Watch the video above: Part-time Saskatoon Blade Thomson
SASKATOON – Jordan Thomson was the key piece in the Jan. 8 trade that sent Matt Revel to Kamloops. Fifty days after the deal was announced, Thomson arrived in Saskatoon and early reviews are positive.
“Getting to know the guys it’s really awesome,” Thomson gleams. “It’s a beautiful city, beautiful facility; couldn’t be better so far.”
Thomson originally left the Kamloops Blazers in November, returning home to Manitoba to deal with ‘personal matters’.
He didn’t play hockey again until mid-January, when the Blades assigned him to the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
It’s been over three month since Thomson played a WHL game but he’s now ready to return.
“It was really important for me to head home, spend that time with my parents. They helped me through it, and my brothers. It was great.” say’s Thomson.
“I was up in Dauphin and it just hit me that it’s the right choice to come up here (Saskatoon) and I’m really excited to be here.”
The Blades are happy the fourth overall pick in the 2011 bantam draft is now in the fold.
General Manager Lorne Molleken say’s Thomson is an “offensive type defenceman and at times is a high risk player, but certainly that’s something we knew coming in because of our lack in that area.”
Head Coach Dave Struch agrees that Thomson has a lot of upside.
“He’s very mobile. He’s very good with the puck. He moves it crisp and hard. He’s got good hands.” claims Struch.
“He’s going to be that guy on the power play we hope makes those plays for us.”
Thomson will make his Blades debut Friday against Kootenay, suit up Saturday against Brandon and again Sunday in Edmonton.
After that however, it’s a mystery.
The 17-year-old defenceman will return to Dauphin after the weekend concludes to finish up his season in the MJHL.
He’s yet to commit to becoming a Saskatoon Blade full time.
“My dad is out here with me. Right now he said we are going to stick to these three games,” Thomson declares “after that we’ll re-evaluate and go from there.”
If Thomson does decide to report to Saskatoon full time next season, it could go a long way in speeding up the Blades rebuild.
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