Tampa Bay Lightning's Nate Thompson to play with Aces in native Alaska during Lockout -NHL Update
Tampa Bay Lightning has been one of the quietest teams in terms of moving out during the lockout in the National Hockey League (NHL), but the team’s 28-year-old centre Nate Thompson decided to move out in order to continue playing and staying sharp.
Thompson, according to TampaBay.com, is moving back to his native state of Alaska with the minor league Aces in his hometown of Anchorage.
"I went to games every weekend," Thompson said. "I was part of the booster clubs. To be able to play in the rink I grew up in is going to be pretty neat."
The native of Anchorage, Alaska, United States, was drafted as the 183rd overall back in round-six of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins and played just four games with his original draft team and was traded to New York Islanders for
the next two before continuing to play with Tampa Bay Lightning.
One thing that everyone agree about Nate Thompson is the fact that he is definitely one of the hardest working players in the league. Alaska Aces coach, Rob Murray, who coached the player when he played with the Boston Bruins affiliate in the American Hockey
League (AHL), the Providence Bruins, knows what kind of player Thompson is and hopes to have a chance at experiencing his style once again in Alaska.
"He's not going to think of himself as above these guys," said Aces coach Rob Murray. "He's going to work just as hard in practice, and when the season starts, he's going to give everything he's got. He's not going to change his game."
"When you're out there with the guys and it's all said and done, you're on the same team and you all play hockey and you have that in common," Thompson added. "Once we get going, I'm sure I'll be just another guy on the Alaska Aces."
In total, Thompson has played 265 games and potted 54 points (23 goals, 31 assists) and 155 minutes in the penalty box. He is also under contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning until the end of the 2012-2013 NHL Regular Season.
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