Islanders Tap Alaska Aces Coach Brent Thompson for AHL Bridgeport

Brent Thompson served as the head coach of the Alaska Aces in the ECHL the past two seasons. This past year, he led the Aces to a league-best 47-22-0-3 record and the club’s second Kelly Cup Championship in team history. Thompson also won the John Brophy Award as the ECHL Coach of the Year.

"Brent’s background as a player and his recent success as the head coach of the Alaska Aces makes him the perfect fit to show our young prospects what it takes to play at the NHL level," Islanders General Manager Garth Snow said.

That's from the team release. Thompson previously was an assistant coach with the AHL Peoria Rivermen. His path is similar to St. Louis Blues coach Davis Payne, who coached the Aces before graduating to AHL Peoria and then taking the current NHL job after Andy Murray was fired. Payne and Thompson can each claim leading the Aces to a Kelly Cup championship. Can't claim to know much about him, but you can say the Isles have hired a winner for Bridgeport.

He's also played more NHL hockey than you have: From 1991 to 1997, he compiled 121 NHL games with the Kings, Jets and Coyotes. And of course there's a Boston connection: He finished his pro career with Providence in 2005.

Look to Michael Fornabaio of the Connecticut Post for much more in the days to come.