Brent Thompson was named an assistant coach of the NY Islanders on Jun 27, 2012 after taking the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on a very brief playoff run.
As the Islanders hadn’t made the playoffs again, something needed to be done, and while both Dean Chynoweth and Scott Allen may not have been the main reason, but they paid the price. Will Brent Thompson be able to change the Islanders fate should there be a new season? Who knows. But the Calgary native has coached in the ECHL, earning the Coach of the Year award, and also been both assistant and head coach in the AHL.
Last week, the ex-NHL defensemen took a turn at coaching a different type of roster. Not the pee-wee group Andrew MacDonald braved at a few local Long Island rinks, but a group of adults. Okay, so that shouldn’t have been so bad right? He’s coached adults before. But this group’s ages spanned at least two decades, varying skill level and was included both male and female students.
It was a two-day, intensive clinic for a small group for a small price for the knowledge bestowed. It was small because for the most part -- no one knew it was happening. I can’t even find where it was announced, even if it was short notice. Those who managed to take advantage of the opportunity were very lucky.
One of those was one of our favorite Islander Tweeps @Kathygc. I asked her what Thompson was trying to teach such a diverse group. “He’s been working with us a lot on body alignment and crossovers. Doing your crossovers too early is just as bad doing them too late. It’s really been helpful for him to show us how he coaches the NHL guys. They make the same mistakes we do at times, and we’re beginners and not at their level, but he takes lessons he teaches them and applies it to our skating. Our skating has really come along.”
Since Kathy had a vantage point I would never have, I asked what she felt about his ‘teaching’ style. She thought carefully, selecting just the right words. “He’s not too abrupt, really attentive and he is paying attention to all the little things that you’re NOT paying attention to.”
For Kathy, the lessons paid immediate results as she scored a goal the next night in her adult hockey game. Not bad for a mother of two.
The twenty-one people who spent time with the newest assistant coach will have an excellent background to draw from when watching Thompson on the bench directing the Islanders before they hit the ice. That is of course, IF the Islanders hit the ice come October.
The Islanders may do this adult hockey camp again next year. This year, Thompson showed up on his own getting a good feel for the Long Island community and the fans. If the adult hockey camp does happen again next summer, you may have to act fast to get in. It's not often you get to take pointers from the same guy who gives them to John Tavares.
Off Sides: Happy Birthday Travis Hamonic who turns 22 today. Also getting birthday cake today is Islander prospect Adam Pelech who turns 18. I have shoes older than you Adam. Seriously.
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