Aidan Thompson
{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Aidan Thompson
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|2|18}}
| birth_place = Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 180
| position = Forward
| shoots = Left
| league = NHL
| team = Chicago Blackhawks
| prospect_league = AHL
| prospect_team = Rockford IceHogs
| ntl_team =
| draft = 90th overall
| draft_year = 2022
| draft_team = Chicago Blackhawks
| career_start = 2025
}}
Aidan Thompson (born February 18, 2002) is an American professional ice hockey player for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (AHL). He was drafted 90th overall by the Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL entry draft. He played college ice hockey at Denver.
Early life
Thompson was born to Brad and Jenny Thompson, and has a younger brother, Marek.{{cite web|url=https://denverpioneers.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/aidan-thompson/5728 |title=Aidan Thompson |website=denverpioneers.com |access-date=April 15, 2025}} He attended Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts where he played ice hockey.{{cite web|url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/sports/local_sports/former-berkshire-school-hockey-star-aidan-thompson-drafted-by-the-nhls-chicago-blackhawks/article_4fee00e0-feda-11ec-93ff-c70bfe50e427.html |title=Former Berkshire School hockey star Aidan Thompson drafted by the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks |newspaper=The Berkshire Eagle |date=July 8, 2022 |access-date=April 15, 2025}}
Playing career
=Junior=
Thompson played two seasons for the Lincoln Stars. During the 2020–21 season, he recorded ten goals and 23 assists in 52 games. During the 2021–22 season, he served as alternate captain and recorded 24 goals and 58 assists in 57 games. Following the season he was named to the All-USHL Second team.
=College=
Thompson began his collegiate career for the Denver Pioneers during the 2022–23 season. He scored first career goal on November 11, 2022, in a game against North Dakota. During his freshman season he ten goals and 22 assists in 32 games. His 32 points led all Pioneer freshmen in scoring. During the 2023–24 season, in his sophomore year, he recorded 11 goals and 19 assists in 44 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/20250412/chicago-blackhawks/blackhawks-prospect-breakdown-how-aidan-thompson-became-a-top-college-offensive-player/ |title=Blackhawks prospect breakdown: How Aidan Thompson became a top college offensive player |newspaper=Daily Herald |first=Scott |last=Powers |date=April 12, 2025 |access-date=April 14, 2025}} He ranked first on the team with 344 faceoff wins, fourth in shots (93), and power-play goals (4). During the championship game of the 2024 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament against Boston College, he won seven of 12 face-offs and helped lead Denver to their record tenth NCAA tournament championship in program history.{{cite web|url=https://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/hockey/2024/04/14/fort-collins-native-aidan-thompson-helps-denver-hockey-win-national-title/73317489007/ |title=Fort Collins native Aidan Thompson helps Denver hockey win national title |newspaper=Fort Collins Coloradoan |first=Kevin |last=Lytle |date=April 14, 2024 |access-date=April 14, 2025}}
On September 27, 2024, he was named an alternate captain for the 2024–25 season.{{cite web|url=https://denvergazette.com/sports/college-sports/university-of-denver-hockey-names-carter-king-captain-colorado-sunshine/article_84d48664-7cfd-11ef-be03-f7fd3c92097c.html |title= University of Denver hockey names Carter King captain |newspaper=The Denver Gazette |first=Chris |last=Schmaedeke |date=September 28, 2024 |access-date=April 14, 2025}} During his junior year he recorded a career-high 21 goals and 34 assists in 44 games, and helped Denver advance to the Frozen Four for the second consecutive year. He ranked second in the NCAA in scoring, trailing his teammate Jack Devine.{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2025/04/12/blackhawks-prospects-aidan-thompson-dominic-james-nhl-contracts |title=Blackhawks sign prospect Aidan Thompson, college hockey's second-leading scorer |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |first=Ben |last=Pope |date=April 12, 2025 |access-date=April 14, 2025}} He began the season on a 14-game point streak, tied for the second-longest by a Pioneer since 2005. In November 2024, he scored six goals and five assists, and led all players in the NCHC with 11 points. He was subsequently named NCHC Player of the Month.{{cite web|url=https://denverpioneers.com/news/2024/12/4/du-pioneers-hockey-aidan-thompson-named-nchc-november-player-of-the-month.aspx |title=Aidan Thompson Named NCHC Player of the Month for November |website=denverpioneers.com |first=Ron |last=Knabenbauer |date=December 4, 2024 |access-date=April 14, 2025}} Following the season he was named to the All-NCHC Second Team.{{cite web|url=https://denverpioneers.com/news/2025/3/12/six-du-hockey-pioneers-named-to-2024-25-nchc-all-conference-teams.aspx |title=Six Pioneers Named to 2024-25 NCHC All-Conference Teams |website=denverpioneers.com |first=Ron |last=Knabenbauer |date=March 12, 2025 |access-date=April 14, 2025}} He finished his collegiate career with 42 goals and 75 assists in 120 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/release-blackhawks-sign-aidan-thompson-to-entry-level-deal |title=RELEASE: Blackhawks Sign Aidan Thompson to Entry-Level Deal |website=NHL.com |date=April 12, 2025 |access-date=April 14, 2025}}
=Professional=
On April 12, 2025, Thompson signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, starting during the 2025–26 season.{{cite web|url=https://denvergazette.com/sports/college-sports/du-pioneers-aidan-thompson-signs-with-blackhawks-colorado-sunshine/article_252890b4-420c-4584-876d-09396f6a2c16.html |title= DU Pioneers' Aidan Thompson signs with Blackhawks |newspaper=The Denver Gazette |first=Chris |last=Schmaedeke |date=April 13, 2025 |access-date=April 14, 2025}} He also signed a professional tryout with the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs for the remainder of the 2024–25 season.{{cite web |url=https://icehogs.com/news/aidan-thompson-joins-rockford-on-pto |title=Aidan Thompson Joins Rockford on PTO |website=icehogs.com |date=April 12, 2025 |access-date=April 12, 2025}}
Career statistics
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |
| 2018–19
| USHL | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2020–21 | Lincoln Stars | USHL | 52 | 10 | 23 | 33 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22
| Lincoln Stars | USHL | 57 | 24 | 58 | 82 | 52 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2022–23 | NCHC | 32 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24
| University of Denver | NCHC | 44 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2024–25 | University of Denver | NCHC | 44 | 21 | 34 | 55 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" |NCAA totals ! 120 ! 42 ! 75 ! 117 ! 65 ! — ! — ! — ! — ! — |
Awards and honors
| class="wikitable"
! Award ! Year ! |
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" |
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" |College |
| All-NCHC Second Team
| 2025 |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats |elite=536536 |hockeydb=217729 |nhl=8483685}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Aidan}}
Category:Ice hockey players from Colorado
Category:People from Fort Collins, Colorado
Category:American men's ice hockey forwards
Category:Chicago Blackhawks draft picks
Category:Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey players
Category:Lincoln Stars players
Category:Rockford IceHogs (AHL) players