Islanders name Rocky Thompson as new Bridgeport coach
Mathieu Darche stressed the need for a winning environment for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport when he was introduced as the organization’s new general manager and executive vice president. That was the same day he announced that Rick Kowalsky had been relieved of his duties after going 40-88-16 without a playoff appearance in two seasons behind Bridgeport’s bench.
Former Flyers assistant coach Rocky Thompson was named on Monday as Kowalsky’s successor. Thompson, 47, spent the previous three seasons on John Tortorella’s staff in Philadelphia and led Vegas’ AHL affiliate in Chicago to the AHL Calder Cup Finals in 2019. He also worked under recently named Islanders assistant Bob Boughner in 2020-21 as an associate coach when Boughner was the Sharks’ bench boss.
“I spent a lot more time in the AHL [as a player] than I did in the NHL so I know the AHL very well,” Darche said on May 29. “I believe in developing a winning environment. It doesn’t mean you’re going to win every year because the AHL is one of the toughest places to coach. You have your injuries, you have the NHL injuries. Teams trade draft picks, you don’t have as many prospects. The AHL will definitely be a focus for me because your players have to be ready.”
Thompson also spent the bulk of his playing career in the AHL after the Flames picked him in the third round in 1995.
He compiled a 113-71-29 record in three seasons with Chicago from 2017-20. Prior to that, Thompson went 81-40-15 coaching Windsor in the junior Ontario Hockey League from 2015-17, leading the Spitfires to the Memorial Cup in 2017.
He ran the Flyers’ power play under Tortorella, a unit that finished last in the 32-team NHL in 2023-24 and 30th last season.
Tortorella told NBC Sports Philadelphia on May 17, 10 days before he was fired: “If I could have the people that think Rocky is some sort of idiot sit down and watch his presentation and how he handles himself as a coach and how he does things, I wish they could see that before those comments are thrown around. Because he is such an intelligent coach.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
