Rocky Thompson Named Bridgeport Islanders Head Coach
Published on June 23, 2025 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The New York Islanders announced today that Rocky Thompson has been named Head Coach of the Bridgeport Islanders. He becomes the 10th Head Coach in team history.
Thompson, 47, joins the Islanders following three seasons as Assistant Coach with the Philadelphia Flyers. Thompson's Head Coaching resume includes a Memorial Cup Championship with the Windsor Spitfires (Ontario Hockey League) in 2017, and an appearance in the Calder Cup Finals with the Chicago Wolves (American Hockey League) in 2019.
Before his time with the Flyers coaching staff, Thompson spent the 2020-21 season as an Associate Coach with the San Jose Sharks under Head Coach Bob Boughner, the newly named New York Islanders Assistant Coach.
Thompson was Head Coach in Chicago, the Vegas Golden Knights' AHL club, for three seasons (2017-20). He compiled a 113-71-29 record in 213 regular season games with the Wolves, including a 44-22-10 record in 2018-19 en route to the club's Calder Cup Finals run. Thompson was Head Coach in Windsor for two seasons 2015-17 before the club's championship, going 81-40-15 over 136 games. Previously, he'd spent five seasons as an Assistant Coach in the Edmonton Oilers' organization, serving as an Assistant Coach with the AHL's Oklahoma City Barons (2010-14), before moving up to the Oilers as an Assistant Coach in 2014-15.
Thompson's professional playing career spanned 10 seasons and included 25 NHL games between his hometown Calgary Flames (1997-99) and the Florida Panthers (2000-02). Most of his career was spent in the AHL, where he recorded 69 points (17 goals, 52 assists) and 1,919 penalty minutes in 566 games with the Saint John Flames, Louisville Panthers, Hershey Bears, San Antonio Rampage, Toronto Roadrunners, Edmonton Roadrunners, and Peoria Rivermen.
Thompson was selected by Calgary in the third round (72nd overall) of the 1995 NHL Draft.
American Hockey League Stories from June 23, 2025
- Checkers' Season Ends with Game 6 Loss - Charlotte Checkers
- Abbotsford Canucks Win 2025 Calder Cup Championship - AHL
- America First Credit Union to Host Free Private Skate for Silver Knights Debit Cardholders on June 28 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Roadrunners to Host Draft Party and Select-A-Seat Event on June 27 at Tucson Arena - Tucson Roadrunners
- Wolf Pack Ink Defenseman Cooper Moore - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Amerks, Venuworks Announce Five-Year Lease Agreement Beginning with 2025-26 Season - Rochester Americans
- Dallas Stars Sign Forward Kole Lind to One-Year, Two-Way Contract Extension - Texas Stars
- Captain Brett Seney Returns to Rockford - Rockford IceHogs
- Greg Cronin Named Iowa Wild Head Coach - Iowa Wild
- IceHogs Sign Pair of Forwards to AHL Deals - Rockford IceHogs
- Rocky Thompson Named Bridgeport Islanders Head Coach - Bridgeport Islanders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
