Brent Thompson
Brent Thompson was hired as assistant coach of the New York Islanders on June 27, 2011.
Brent Thompson was hired as assistant coach of the New York Islanders on June 27, 2011.

Thompson coached the Islanders top minor league affiliate to their first division championship in a decade with a 41-26-9 record last season. The Islanders new assistant coach, who last played in the NHL during the 1996-97 season with the Phoenix Coyotes, couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm about returning to the NHL Wednesday morning after the announcement.

"I guess I’m ridiculously excited," Thompson said. "I don’t know if those are the right words. It’s a great opportunity and I obviously have to thank Garth Snow, Jack Capuano and the organization for giving me the opportunity. Hopefully we can translate the little baby steps we took last year in Bridgeport into helping out here with the Islanders."
Thompson’s coaching career started when he was a player/ coach with the CHL’s Colorado Eagles in 2003-04. The Calgary, AB native played one more season in the American Hockey League before becoming an assistant for the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen in 2005. After four seasons with Peoria, Thompson took the head coaching job with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL. In 2011, only his second season in Anchorage, he led the Aces to the Kelly Cup Championship.