Man of the Week: Tyce Thompson

KHL.ru’s weekly column returns with Tyce Thompson. Last week, the Canadian forward netted his first KHL hat-trick as Barys downed the Shanghai Dragons 4–2 on the road. The Kazakhs had a great start to the new season and are looking forward to a return to the playoffs.

Tyce Thompson produced a performance to remember last Friday, scoring his first KHL hat trick as Barys rallied from two goals down to defeat the Shanghai Dragons 4-2. The American forward took advantage of a pair of power-play opportunities, scoring twice just 69 seconds apart during the second period to bring the visitors level. He then completed his hat trick with an empty-netter in the closing seconds.

Mikhail Kravets’ team has been among the Eastern Conference’s early pace-setters. Barys scored 38 goals in its first 10 games, the highest total in the League during September, and had collected 25 points through 21 games by the end of October. Thompson has been a major contributor to that success. With eleven goals and two assists in 21 appearances, he is already among the KHL’s leading goal scorers and second only to Justin Bailey on his own team. His finishing ability has added another dimension to an attack that is making Barys a serious contender for a playoff place.

Early years

Born on July 12, 1999, in Oyster Bay, New York, and raised in Milford, Connecticut, Thompson comes from a hockey family. His father, Brent, was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1989 and spent six seasons in the NHL, while his older brother Tage is now an established star with the Buffalo Sabres. Tyce followed a different route, spending two seasons with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints before moving on to Providence College.

Thompson quickly became an important player for the Friars. During his three seasons in the NCAA, he recorded 94 points (38+56) in 101 games. His sophomore campaign in 2019-20 was particularly impressive, as he scored 19 goals and added 25 assists in only 34 appearances, finishing third in the entire NCAA in scoring. In his final year, he served as team captain and produced another 25 points (11+14) in 25 games. He earned a place on the Hockey East Second All-Star Team and the NCAA's Second All-USCHO Team, completing a successful collegiate career.

Climbing up

The New Jersey Devils selected Thompson in the fourth round, 96^th overall, of the 2019 NHL Draft. After completing his junior season at Providence, he signed his entry-level contract on March 24, 2021, and made his NHL debut against Buffalo on April 6. It was a particularly special occasion, as he faced his brother Tage for the first time at the highest level. Tyce also recorded his first NHL point, an assist, in that very game.

However, establishing himself in the NHL proved difficult. Thompson appeared in eleven games for New Jersey over three seasons, registering one assist, while spending most of his time in the AHL. He played for the Binghamton Devils and Utica Comets before joining the Bridgeport Islanders organization in November 2023. Across 214 AHL regular-season appearances, he accumulated 85 (26+59) points.

Move to the KHL

In August 2025, Thompson decided to take his career overseas, signing a one-year contract with Barys. It was his first opportunity to play outside North America, and the move proved successful. In his first KHL campaign, he registered 25 (15+10) points in 57 games, quickly establishing himself as a regular contributor in the Astana lineup.

Barys were sufficiently impressed to extend his contract for another season, and Thompson has rewarded that confidence with an even stronger start. His eleven goals in 21 games are already a significant contribution to the team's attack, while his three-goal performance against Shanghai demonstrated his ability to take responsibility in crucial moments.

For Barys, the stakes are particularly high. The Kazakhstan club has missed the playoffs for four consecutive seasons, having last reached the postseason in 2021-2022. After several difficult campaigns, the team is showing signs of a revival under Kravets. With a productive forward group and Thompson continuing to find the net, Barys has a real chance to end that long absence from the playoffs and return to the postseason this spring.