The St. Louis Blues have announced that Brent Thompson has joined the organization as assistant coach of the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen.
Last season, Thompson, 34, completed a 15-year career in professional hockey, appearing in 79 games with the Providence Bruins and recording three goals and nine assists along with 256 penalty minutes.
In 635 career AHL games, Thompson registered 29 goals and 130 assists for 159 points, and ranks fifth on the league’s all-time list with 2,084 career penalty minutes.
“We are very pleased to have Brent join the organization and our coaching staff in Peoria,” said Rivermen general manager of hockey operations Kevin McDonald. “Our intent was to hire a young coach who possessed experience at all levels of the game. We were also searching for a former defenseman and someone with the high-quality character traits and leadership to guide players in preparing for the National Hockey League. Brent fits those requirements extremely well.”
Thompson played in 121 career NHL contests as a blueliner over six consecutive seasons (1991-92 through 1996-97) while recording 11 points (one goal, 10 assists), along with 352 penalty minutes. He saw the most NHL action while with the Kings, skating in 81 games over three seasons. He then moved to the Winnipeg Jets for two years and to the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996-97.
“I’m extremely excited to be working within such a great organization and helping to develop young players,” said Thompson. “The whole situation is an excellent match for me, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of winning in the American Hockey League.”
Thompson served as a player/assistant coach with the Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League in 2003-04. Off the ice, the Calgary native was recognized for his outstanding community service when he won the AHL’s Yanick Dupre Award as the AHL’s Man of the Year in 1998-99.
