A driving force for his team’s offence, Thompson’s was at his best in transition plays where he was proved to be an efficient passer, kickstarting plays up the ice with smart and calculated passes out of the defensive zone which came as a result of his strong defensive play in his own end, winning back pucks and quickly looking to counter-attack. He also showed strong puck carrying skills, using his powerful strides to turn around defenders off the rush with the puck skills to maneuver around opponents with pace and control or by charging his way to the middle of the offensive zone to get an open look or create opportunities from close quarters. While controlling the puck in the offensive zone, he continued his strong playmaking but also flashed the ability to finish with a hard and accurate release while in motion. His strong work ethic and high energy style of play alone made him a noticeable player during my viewings but his flashes of high-end skill and his playmaking ability are what truly made him a difference maker up front.

The relentlessness and non-stop motor of Thompson made him one of the more efficient forwards in this game for the American side. He was constantly moving his feet on the ice, attacking with speed and swarming loose pucks which led to his set-up on the first goal of the game when he won a battle along the boards and chipped it up to Heinrich who capitalized on the 2-on-1. His level of engagement in puck battles allowed him to create a few more chances throughout the game as he made quick reads after winning a race or beating out an opponent for a loose puck. When transitioning up the ice, he always looked to swing across the zone and receive passes in stride which helped him drive down the ice and beat defenders with his speed but he also possessed a set of quick hands that he showed off when he gave his team the 3-2 with an impressive solo effort goal, beating one defender then suddenly cutting to the middle and slipping a puck through the five hole.

The relentlessness and non-stop motor of Thompson made him one of the more efficient forwards in this game for the American side. He was constantly moving his feet on the ice, attacking with speed and swarming loose pucks which led to his set-up on the first goal of the game when he won a battle along the boards and chipped it up to Heinrich who capitalized on the 2-on-1. His level of engagement in puck battles allowed him to create a few more chances throughout the game as he made quick reads after winning a race or beating out an opponent for a loose puck. When transitioning up the ice, he always looked to swing across the zone and receive passes in stride which helped him drive down the ice and beat defenders with his speed but he also possessed a set of quick hands that he showed off when he gave his team the 3-2 with an impressive solo effort goal, beating one defender then suddenly cutting to the middle and slipping a puck through the five hole.

It didn’t take long to notice that Thompson’s combination of size and skill were a notch above the majority of the players in this game. Before 10 minutes had accrued in the game, he had already scored a hat trick and generated plenty of dangerous chances for his linemates. Off-puck he was forcing turnovers by using his speed and reach to close in on opponents quickly and initiate the counterattack. He was a dual threat off the rush, as two of his goals showcased his high-end shooting ability by beating the goaltender twice with a clean look from distance, while also being able to utilize his hands to get around defenders in one on one situations and make hard drives to the net. Thompson was able to generate space for himself on a consistent basis by driving through the hands of defenders both off the rush and the cycle, keeping his feet moving and allowing himself to open up his stance to get a shot off.