The OHL playoffs of 2018-2019 were very much an up and down affair for the Sudbury Wolves.

A four game sweep of the Mississauga Steelheads was followed by a complete turning of the tables, with the local juniors dropping four straight encounters at the hands of the Ottawa 67’s.

From a completely individual perspective, however, the eight game stretch was far more up than down for rookie Sudbury defenceman Jack Thompson. Registering 16 points in the first 52 games of his OHL career, the smooth-skating blueliner enjoyed something of a postseason breakout party, racking up a goal and four assists in his playoff debut.

“In the second half of that year, my confidence grew and I got more opportunities with injuries and trades,” Thompson suggested recently. “The playoffs is when I felt like I had the most confidence, and that just carried over to my second year.”

Thompson hasn’t looked back since.

Doubling his offensive output in his sophomore year (13G-19A in 63 games), the native of Courtice (ON) would find himself selected in the 3rd round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft - by the Tampa Bay Lightning, no less.

And where many a young hockey prospect might bemoan the season that wasn’t in 2020-2021, Thompson could not have asked for much more, averaging a point a game while experiencing an 18 game stint in Sweden, dressing for his first professional game in mid-May, and signing an entry level contract with the defending Stanley Cup champions the very next day.

“I think the last year and a half, it’s been my best hockey,” he said.

This coming from a kid who stood out on the ice, right from the start, travelling to Edmonton as a youngster for the attraction that is the Brick Invitational Tournament, making an annual spring and summer tradition of skating on all-star teams with the elite of the GTA.

It really was simply a matter of learning to do what he could do well, but do it at another level.

“I have a good hockey IQ, but in my first year (with the Wolves), I was rushing it a bit, not wanting to make any mistakes,” said Thompson. “Once I got that confidence, I was moving my feet, making quick plays, joining the rush, just playing loose and having fun with the puck on my stick.”

Yet it was all of the others somewhat less noticeable aspects of his game where Sudbury associate coach Darryl Moxam most appreciated his efforts. “He was working hard on some of his deficiencies, puck battles in the corners with guys that were two, three, four years older, and quite honestly, a lot bigger,” said Moxam.

“Jack was finding ways to win puck battles, whether that be in our end, or at the blue line. When Jack gets time and space, he’s going to make the right play 99% of the time.”

High praise, perhaps, but praise bestowed upon a young man who found a way to actually ramp up his game as a global health crisis whirled around him. “I may have prepped better than I had in years past, just because I had so much time to work on it,” said Thompson, reflecting on the summer of 2020.

“Days in the gym, working on agility, building strength every day: I felt like I was at the strongest point in my career when I left for Sweden.”

Words of advice were absorbed seamlessly, falling directly in line with an approach to hockey that is already ingrained in the player that is Jack Thompson. “I told him to just be the hardest working guy,” said Moxam, fiercely proud of what the young blueliner has accomplished.

“Jack is an offensive player, but you may not necessarily get a chance to show your best attributes early on, so focus on what you will have a chance to show: your compete level, your willingness to play on the defensive side of the puck, your willing to be the hardest working player on the ice, each and every day.”

A quarantine period would greet his return from Europe, after which time he spent about three weeks or so, both skating with the Crunch, and working with his skills/skating coach. “When I got the opportunity to play in the last game, I was fired up,” said Thompson. “I was ready to go.”

Very basic analytics would tend to back-up his contention, as the 19 year-old picked up an assist, fired three shots on net and finished the evening with a +2, all part of 5-3 Syracuse triumph over the hometown Rochester Americans.

Following the success of Sudbury teammate and fellow defenceman Isaak Phillips in Rockford, Thompson draws upon a similar focus, looking for key improvements in his game. “I think for me, it’s my gap,” he said. “I know that Philly (Phillips) said the same thing, but it’s so true.”

“When you’re defending good players at the next level and you can take their time and space away, get on them before your blueline, then you don’t have to defend, really. You can close off the play and get on offense quickly. It’s a lot of angles and good stick positioning.”

And it’s a part of his game that might not be quite as intuitive as the wizardry he displays in getting pucks from the point on net, through traffic. It’s been apparent from the day he arrived in Sudbury.

“His head is always up, his eyes always on the net,” said Moxam. “He’s not worried about scoring goals from the blue line. He’s worried about getting pucks to the net to give his guys that are down low battling an opportunity to score. He’s got a natural ability to do that. What we did work on with him was a chance to do that, but do it quicker.”

“You look at the NHL and so many goals come off tips of shots from the point, or rebounds of shots from the point, or seeing-eye shots from the point,” said Thompson. “If you’re getting your shots through, it just helps your team so much more. It’s a good skill to have in your toolbox.”

It’s just one of the many assets that has caused Tampa Bay team management to view Thompson as a valuable commodity. “I knew that I had a good month of practicing and they were talking to me a lot,” he said. “Even after playing well, I didn’t expect a contract. I knew that they liked what they saw, but I had only played one (AHL) game.”

Though signed to an NHL contract, Thompson understands that there is a very good chance that his 2021-2022 game experience will come as a member of the Wolves. He is more than fine with that.

“I think it’s the same focus, no matter where I am,” he said. “I need to work hard. I’ll be talking to development people in Tampa; I’m sure they will be watching my games. I just have to make sure that I’m the best version of myself in Sudbury, helping the younger guys out, being a leader.”

“I’m excited to get back, wherever I go.”