The Bridgeport Islanders announced they have hired Rocky Thompson as the team's new head coach.
Thompson spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers. Prior to that he spent parts of two season as an associate coach with the San Jose Sharks, one of those seasons was under now Islanders assistant coach Bob Boughner.
The 47-year-old won a Memorial Cup as head coach of the Windsor Spitfires in 2017 and the 2022 Memorial Cup as a consultant with the Saint John's Sea Dogs.
The Calgary, Alta., native was head coach of the AHL's Chicago Wolves from 2017-2020, leading the team to the Calder Cup Finals in 2019. In those three seasons Thompson amassed a record of 113-79-21.
The Islanders finished dead last in the AHL last season with a 15-50-4-3 record and a lowly 37 points. They won the fewest home games in a season in AHL history.
His resume also includes time as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers in 2014-15, and four seasons as an assistant with the AHL's Oklahoma City Barons from 2010-2014.
The @NYIslanders announced today that Rocky Thompson has been named Head Coach of the Bridgeport Islanders. He becomes the 10th Head Coach in team history.
— Bridgeport Islanders (@AHLIslanders) June 23, 2025
➡️ https://t.co/LtallBmuWopic.twitter.com/ccyUuwRlri
In his playing career Thompson recorded 69 points in 566 career AHL games over 11 seasons and zero points and 117 penalty minutes in 25 career NHL games over parts of four seasons.
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Photo Credit: © Robert Edwards-Imagn Images