“A very talented two-way player'' Chad Thompson is one of the rare athletes to have played at the highest levels of both sports, having shined in the OHL and NLL.
Editor's note: This is the second in a series of profiles of the teams, athletes and two makers who will be inducted into the Orillia Sports Hall of Fame on May 4th. Click here to read the first profile of the 1973 Allan Cup Champion, Orillia Terrier.
Chad Thompson, who excelled at the highest levels in both hockey and lacrosse, will be inducted into the Orillia Sports Hall of Fame next month.
Thompson was just 4 years old when he started playing lacrosse with the Orillia Kings Peanut Division and quickly fell in love with the sport.
Fellow Orillia Sports Hall of Famer Terry Bullen said Thompson rose through the ranks and became a “very skilled lacrosse” player who would be a key component on any team he played for.
Thompson rose to the top locally, playing for the Ramah-Hammond Kings Junior A team and then Senior A lacrosse for Barrie Lakeshores.
“Chad has always been an outstanding lacrosse player,” Bren said in a letter of recommendation on behalf of Thompson, who won the John Gus McCauley Award as the Jr. A League's Most Valuable Defensive Player in 2005. I mentioned what I did.
His talent was recognized beyond Orillia when he was drafted into the National Lacrosse League by the Philadelphia Wings. He then played five seasons with Toronto, San Jose, and Orlando, scoring 64 points in 49 games as a defensive specialist.
Bullen was the Toronto Rock's defensive coach in 2007 when Thompson joined the team. The two often carpooled from Orillia to Toronto for games and practices.
“We found him to be a very talented two-way player,” Ballen said. “He has been very willing to learn and embrace the role expected of him as a player as this team goes through a period of transition.”
Thompson “was a great team player,” Bullen said.
And while I was obsessed with lacrosse from an early age, I also fell in love with hockey. He started playing hockey in Orillia at the age of six and rose to the top at age 15 with the Orillia Terriers of the state Junior Hockey League.
The following year, the 16-year-old played for the powerhouse Aurora Tigers and caught the eye of Ontario Hockey League (OHL) scouts.
He was drafted 105th overall in the 2001 draft by the London Knights. He went on to play five seasons in the OHL with the Knights, Barrie Colts, and Oshawa Generals.
While playing as a defenseman in the OHL, he appeared in over 200 regular season games, scoring 23 goals, adding 41 assists, and logging nearly 200 minutes in penalty shootouts.
“Many people who saw Chad play described him as a complete team player,” Bullen said of Thompson's hockey career.
“He was a tough player to compete against and someone who always stood up for his teammates,” Bullen recalled.
His teammate Corey Jarmy agrees.
“Chad was the definition of a great teammate,” Jermy recalled. “His dedication and desire to win was at the highest level.”
Jermy said Thompson led by example and made the players around him better.
“He treated his teammates like family and was always there for them when needed. It was a pleasure and honor to play with Chad and I am grateful for his knowledge of the game of hockey and Passion is admirable,” Jermy said.
After his playing days, Thompson continued to follow his passion and became a coach for the North Central Predators AAA program and the Orillia Minor Lacrosse Association. In 2023, he received the Ryan Krauser Memorial Award, recognizing outstanding coaching within the Predators system.
“When I look back at Chad's sports history, I can't help but feel that he has dedicated so much of his life to sports,” Ballen said.
“I don't know how many Orillia athletes have competed at this level of competition in two very demanding sports,” Bullen said.
Thompson will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame at this year's Orillia Sports Hall of Fame Gala on May 4 at Hawk Ridge Golf and Country Club.
Tickets are $130 and are available at Mel St. Onge ([email protected]) or Isabel Hill ([email protected]. )
