Matt Thomas Welcomed As New Thunder Head Coach

December 30, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, announced that Matt Thomas has been named as the new Thunder head coach at a news conference Tuesday morning at Stockton Arena.

"Matt Thomas is a proven winner who has had great success in the ECHL," said Thunder president Dan Chapman. "We're looking to move in a new direction for our hockey team and we look forward to having him lead our hockey operation while bringing some of that success to Stockton. He is a bright mind that has flourished in this game over the last five seasons and we feel that he will be a tremendous fit for our organization."

Thomas takes the helm of the Thunder coaching staff effective immediately and succeeds Chris Cichocki, who was relieved of his duties as Thunder head coach on Dec. 29.

Thomas has spent the last four years plus as head coach for the Fresno Falcons, who ceased operations on Dec. 22, 2008 after beginning the year with a record of 18-10-2 in 30 games for 38 points, leading the Pacific Division. Thomas makes Stockton his third head coaching position, compiling a record of 179-98-41 and a winning percentage of .636 in 318 career games at the helm for Fresno and Atlantic City.

The 32-year old has never missed the playoffs in his five years as a head coach and two years as an assistant. Thomas was an assistant for Head Coach Mike Haviland (currently an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL) when the two helped guide the Altantic City Boardwalk Bullies to a Kelly Cup Championship in 2002-03.

Thomas was named as a coach for the American Conference in the 2005 ECHL All-Star Game in his first year as head coach for Atlantic City and was the youngest active head coach in the ECHL at age of 29 when hired by Fresno in 2005-06. That season, Thomas guided the Falcons to a berth in the National Conference Finals and led the club to its first division title in Falcons history with a record of 43-15-14 and 100 points.

"I'm experiencing nothing but major excitement to have a major opportunity to join a first-class organization in the Stockton Thunder," said Thomas. "It's a chance to work with a great group of players and build on a great relationship with the Edmonton Oilers organization. Our goal doesn't need to be modest. Ours is to win the Pacific Division and you start not by just looking at one team but looking at all teams in your division. At the same time, it will be a process and we can't wait to get started."

Under Thomas' guidance in 2005-06, the Falcons became the first team in ECHL history to finish the regular season without a regulation loss inside of their own division.

A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Thomas spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the national-power University of Maine (NCAA) and helped guide the Black Bears to the NCAA Championship Game in 2001-02. Thomas began his coaching career as an assistant coach for his alma mater, the Rochester Institute of Technology, which advanced to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four during his one year behind the bench in 1999-00.

Following a junior career in the Metro (Toronto) Junior A Hockey League, he arrived at RIT, where he served as captain. He helped RIT achieve a #1 ranking and an NCAA Tournament bid during his senior season on his way to earning ECAC Division III West All-Star honors for himself.

Thomas also announced assistant coach Tim O'Connell would be retained on the coaching staff and additionally Ryan Mougenel has been named to the staff as assistant coach.

The Thunder returns to play for its next game and debuts Thomas behind the bench on Wednesday, Dec. 31 against the Alaska Aces at 8:15 p.m. from Sullivan Arena, starting a five-game road trip.



ECHL Stories from December 30, 2008


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