Rocky Thompson is on his way out of Windsor.
The 2017 Memorial Cup Championship winning coach has been hired as the new head coach of the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves.
Thomspon is set to speak to reporters tomorrow at 10am on the move to the Wolves — a team which recently agreed to an affiliation agreement with the NHL expansion team Vegas Golden Knights.
“I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to serve as head coach of the Chicago Wolves,” says newly appointed Chicago Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson. “Chicago is a tremendous hockey community and I look forward to helping the Golden Knights develop top players on and off the ice in front of this dedicated fan base.”
The Windsor Spitfires confirmed Thompson's move to Chicago after reports earlier today the Spitfires' head coach was leaving.
"Chicago is a tremendous hockey community, and I look forward to helping the Golden Knights develop top players.”—Rocky Thompson
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 7, 2017
Vegas Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee welcomed Thompson to the team as someone who checks off all the boxes.
“As a player, he was competitive, tough, team-oriented and hard working," says McPhee. "As a coach, he is now coming off a Memorial Cup Championship season with the Windsor Spitfires and has enjoyed success at multiple levels. Player development is a significant priority for our organization and he has proven to be very capable in that area as well. Rocky is the right coach to help us win championships in Chicago.”
The general manager for the Wolves, Wendell Young, sees Thompson as a winner.
“He knows how to win,” sas Young. “He was a tough, hard worker when he played and those characteristics have carried over as a coach. He is meticulous in every area. Everybody I’ve talked to in the hockey world has given him rave reviews. He’s going to be a tremendous asset when it comes to developing players and continuing the Wolves’ winning ways.”
Who is Rocky Thompson? Here are eight fun facts to get to know the new @Chicago_Wolves Head Coach better.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 7, 2017
More: https://t.co/0bfCQkuli6 pic.twitter.com/BXFfK39WN7
Meantime, Erie Otters head coach Kris Knoblauch is leaving the OHL and on his way to the NHL — accepting an assistant coaching job with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Windsor beat Erie 4-3 in the championship final of the 2017 Memorial Cup.
The #Flyers have named Kris Knoblauch as Assistant Coach → https://t.co/2O0RSu8qAr pic.twitter.com/pssaNx3uTK
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) June 7, 2017