BRACKNELL, UK – Thirty year old centre Shaun Thompson has enjoyed a long career spanning every level in the UK, but has lost no enthusiasm as he reaches the midway point of his sixteenth season of senior hockey.
Thompson time (Kev Slyfield)
Now in his second season with the Bracknell Bees, Thompson was the leading British scorer in the National Ice Hockey League Britton Conference until a recent injury sidelined him from action. After a season of struggle in the English Premier League last campaign, the Berkshire side are enjoying a season at the right end of the table despite a recent slump in form and Thompson is enjoying his hockey at the Hive in the new look NIHL.
“The league is definitely different to what I am used to” admits Thompson. “But I am really impressed with how professional and hard working the original NIHL teams are, and putting up a big challenge”
“The hockey world is so close that even playing in different leagues you still know a lot of guys so it’s easy to bond quickly as a team, even if the roster changes.”
The Bees success this term has largely been down to the goals from Thompson and lively Czech forward Frantisek Bakrlik who are both in double figures lighting the lamp, with Callum Best just behind them with nine to his name.
Thompson is one of only a handful of players in a youthful Bees squad who is in their thirties and has his own personal training and nutrition company, Taurus. It was his enthusiasm for the gym and personal experience that led him to take up a profession popular with a number of hockey players, and one that Thompson believes benefits not only his game but that of others in his stable.
“It got to the point in my own career where I trained regularly but didn’t see any benefits” explains Thompson. “I got myself a trainer and realised quite quickly that it was something I could fit around me playing, especially when I dropped from the Elite League to the English Premier League as I had more personal time”
“Hockey has taken up a large part of my life on the ice, but now also off the ice especially over the last few years where I have taken my gym work a lot more seriously.”
Thompson began playing in his hometown of Slough as a junior after his parents visited relatives in Vancouver and took him down to the Hangar with his brother Carl, who is also icing with the Bees this season after some time out.
A strong junior career in the town famous for Mars bars, the British version of the Office and soon its Crossrail links to London, saw Thompson represent Great Britain at under 18 and 20 level before he played for the likes of Nottingham Panthers, Hull Stingrays, Basingstoke Bison and Manchester Phoenix.
His senior debut came as a fresh faced teenager for England u20’s in 2002, who at the time were playing in the English Premier League in an experiment by the EIHA that pitted a squad of hard skating, ambitious and (to the senior players on the opposition teams) annoying face cages, against Premier League opposition.
“I vaguely remember those games and it was an awesome experience at the time playing against the pro teams” laughs Thompson. “I don’t think the pro teams appreciated the games quite as much but it was great for our development. The two games I played we gave the teams a little scare early on in the games so they were good memories.”
Thompson is currently focused on returning from injury to spearhead a trophy push for the Bees, and also to continue his work with Taurus, where he wants to help a number of younger players discover the benefits of gym work and off ice training early on in their careers.
“I’m hoping to be back fit and healthy soon and carry on where I left off to push for silverware with Bracknell” explains the Bees forward.
“It’s been a long time coming and we have a great chance this season. With Taurus it’s a case of building the reach. I have a few Slough and Bracknell juniors come to train but I also work with online hockey clients so I can reach out to anyone in the country that wants to improve their game. It’s a huge part of the modern game and unfortunately the Brits are still a little behind but we are getting there.”
To view Shaun Thompson’s hockey CV click HERE
To visit the Taurus website click HERE
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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