Cliff Thompson

Clifford Bernard Thompson (December 9, 1918 – February 6, 1997) was an American professional ice hockey player. He played defense in the Boston Bruins organization from 1939 until 1950, playing 16 career games in the National Hockey League with the Bruins during 1941–42 and 1948–49 seasons. The rest of his career was mainly spent in the minor Eastern Hockey League. After his playing career Thompsons became an linesman, and in 1955 was involved in an altercation with Maurice Richard, leading to Richard's suspension and the Richard Riot.

Cliff Thompson
Born	(1918-12-09)December 9, 1918 Winchester, Massachusetts, United States
Died	February 6, 1997(1997-02-06) (aged 78)
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Boston Bruins
Playing career	1939–1950

Playing career

Born in Winchester, Massachusetts but grew up in Stoneham, Massachusetts, Thompson started his pro career with a tryout with the Boston Olympics in the 1938–39 season. He returned for two seasons with the Olympics, scoring 16 goals in 35 games in his rookie season. In 1941–42, he made his NHL debut with the Bruins, playing three games, while mainly playing for the Hershey Bears and St. Paul of the American Hockey Association (AHA). From 1942–1945, Thompson fought in World War II. He returned to the Olympics and played every season for the club until 1950, with a ten-game call-up to the Bruins in 1948–49 and nine games for the Bears that same season.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1938–39	Hebron Academy	HS-ME		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1938–39	Boston Olympics	QPHL		4	3	1	4	2		—	—	—	—	—
1939–40	Boston Olympics	EAHL		35	16	14	30	33		5	0	2	2	4
1940–41	Boston Olympics	EAHL		65	12	18	30	80		4	0	4	4	4
1941–42	Boston Bruins	NHL		6	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1941–42	Hershey Bears	AHL		20	3	5	8	2		—	—	—	—	—
1941–42	St. Paul Saints	AHA		28	5	6	11	22		2	1	0	1	0
1941–42	Boston Olympics	EAHL		—	—	—	—	—		1	0	1	1	0
1945–46	Boston Olympics	EAHL		43	7	13	20	18		12	2	4	6	0
1946–47	Boston Olympics	EAHL		53	11	19	30	51		9	2	6	8	6
1947–48	Boston Olympics	QSHL		48	10	20	30	57		—	—	—	—	—
1947–48	Boston Olympics	EAHL		19	5	16	21	22		—	—	—	—	—
1948–49	Boston Bruins	NHL		10	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1948–49	Hershey Bears	AHL		9	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1948–49	Boston Olympics	QSHL		26	4	18	22	35		—	—	—	—	—
1949–50	Boston Olympics	EAHL		26	7	14	21	57		3	2	1	3	0
EAHL totals				241	58	94	152	261		34	6	18	24	14
NHL totals				16	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—

Awards and honours

• EAHL Second All-Star Team (1947, 1948)

References

• "NHL.com - Players: Cliff Thompson - Stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2009-07-31.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com