Multi-Dimensional Thompson Commits For 2013

Thompson attempts to shut down an offensive attempt as a Quesnel Millionaire last season.

Chilliwack Chiefs defenseman David Thompson has accepted a scholarship to Penn State in 2013, according to a team release.

David Thompson

Defenseman
Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
6'2", 187 pounds
Glen Mills, PA
DOB 5/19/1992

EliteProspects.com

Season   Team                   Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------
2010-11  Quesnel Millionaires   BCHL   60    5    9   14   43
2011-12  Chilliwack Chiefs      BCHL   31    4   12   16   29

Here's the release quote from Chiefs head coach Harvey Smyl:

"He's just settling in to become a nasty player to play against with all kinds of ability. He's very deserving of this scholarship. It's nice to see him rewarded for all his hard work."

PSU's defensive recruiting so far has been a nice mix of puck movers and guys with some snarl. And given that Thompson cites Chris Pronger ("he’s mean and he can control a game all by himself," said Thompson) and Scott Stevens ("he was just an animal out there and I definitely try to model myself after him") as two of his favorite players, it might be tempting to pigeonhole him as the latter. He can certainly take care of himself when punches get thrown (1:26 in, and no, I'm not sure why I continue to post fight videos when this is a college hockey blog).



But that would be ignoring the righty's place as the leading scorer among defensemen on a Chiefs team in the Interior Conference, just two points off of the second-place pace set by Merritt (but well behind Curtis Loik's juggernaut Penticton team).

Last year with the Quesnel Millionaires, Thompson won the team's final rookie of the year award (the Millionaires relocated and became the Chiefs during the offseason). Two of his five goals came in the same game, and an assist also helped him take home first-star honors in a 7-4 win over Prince George on November 30, 2010. That victory was one of only 13 for Quesnel in its final season, and a mercifully quick departure from the inclusive BCHL playoff bracket followed.

Before relocating to Canada, Thompson came up largely with the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers, where his midget major 18U team was the 2010 Atlantic District champions. Thompson scored once and added two assists during the Jr. Flyers' run at nationals, which didn't ended until a championship game loss and a silver-medal finish. Captain of that team? Thomas Seravalli, Icer Nick's cousin. Small world, this hockey thing.

I'll leave this post with a link to a great Thompson article in the Chilliwack Progress that I couldn't incorporate into this post as much as I would have liked. Don't let my limitations as a blogger limit your knowledge.