SPITFIRES COACH TAKES WINNING ACT TO THE WINDY CITY
Thompson joins AHL’s Chicago Wolves after leading Windsor to Memorial Cup
Rocky Thompson is leaving Ontario’s Windsor Spitfires.
The 39-year-old Thompson was named head coach of the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves on Wednesday. Chicago is the new top affiliate team for the NHL expansion Golden Knights in Las Vegas.
“I was hoping there would be an opportunity (to move up),” Thompson said Wednesday.
Thompson said the opportunity to work for Golden Knights general manager George McPhee was motivating.
“George McPhee is a winner and wants to win,” Thompson said. “That excites me.
“He not only wants to win in Vegas, but the minor league team as well. That’s how you win championships, whether it’s the Stanley Cup, Calder Cup or Memorial Cup. It breeds success.”
A former assistant coach for the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, Thompson was hired by the Spitfires prior to the 2015-16 season after team president and thenhead coach Bob Boughner left the team to become an assistant coach with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks.
Thompson was given a threeyear deal, but with an out after two seasons to explore pro offers, although current ownership has never held coaches back from pursuing advancement.
“We’ve always wanted to move players and coaches along,” Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel said. “It’s a great opportunity for Rocky to pursue and something that could eventually lead him to coaching in the NHL.”
Ironically, Thompson’s hiring came just hours after Erie Otters head coach Kris Knoblauch was hired as an assistant coach by the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers. The two squared off in the Memorial Cup final.
Prior to joining the Spitfires, Thompson had no head coaching experience, but Boughner was convinced he was the right man for the job after meeting him prior to the 2015 NHL Draft in Florida.
“I give so much credit to Rocky and his staff,” Boughner said after the team’s Memorial Cup win. “I knew the day I met Rocky, and the first interview I gave Rocky down in Florida (prior to the NHL Draft), I knew instantly he was my guy. There was no doubt about it.”
In two seasons with the Spitfires, Thompson compiled an 81-40-11-4 record for a .651 winning percentage.
Aside from the Memorial Cup title, the Spitfires had a club record three players — Logan Brown, Logan Stanley and Mikhail Sergachev — taken in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft. Gabriel Vilardi is expected to be a first-round pick in this month’s draft and three other players are rated.
“Player development is a significant priority for our organization and he has proven to be very capable in that area as well,” McPhee said in a team release. “Rocky is the right coach to help us win championships in Chicago.”
Thompson’s departure follows that of goaltending coach Jim Bedard, who has left the team to work for the NHL’s Dallas Stars, which made it a double hit for Spitfires goalie Mikey DiPietro.
“It’s good for Rocky and I’m happy for him,” DiPietro said. “Seeing him go is not easy and Jimmy leaving, even though we still have a relationship, is tough.
“I saw the writing on the wall when we won. For a coach like (Thompson), he deserves to move up and it’s only a matter of time before he’ll be in the NHL. His preparation is second to none.”
Thompson gave credit to the Windsor organization for helping to make him a better coach and to the players, as well.
“The players I got to work with over the last two years were special,” Thompson said. “What happened this year was special. They made me a better coach and it was awesome.”