South Carolina Stingrays defenseman Blake Thompson could have wound up as a golfer rather than a hockey player.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound native of Listowel, Ont. was quite accomplished on the links growing up, once competing in the Canadian Junior Golf Championship.

Hockey, however, ultimately won out. Thompson first put on skates at around four years old. The choice came down to playing on a team rather than going it alone.

“I like that hockey is a team sport,” the 32-year-old veteran blueliner told Stingrays PR. “There’s 20 guys in the locker room you can rely on if you’re not having a great day at work, whereas in golf, it’s just you and your thoughts for hours. It was a lot easier to transition to hockey and focus more on that.”

Working His Way Up

It was definitely the right choice. Thompson began playing in house leagues in his hometown before progressing through the junior ranks. He eventually worked his way to the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), which landed him a scholarship to NCAA Division III St. Norbert College in Wisconsin.

It was a powerhouse program, having won three national championships when Thompson arrived. He won a national title during his first season and helped the team to several more deep post-season runs during his time there.

“We had some good teams at St. Norbert, and our coach did a really good job recruiting a lot of great players,” Thompson said.

Thompson’s pro hockey journey has taken him across North America and Europe. He made his debut with the Orlando Solar Bears in 2017 before spending time with the SPHL’s Evansville Thunderbolts. He returned to the ECHL and played 11 games with the Cincinnati Cyclones before being dealt to the Adirondack Thunder.

His first season in Adirondack was highlighted by a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. After four seasons with the Thunder, Thompson finally earned a call-up to the American Hockey League, where he appeared in one game with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

“I got my one game in, so I can say I did it,” Thompson said. “I think after that, I was pretty much set to go overseas and try that lifestyle out.”

Off To Europe and Back Again

Thompson spent the last two seasons in the EIHL with the Cardiff Devils and Coventry Blaze. He got to appear in the playoffs, although Cardiff lost in the finals and Coventry fell just short of the Final Four.

When Thompson decided to return to the United States, he was put in touch with the Stingrays by Danny Kristo, his former Coventry teammate. Kristo connected him with Stingrays head coach Jared Nightingale, who was immediately impressed.

“Blake was one of the first names I looked into this off-season,” Nightingale told Stingrays PR. “Watching his games, I was impressed right away. He really takes care of himself, and he’s an all-around defenseman. We’re very fortunate to have him.”

Thompson plays defense with a bit of snarl, something Rays fans have come to appreciate. Kristo does, too.

“His best attribute is his competitive edge,” the former Montreal Canadiens draft pick said. “He was never really given anything and developed into a really good player.”

For Thompson, the decision to join the Stingrays this season was about being part of a winning culture.

“One of the things that was important when I was coming here is that the expectation is to win,” he said. “With our ownership, Rob Concannon, and our coaching staff, we expect to win or put ourselves in a spot to win. We try to bring that mentality to every game.”

Through 41 games, Thompson has registered 24 points (2-22-24) with a +9 rating. As the Stingrays push toward the post-season, his veteran presence and playmaking will be a key role in the team’s success.

Whether dishing out assists or preventing a goal, the Stingrays are especially glad Thompson chose hockey over golf.