Logan Thompson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Logan Thompson
Thompson with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023
Born	(1997-02-25) February 25, 1997 (age 27) Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Right
NHL team	Vegas Golden Knights
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2019–present

Logan Thompson (born February 25, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL).

After playing junior in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Thompson went undrafted, and spent time in U Sports, the ECHL, and the American Hockey League (AHL) before signing his first NHL contract with the Golden Knights in 2020. After two years spent primarily with the AHL Henderson Silver Knights, Thompson received significant playing time in the 2021–22 season due to injuries, becoming the first former U Sports goaltender to start an NHL game in over 30 years. After taking over as Vegas' starting goaltender for the 2022–23 season, Thompson was named an All-Star in 2023 and won the Stanley Cup with Vegas the same year, despite himself suffering injuries late in the season.

Internationally, Thompson has represented Canada on one occasion, winning a silver medal at the 2022 IIHF World Championship.

Playing career

Junior, college, and minors

Thompson began in bantam junior hockey with the Calgary Bisons, before moving up to the midget level with the CBHA Blackhawks and Calgary Buffaloes of the Alberta Midget Hockey League. He split the 2014–15 season between the Grande Prairie Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey League and the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, appearing in 22 games for Grande Prairie and four for Brandon.

Thompson spent the next three seasons with Brandon, posting a career .905 save percentage and 3.36 goals against average with a 63–41–10 record, and helping the team to a WHL Championship in 2016. He then joined the Brock Badgers of U Sports' Ontario University Athletics (OUA) for the 2018–19 season; after posting an 18–6–0 record with a .934 save percentage and 2.24 goals against average, Thompson was named to the OUA West Division All-Rookie and First All-Star teams, while winning their Rookie of the Year and Goalie of the Year awards.

After the conclusion of Brock's season, Thompson joined the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL on an amateur try-out contract in March 2019. After being released in April after eight appearances, he signed a professional try-out contract with the Binghamton Devils of the American Hockey League (AHL), but appeared in just one game.

In May 2019, the Hershey Bears of the AHL signed Thompson to a one-year contract; however, he spent the entirety of the 2019–20 season with the Bears' ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays.

Vegas Golden Knights (2021–present)

On July 13, 2020, Thompson signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL. Thompson started the 2021 season with the team's AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights, and was named AHL Goaltender of the Month for February. However, he was recalled to the main roster in early March, replacing previous backup Oscar Dansk. On March 11, 2021, Thompson made his NHL debut against the Minnesota Wild in relief of Marc-André Fleury, playing eight minutes and stopping both shots he faced in a 4–3 loss. Thompson was then sent back down to Henderson on March 16. Thompson was again named AHL Goaltender of the Month in March, and would ultimately win his first Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL's best goaltender for the 2021 season; additionally, Thompson was named to the AHL's 2021 All-Rookie and Pacific Division All-Star teams.

Thompson with the Golden Knights in 2022.

Thompson made his first NHL start for Vegas on January 4, 2022, stopping 23 of 26 shots faced in a 3–2 loss to the Nashville Predators; in the process, Thompson became the first former U Sports goaltender to start an NHL game since George Maneluk for the New York Islanders in 1990. On January 30, the Golden Knights re-signed Thompson to a three-year, $2.3 million contract extension. Thompson recorded his first NHL win on February 20, 2022, making 35 saves on 36 shots in a 4–1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. He later recorded his first NHL shutout on March 30, 2022, stopping all 22 shots against in a 3–0 victory over the Seattle Kraken.

Due to injuries to starting goaltender Robin Lehner and backup Laurent Brossoit, Thompson was named the Golden Knights' starting goaltender entering the 2022–23 season, leading the team to a 4–3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in the season opener on October 11, 2022. Thompson then recorded his first shutout of the season on October 13, stopping 27 shots as the Golden Knights defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 1–0. Thompson was named NHL Rookie of the Month for November 2022 after winning eight of ten appearances during the month. Subsequently, he was named to his first NHL All-Star Game in early January, serving as one of the Pacific Division's goaltenders in the 2023 contest; Thompson also became the first rookie goaltender to be named to the All-Star Game since John Gibson in 2016. Similarly owing to his strong start, Thompson was initially considered a contender for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best rookie.

Thompson's rookie year was then cut short just after the All-Star Break, as he left early in a 5–1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on February 9 after suffering a lower-body injury. After missing the majority of February and March, Thompson would ultimately return for one start against the Calgary Flames on March 23; however, he again suffered a lower-body injury, and left in the third period, subsequently missing the remainder of the regular season. In his absence, the Golden Knights variously relied on Brossoit, Adin Hill, fellow rookie Jiří Patera, and a newly-acquired Jonathan Quick. Thompson shared in the Golden Knights' eventual Stanley Cup victory, despite not being able to participate in the playoffs, and his name was engraved on the Stanley Cup alongside the rest of the team.

The following season saw Hill and Thompson working as a tandem, splitting starts over the first month of the season.

International play

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver	2022 Finland

Thompson was named to the Canadian national team for the 2022 IIHF World Championship. After entering the tournament as Canada's starting goaltender and appearing in four games, Thompson suffered an injury and ceded starting duties to Chris Driedger. Thompson ultimately won a silver medal, as Canada lost the tournament finals to Finland in overtime.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	W	L	OT	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2022	Canada	WC	2		4	3	1	0	239	12	0	3.00	.881
Senior totals					4	3	1	0	239	12	0	3.00	.881

Awards and honours