Thibault returning to Admirals

NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk Admirals announced they have signed defenseman Sam Thibault to a contract for the 2021-22 season.

The 25-year-old defenseman returns to Norfolk after playing in 32 games with the Admirals in 2019-20. Thibault started the 2019-20 season with the Indy Fuel before he was traded to Norfolk on Nov. 11, 2019. In his 32 games with the Admirals, the Ste-Martine, Quebec native quickly established himself as a mainstay on the Norfolk blue line.

Thibault played three seasons with Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he served as team captain in 2016-17. He began his professional career with the Wichita Thunder in 2017-18, and also received a two-game call-up with the American Hockey League's Bakersfield Condors during his rookie season.

He signed with the Toledo Walleye for the 2018-19 season, where he posted eight points in 38 games.