| Friday, August 31, 2007 3:06 AM CDT |
Former CHL star Thomas joins Thunder
By Pantagraph staff
BLOOMINGTON — The Bloomington PrairieThunder added some offensive punch Thursday with the signing of center Leo Thomas, a key member of the Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League last year.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Thomas helped Laredo to the finals of the CHL championship series by scoring 21 goals with 24 assists for 45 points in 58 games. The Bucks won the Southeast Division of the CHL with a 42-17-5 record. Thomas had eight goals and 10 assists in 21 playoff games.
“This is a big signing for us because now I feel we have the top two centers in the (International Hockey) league with Jarrod Skalde and Leo Thomas on board,” said Thunder coach Derek Booth. “There were a lot of teams after Leo.
“He will definitely fill the void in a big way that was created when Tyler Rennette retired earlier this summer.”
Thomas, a native of Toronto, is no stranger to fans who followed the now-defunct United Hockey League the last few years. The 26-year-old Thomas began his professional career with Flint in 2003 and played three seasons with the Generals before heading to Laredo last season.
Thomas scored 64 goals with 70 assists for 134 points during his career with the Generals. His best season in Flint statistically was in 2005-06 when he scored 34 goals while adding 37 assists for 71 points.
“Because we are surrounded by so many (American Hockey League) teams, he feels our location will give him a better opportunity to get to the next level,” Booth said.
Thomas has been invited to participate in the AHL preseason camp of the Peoria Rivermen next month.
The addition of Thomas brings the Thunder preseason roster to 12. Booth anticipates bringing 24 players to preseason training camp when it begins Oct. 8.
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