Thompson returns to Nailers

WHEELING, W.Va. - The Wheeling Nailers announced the team has re-signed defenseman Tristan Thompson to a contract for the 2026-27 season.

Thompson, 29, was originally acquired by the Nailers in a trade from the Maine Mariners in late January of this past season. After recording 14 points and a +4 rating in 33 games with Maine, he saw his numbers improve even more with Wheeling, has he tallied 17 points and a +8 rating in 31 contests before adding one goal and one assist in 15 playoff games.

This will be Thompson's sixth season as a pro, as well as his sixth in the ECHL, as he has also suited up with the Rapid City Rush, Savannah Ghost Pirates, and Adirondack Thunder. Statistically speaking, 2025-26 was Thompson's second best season individually, trailing only the 2022-23 campaign, when he led all Savannah defensemen with 42 points, while playing in all 72 regular-season games. Thompson has totaled 143 points (23g-120a) in 261 career ECHL games.

Prior to turning pro, the Canmore, Alberta native played four seasons of college hockey at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks from 2016-20. He accumulated 51 points (18g-33a) in 136 career games with the Nanooks. His best individual season at school came in 2018-19, when he finished second on the team and first among defensemen with 20 points. Thompson also enjoyed success in junior hockey, which included an Alberta Junior Hockey League championship while playing for the Brooks Bandits in 2015-16.