Forward Thompson commits to EWU from MNJHL's Marquette Royales

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Eastern Washington University is pleased to announce a playing commitment from forward Tyler Thompson (Marysville, WA) to join the Eagles for the 2014/15 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season.

The 5-foot-9, 190 pound Thompson comes to the Eagles from the Marquette Royales of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League where he helped his team reach the USA Hockey National Tournament after winning the MNJHL title.

Thompson spent the previous season split between the New Mexico Renegades and the Seattle Totems, where he played parts of four seasons.

Over 150 games of junior hockey experience, Thompson scored 57 goals and added 64 assists and a whopping 467 penalty minutes.

"Tyler is a good addition for us," says Eagles general manager Bill Shaw. "He was close to a point per game in junior hockey and he also brings the sandpaper that makes him difficult to play against."

The Eagles had identified a need for players that could provide the push-back on a nightly basis that had been lacking the last two seasons. Thompson, as a left handed center, also helps the Eagles with flexibility.

"Center ice depth as well as the blue line depth is something you can never have too much of and Tyler brings that as an asset as well," adds Shaw.

Thompson is the ninth player to commit to the Eagles this spring, but just the second forward. He joins goaltenders Tyler O'Donnell (Kelowna Chiefs, KIJHL), Austin Brihn (Helena Bighorns, AWHL) and Corey Grummick (Rochester Ice Hawks, MNJHL), as well as defenceman Cody Breitenstein (Peninsula Panthers, VIJHL), Tanner Grey (Kimberley Dynamiters, KIJHL), Chris Watkins (Dakota College, NCJAA) and Brandon Wilbert (Finlandia University, NCAA DIII), and forward Rudy Sulmonte (Corpus Christi IceRays, NAHL).