Nate Thompson, a perennial fourth-line player known for his skills in the faceoff circle, officially announced his retirement Wednesday after a long career that notably led him to the Montreal Canadiens.
The 38-year-old announced this as a guest on the “Empty Netters” podcast. He shared an excerpt of the interview on his social networks, thereby formalizing his decision after 15 years of career.
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“From the age of 4 to 38, ice hockey was my life and my best friend. I am beyond grateful for the people I have met and the friendships that have been formed. All good things must come to an end, so thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey,” Thompson wrote.
A native of Anchorage, Alaska, he played for nine National League teams, including the Habs, for a year between 2019 and 2020. He scored 21 points in 88 games at Montreal and acted as a mentor to the club’s young forwards.
After his time with CH, Thompson also played for the Philadelphia Flyers and Winnipeg Jets. In 2022-2023 he played in the American League with the Ontario Reign after his professional tryout with the Los Angeles Kings was unsuccessful.
The former Boston Bruins sixth-round pick (183rd overall) in the 2003 draft finished his career with 164 points in 844 games. He had 21 points in 86 playoff games.
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