Stars Sign Hard-Nosed Forward with AHL Experience in Chris Thompson
September 25, 2003 - United Hockey League (UHL)
Columbus Stars News Release
Winger played in Dayton, Augusta and with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks last year accumulating over 250 PIM Stars also announce Varhaug trade; Davies camp invite
COLUMBUS, OH â The Columbus Stars have signed forward Chris Thompson to a contract for the 2003-04 season announced General Manager Robb W. King and UHL Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Malcolm Cameron today.
The six-foot 195-pound right wing tallied 56 points (19 g â 37 a) and 233 PIM in 62 games in the East Coast Hockey League last season. Thompson played 48 games for the Dayton Bombers and the remainder with the Augusta Lynx.
The Prince Albert, SK native will begin his preseason where he finished the last one, in the American Hockey League with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. Thompson will attend the AHL Mighty Ducks camp and hopes to make an impression to be top-of-mind when call-ups are made through out the year.
Another Cincinnati hockey entity has been on Thompson's mind as of late. Cameron, who coached Cincinnati's ECHL entrant last year, impressed Thompson with the loyalty he has inspired in signing seven former Cyclones as Stars for this year.
"Just the following he has had from Cincinnati says a lot," Thompson said referring to Cameron. "He must do something right to have gained that respect from his players."
The respect is mutual. Cameron will look to Thompson for toughness and grace in the Stars two-way heavy system.
"Chris is a tough, hard-nosed player with a good touch around the net who competes every night like it is a playoff game," Cameron said. "He was extremely tough to coach against and I am looking forward to having him on our team this year."
EXPANSION DRAFT PICK INVITED TO CAMP: The Stars have invited United Hockey League veteran Dan Davies to attend training camp in Columbus. The five-foot, 10-inch right wing has played the last five years in the UHL with the Asheville Smoke and the Rockford IceHogs.
Davies has been the model of durability and toughness in North Central Illinois playing over 60 games and registering over 100 PIM in each of the last three seasons. The Coquitlum, BC native is a crowd pleaser as well, winning the "Heavy Hitter" award in Rockford last year after being touted as the "Fan Favorite" for 2001-02.
STARS TRADE VARHAUG TO RICHMOND: The Stars also announced today the trade of the rights to forward Mike Varhaug to the Richmond RiverDogs for financial considerations. Varhaug was acquired via the Columbus Stars organization's first trade in which the Stars sent their second-round pick in the 2003 expansion draft to the Flint Generals. The six-foot seven-inch enforcer holds numerous team and league records for PIM.
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United Hockey League Stories from September 25, 2003
- Stars Sign Hard-Nosed Forward with AHL Experience in Chris Thompson - Columbus Stars
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