Thompson named CCM/AHL Player of the Week

Photo: Danny Baxter

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Springfield Thunderbirds forward Paul Thompson has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Mar. 12, 2017.

In three games with the Thunderbirds last week, Thompson recorded four goals and an assist to help the team to three consecutive victories.

On Friday night in Syracuse, Thompson scored a goal and assisted on the game-winner with 1:45 left in regulation as the Thunderbirds rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Crunch. On Saturday, Thompson helped Springfield erase a two-goal deficit by scoring twice – including the go-ahead goal in the third period – en route to a 5-2 win over Hartford. And on Sunday, Thompson netted the 100th goal of his AHL career to help secure a 2-0 Thunderbirds win over Rochester.

A sixth-year pro out of the University of New Hampshire, Thompson leads the Thunderbirds with 15 goals and has added 14 assists for 29 points in 36 AHL games this season. He also has three assists in 21 National Hockey League contests with the Florida Panthers in 2016-17. The native of Methuen, Mass., has registered 100 goals and 91 assists for 191 points in 365 career AHL outings, and participated in the AHL All-Star Classic in 2015. Thompson made his NHL debut with New Jersey last season, appearing in three games with the Devils.

In recognition of his achievement, Thompson will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Thunderbirds home game.