WHL NOTEBOOK: Thompson takes giant step in third season

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This article was published 09/01/2023 (618 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Every player in the Western Hockey League is expected to grow and progress each season as they get older and more experienced.

The Portland Winterhawks might just have the poster boy for that development model in 18-year-old defenceman Ryder Thompson.

The five-foot-11, 177-pound Thompson, who grew up with former Brandon Wheat Kings forward Tyson Zimmer in Russell, was selected by the Winterhawks in the fifth round of the 2019 draft with the 105th overall pick and debuted at 16.

Now in his third season with the club, Thompson has blossomed into a top-four defenceman.

“I was expecting a bigger role and I think I’ve gained that,” Thompson said. “I think I’ve gained more trust from the coaches and just confidence and experience allows me to play more minutes. I feel more confident with the puck and I’m glad to have a bigger role and more minutes, any way to help the team win.”

Thompson’s progression might not be much of a shock to the Winterhawks.

Portland head coach and general manager Mike Johnston said in the lead-up to the shortened 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 16-year-old Thompson called over and over asking if he could come down to Portland because he couldn’t get on the ice at home.

“He came down a couple weeks early and said ‘I’ll get whatever ice I can with youth hockey players,’” Johnston said. “It was great to see. That’s the type of kid he is, he’s a hard worker, he’s a great team guy for us and he’s turned out to be a very good defenceman.

“He’s a good two-way defenceman, moves the puck well, is good one-on-one. He’s kind of a blend defenceman. He’s not overly big but I think he plays a really good transitional style.”

A big part of the improved play for the Russell product is simply having the confidence and experience to do things on the ice. He said it makes a huge difference.

“I feel like I have more control,” Thompson said. “When you’re 16, you’re nervous and it’s bigger guys. I feel like I belong here, the same as last year I felt a little more belonging. I can make plays and belong on the ice. I can do things to help the team win and I think there are some skills I can bring to the table.”

Johnston said that’s landed him a spot in the team’s top four, which means he spends a lot of nights going against other teams’ best lines. The longtime coach added that Thompson isn’t likely to become a high-end offensive guy, but his blend of skills makes him an important piece of the team’s blue-line.

“I see it as a privilege being a top-four guy,” Thompson said. “With it comes more responsibility but I love that. I don’t think it would be as fun if I was sitting on the bench. It’s great that I get involved and am able to contribute as a top-four guy, whether that’s on the PK or being a five-on-five guy.”

He’s certainly shown a steady progression.

Thompson dressed in 14 of his team’s 24 games in the 2020-21 season, earning an assist.

In 58 games in the 2021-22 campaign — he was a healthy scratch on a rotational basis early in the season as the team sorted out its blue-line — Thompson had a goal and 17 assists, with 10 penalty minutes and tied for the team plus-minus lead with Clay Hanus at +34.

In 23 games this season, he has two goals, seven assists, two penalty minutes and plus-minus rating of -1 with his increased responsibilities.

Johnston noted that Thompson is also a terrific student — he was named the team’s scholastic player of the year for high school students in 2021 — another way he shows his ability to concentrate on the task at hand.

“He’s very focused on being an all-around athlete,” Johnston said. “He’s good off the ice, good academically.

“As a teammate, his teammates and coaches would say he’s one of those low maintenance guys. You never have to worry about him. If there’s a workout to be done, he’s always the first guy in the room and the last guy out of the room. If there are extra things to be done on the ice or helping the trainer out, he’s just one of those special kids.”

Thompson graduated last year but is taking public speaking and writing courses through a college. He and his teammates do that for 90 minutes prior to getting ready for practice.

“It’s a sense of routine,” Thompson said. “I’ve been going to school all my life and I think it was helpful to get those college courses.”

Unfortunately for Thompson, his routine came to a screeching halt a month ago.

During his final shift in a 4-3 overtime loss on the road to the Everett Silvertips on Dec. 3, he was covering the net in his own end when disaster struck.

“A slapshot came from the point and I was trying to front the shot and it hit me in the hand,” Thompson said. “I actually broke my one finger so that was tough for a month, missing teddy-bear toss and the New Year’s Eve game and all that stuff.”

“I’m happy to be back and there’s not a better time to come back,” he added with a chuckle. Indeed.

Thompson’s first game back in the lineup came on Friday in Portland’s 3-2 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings. It was also his return to Westoba Place, where he last played at the under-11 level — Brandon defenceman Zach Turner was on that team — and where he attended Wheat Kings games and grew up idolizing the players.

As the injury took time to heal, he admitted he began to worry.

“At first I didn’t really think about it,” Thompson said. “I just thought I would be back after the break no questions asked but then it crossed my mind that I wouldn’t be back and this is something me and my family have had marked on the calendars for a while now. I’m super happy and grateful that I was able to play.”

When he skated onto the ice for warmups, a bunch of fans stood at the glass to watch, with one holding a giant cutout of his head. He chuckled when he spotted it.

“It’s hard not seeing them every day so it for sure put a smile on my face,” Thompson said.

Brandon charged out to a 3-0 lead in the game, only to have Portland claw back into it with a pair of goals in the third period. Despite an abundance of chances, that was as close as the game got. Even so, Thompson was happy with the experience.

“It was super nice,” Thompson said. “I enjoyed the whole game, even if it wasn’t the outcome we were looking for. All around it was a great night, super fun. I was happy to see my family before and after the game. I wish I could do it again already.”

It also gave Thompson and his five Manitoba teammates — Aidan Litke, Dawson Pasternak, Dante Giannuzzi and Alex Thompson of Winnipeg, plus Carter Sotheran of Sanford are the others — a chance to showcase their home.

“It’s cool to have a little culture change from Portland and show the guys what Manitoba is all about,” Thompson said. “Saskatchewan will be pretty cool too. Those are rinks I’ve never played in.”

The trip hasn’t started off perfectly, with the loss in Brandon and a 6-3 defeat to the Winnipeg Ice on Sunday. Portland’s remaining games on the trip are in Prince Albert tonight, Saskatoon on Wednesday, Moose Jaw on Friday and Regina on Saturday.

Each one will be another opportunity for the Russell product to shine.

“As an individual, I’m just going to try to play as consistently as I can to help out the team,” Thompson said. “Our goal obviously is to win as many games as we can and just prepare as much as we can for playoffs. This is going to be a good test on the eastern swing playing teams we haven’t played and some top players.”

Second-place Portland trails the front-running Seattle Thunderbirds by three points and is still nursing a five-point lead over the Kamloops Blazers for second place in the Western Conference.

“We don’t really have that superstar player but we have quite a few top players,” Thompson said. “I think everyone just works together and gels together. We have a great coaching staff and equipment staff and trainers. Everyone is ready and everyone is willing to do something for each other.”

THIS AND THAT

• QUIZ — This is one for longtime fans and anyone who has a good sense of Wheat Kings history. The World Hockey Association operated from 1972 to 1979, and held five drafts between 1973 and 1977. Can you name any of the 16 Brandon players who were selected?

• WEEKLY AWARDS — Moose Jaw Warriors forward Atley Calvert has been named player of the week after the 19-year-old from Moose Jaw led all skaters with eight points (five goals, three assists) in three games last week. Meanwhile, Prince Albert Raiders netminder Max Hildebrand was named goaltender of the week after winning both his starts, and posting a 1.50 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. The 18-year-old goalie from Martensville, Sask., made 18 saves against Brandon in a 6-2 victory in one of the games.

• SIN BIN — Former Everett forward Ryan Hofer, now of Kamloops, earned a one-game suspension for a match penalty at Prince George on Saturday. Also, Wheat Kings assistant coach Mark Derlago was assessed a $500 fine for a game misconduct in Friday’s game against Portland, and Ethan Samson of the Prince George Cougars was handed a two-game suspension for a boarding major and game misconduct against Everett on Friday.

• ALUMNI GLANCE — Reid Perepeluk, who was picked up by Brandon from the Prince George Cougars on Jan. 9, 2020 for Jonny Hooker, skated in two games this year for the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Knoxville Ice Bears and has committed to Trinity Western University, joining their squad next fall.

• THE WEEK AHEAD — Brandon has a three-game home stand next week, hosting the Seattle Thunderbirds tonight, the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday and the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday. In addition, the trade deadline is today at 4 p.m.

• ANSWER — By year, the Wheat Kings who were selected were:

— 1973 — Robbie Neale (Cleveland Crusaders, third round, 36th pick) and Dwayne Pentland (Alberta Oilers, 7-84).

— 1974 Secret Amateur — Ron Chipperfield (Vancouver Blazers, 2-20) and John Paddock (Minnesota Fighting Saints, 2-28).

— 1974 — Rick Blight (Michigan Stags, 2-19), Ron Pronchuk (Michigan Stags, 7-93), Wayne Wilhelm (Winnipeg Jets, 9-126), Jim Chicoyne (Indianapolis Racers, 15-223).

— 1975 — Rick Piche (Calgary Cowboys, 4-52), Derek Spring (New England Whalers, 4-58), Dale McMullin (Phoenix Roadrunners, 7-95), Dale Anderson (San Diego Mariners, 11-148).

— 1976 — Brian Granfield (Winnipeg Jets, 8-92).

— 1977 — Wayne Ramsey (Indianapolis Racers, 2-16), Dave Semenko (Houston Aeros, 2-21), Glen Hanlon (Houston Aeros, 3-30).