The Providence Bruins announced today that they have signed defenseman Brent Thompson to an American Hockey League contract for the upcoming 2004-05 season.
Thompson spent the 2003-04 season as a player/assistant coach of the Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League. In 61 games, he posted five goals, 24 assists and 172 penalty minutes.
“We’re really thrilled to have Brent become a Bruin,” said head coach Scott Gordon. “He will bring us both a veteran and physical presence to our blueline, as well as leadership. Brent has over 800 games of professional experience, and he is as intense a competitor as there is.”
Thompson, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound native of Calgary, is entering his 14th professional season. He is well-known to Bruins fans as one of the team’s arch-rivals while playing for the Springfield Falcons from 1995-97 and the Hartford Wolf Pack from 1997-99.
Thompson has recorded 26 goals and 121 assists for 147 points in 556 career AHL games with Hershey, Louisville, Hartford and Springfield, and ranks ninth in league history with 1,828 PIM.
Thompson has skated in 840 career professional games, including 121 in the NHL with Phoenix/Winnipeg and Los Angeles.
“I’m excited to become a Bruin,” said Thompson. “I’ve had a lot of great battles with Providence throughout my career, and I always thought that the fans were great. As a competitor, Providence was always a great place to play, because the fans know their hockey and support their team so much. I’m really looking forward to this season.”
A second-round draft pick by Los Angeles in 1989, Thompson has long been recognized as a leader on and off the ice. He served as the captain of the Hershey Bears in 2002-03, and was the recipient of the AHL’s Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as the league’s Man of the Year in 1998-99.
