WHL NOTEBOOK: Thompson gets comfortable in second season

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This article was published 13/04/2022 (1495 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ryder Thompson is certainly a believer in the theory that setting the bar high only pushes a player to be better.

The 17-year-old Russell product, who is in his second season skating for the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks, said he’s internally motivated to be his best all the time.

“I think I have a standard for myself in some of the games I’ve competed in,” Thompson said. “I’ve had some good games and I hold myself to that standard to play as confident as I can and play on a consistent basis like that.

“I know what I want to do going into each and every game, and try to hold that consistency.”

In 56 games — he was a healthy scratch on a rotational basis earlier in the season as the team sorted out its blue-line — Thompson has a goal and 17 assists, with 10 penalty minutes. He is tied with defenceman Clay Hanus for the team lead with a plus-minus of +34.

“I take a lot of pride in my plus-minus,” Thompson said. “I like to take care of my own end before playing offensively. I want to play a sound defensive game and keep the puck out of our net so our forwards can put it in their net and I can help contribute that way.”

The five-foot-11, 177-pound Thompson, who grew up with 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.

He signed with Portland on Aug. 29, 2019, and prior to joining them for the shortened 2020-21 season last spring, he skated with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Waywayseecappo Wolverines for eight games before the pandemic-induced shutdown.

When the WHL season finally started, Thompson dressed for 14 of Portland’s 24 games while getting a lesson in what’s expected of major junior players.

“It was a big help having those 14 games,” Thompson said. “I got a taste of what the WHL is like coming into this year and being a more impactful player and help the team win. I thought that was huge and hoped a lot. I took as much as I could from the older guys and the coaches.”

As a result, Thompson wanted a lot more from himself this season when he returned to the Oregon city of 662,000, which has a metro population of 2.1 million.

“I think there are not only from myself but also my coaches,” Thompson said. “They expect more from me as a teammate and a player and an individual. I’m trying to do as much as I can to help the team win and be a good teammate.”

He said his greatest gains over his rookie season have come offensively as he’s worked on his shot and his passing. He added that if he has a good stick in own end and is able to disrupt the play, he can make a quick pass and join the rush.

Thompson scored his first WHL goal on March 25 during a 7-1 win over the Tri-City Americans, punctuating a season-high four-game point streak. With his team up 3-0, he jumped into the slot and wired a shot over the glove of goalie Nick Avakyan. It’s a moment he won’t soon forget.

“A few shifts earlier I got the puck in the exact same spot and rung one right off the post,” Thompson said with a chuckle. “I was a bit irritated and wanted one pretty badly after that. I jumped from the blue-line and Cross Hanas gave me a really nice pass, right on the tape, so it made it easy. I saw the corner and shot it and luckily it went in. It was a pretty cool feeling.”

Thompson was mobbed by his teammates on the ice, and was also given the puck. He said it was a nice moment to share.

“They were all pretty excited,” Thompson said. “I had been waiting for that one for a long time so when they found out it was me, they all came up to congratulate me. That was pretty cool. They made it feel pretty awesome, pretty special.”

In many ways, Thompson is still a newcomer.

While the East Division played in a hub in Regina, the U.S. Division travelled to the other American cities to play. Only one rink allowed fans, so Thompson is getting his first taste of that, and also travelling across the border to meet B.C. Division teams.

“Unfortunately we don’t get to go on that eastern swing but we still get to go to British Columbia, so that was new,” Thompson said. “I still feel like a rookie. The other guys have lots more games and lots more experience in that sense, but it’s been cool. I’m loving the knowledge I’m learning from the other guys and the coaches.”

The fans are also a treat.

In the 2016 final that the Wheat Kings won, Seattle Thunderbirds fans loudly yelled “Brandon sucks” whenever they could, but it’s the Winterhawks they hold a special antipathy for.

“It’s pretty cool, especially when we go to Seattle,” Thompson said. “All the fans are pretty passionate for their team, which is awesome to see. It just ramps up the game that much more, the intensity, and it makes for a fun game for sure. I’ve never seen anything like that.”

Thompson, who was named the team’s scholastic player of the year award for high school students last season, is finishing up Grade 12 this year with in-person classes. He and some of his teammates attend school in the morning and then head to the rink in the afternoon.

He said balancing the league’s 68-game schedule with school hasn’t been too bad, especially after attending the Rink Hockey Academy for two seasons prior to the pandemic.

“I wouldn’t say it’s been an overly huge adjustment,” Thompson said. “I’ve been used to playing every day, especially going to Rink Hockey Academy. You just have to take care of your body. There’s been a lot on the go, especially with school, but you just have to follow what your coaches are saying and keep up with your teachers and you’ll be just fine. It’s lots of maintenance at the rink with the trainers to keep your body at a good performance level.”

Thompson isn’t the only Westman resident on the Winterhawks. He is joined by the team’s co-captain, Tyson Kozak of Souris, who is fourth in team scoring with 32 goals and 37 assists in his 19-year-old season.

Thompson said Kozak is an inspiration to his teammates.

“He’s a great player,” Thompson said. “I would describe him as a workhorse on the ice and off the ice. He’s a great leader. He leads by example. He always knows what he’s doing and has a good second effort so he’s competing lots. He’s a good battler and helps win lots of games.”

Portland sits third overall in the Western Conference with a record of 45-16-3-2. They are second in the league behind the Winnipeg Ice with 289 goals for, and have allowed the seventh fewest goals in the WHL with 188.

“I think we play fast and move the puck well,” Thompson said. “I’d say we’re pretty tight as a team. We gelled lots at the start of the year and everyone is doing it for the guy next to them. We’re fast, we’re physical when needed and we’re all team players. There is no selfishness and that really translates to wins.”

Their playoff opponent remains unknown, in part due to the race at the bottom of the conference, and also because they still could move past the second-place Kamloops Blazers. Both teams have two games left to play, with Kamloops holding a two-point edge.

“I haven’t had a taste of playoff hockey yet so I’m pretty excited for that,” Thompson said. “The older guys have emphasized how cool it is and how intense the games are so I’m really looking forward to that.”

He may have some familiar faces in the crowd.

Thompson’s parents Mike and Tanya have been able to attend some games, and hope to make another trip in the playoffs.

If they make it, they’ll see firsthand that their son has high hopes for the rest of this season.

“I hope to win a WHL championship with this team,” Thompson said. “I think that would be pretty cool, and I would love for that to happen. Individually, I would love to be drafted to the NHL. That would be a dream come true, but if that doesn’t happen, I’ll just work towards a contract in the future.”

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