Thompson is first of reborn Chilliwack Chiefs to accept a scholarship

Press Release

It's a proud day in Chilliwack Chiefs hockey history as the first hockey scholarship since the team moved back to the Fraser Valley has been awarded.

Defenseman David Thompson has accepted a scholarship to play for the Penn State Nittany Lions and will attend the school beginning in September of 2013.

"He's just settling in to become a nasty player to play against with all kinds of ability," said Chiefs head coach Harvey Smyl. "He's very deserving of this scholarship. It's nice to see him rewarded for all his hard work."

Thompson, in his second BCHL season, leads all Chiefs defensemen in scoring with four goals and 12 assists in 31 games. A native of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, it will be a return home for the 6-foot-2, 187-pound blueliner.

Thompson becomes the fourth current BCHL player to commit to Penn State along with Curtis Loik, Luke Juha and Bo Pellah. Penn State currently has only club hockey but will join the NCAA officially in 2012. Next season, the Nittany Lions will compete as a Division I independent team with inclusion in the planned Big 10 hockey conference set for the 2013-14 season.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)