golden Knights found a quality coach in Rocky Thompson.
The pieces are starting to fall into place for the Vegas Golden Knights. General Manager George McPhee is approaching the expansion draft, and he’s ready to make some deals with other teams also. Gallant still has to hire his staff of assistant coaches to help in key situations.
In the meantime, Golden Knights Owner Bill Foley and Kerry Bubolz are looking to enhance a game day experience, manage ticket prices, and most importantly unveil their uniforms. All seems to be good in Golden Knights land. But what about the Head Coach of their AHL minor league affiliate?
Today, the Vegas Golden Knights announced that Rocky Thompson has agreed to take on the Chicago Wolves Head Coaching job. Thompson also played in the NHL but only for 25 games in four seasons combined with the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers.
Thompson was always known as an enforcer in the NHL and most notably in the AHL. But as his career passed, he took up a new career in coaching. Let’s just say his new gig coaching is far more impressive than his play on the ice. Let’s take a quick look at who Rocky Thompson was on the ice though.
The Calgary Alberta native is only 39 years old, and he’s put together two impressive campaigns with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. Last season the Spitfires finished 40-21-7 but lost in the first round of the OHL tournament. Let’s keep in mind that Rocky took a team that ended the previous season in last place in the conference and made it into a contender. Now that’s quite an accomplishment as a first year Head Coach.
This year, however, Thompson led his team to a Memorial Cup Championship beating the Erie Otters. The Windsor Spitfires were the host team, so that means they automatically got that spot in the Memorial Cup tournament. Thompsons team initially lost in the first round of the OHL playoffs for second consecutive season.
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With Thompson in the fold in Chicago, the Wolves should be in good hands for the foreseeable future. The way Rocky Thompson played hockey will in no way have any effect how he coaches the Wolves. As for the Golden Knights, the expansion draft is rapidly approaching, and we may see things start to pick up in the coming days.