Thomas heading to NHL
March 27, 2006 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release
KEARNEY - The Tri-City of the United States Hockey League learned late Sunday evening that former Storm forward Bill Thomas has signed a professional contract with the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League.
Thomas is scheduled to fly to Phoenix on Monday and join the Coyotes and their head coach Wayne Gretzky for practice. While Thomas will not play in Phoenix's game on Tuesday against Nashville, Thomas is expecting to be in the Coyotes' lineup later this week. Phoenix plays at San Jose on both Thursday and Saturday.
"Every young hockey player dreams of playing in the NHL," Thomas said Sunday. "It seems to have happened so fast and I'm just trying to enjoy what is happening at this point."
Thomas has been a dominant player at every level over the past four seasons. While with the Storm, Thomas set numerous individual scoring records. He is the Storm's all-time career leader in points (120), goals (60), assists (60) and game-winning goals (13). Thomas played an important role on the 2003-04 Storm team that went 43-12-5 and won the USHL's Anderson Cup.
"As a 20-year-old (in 2003-04) he kind of exploded," says Thomas' Storm coach Bliss Littler. "We knew then that he would be a special college player and with what he's done recently, you knew this was coming. We are all very excited for Bill and I know he'll take advantage of this opportunity."
After two seasons with Tri-City, Thomas joined the University of Nebraska at Omaha to play collegiate hockey. Thomas' sophomore season ended Friday after he helped the program to its first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament. This year Thomas led the Mavericks in goal scoring with 27 and was second on the team with 50 points. This year he was the NCAA's fifth-leading goal scorer and was tied for 15th on the NCAA's scoring list.
Thomas' additional individual collegiate achievements include being named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's Rookie of the Year in 2005 after he led all freshmen in scoring. He was also named to the CCHA's second team following his freshman season.
"The USHL and the coaches in that league get players ready for the next level," said Thomas. "The time I spent in Tri-City simply made me a better hockey player."
As for the Storm organization, who is currently concluding its sixth season in central Nebraska, Thomas is the first former player to sign a professional contract. When he plays for the Coyotes later this week, he will also become the first to play at the NHL level.
"As an organization to have somebody make it to the NHL in six years is pretty quick. However, I think we'll have a couple other guys make their professional debuts shortly," Littler said. "It really shows the quality of players in the USHL and that come through here."
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