A year has definitely made a difference for Flin Flin Bombers defenceman Cory Thomas.
Last year the St. Brieux, Sask., product worked to adjust to the SJHL as a 17-year-old rookie. His confidence and comfort seemed to improve as the season went on and Thomas found himself as an important contributor as the Bombers reached SJHL finals.
His strong play has continued this season.
“I feel a lot more confident this year,” Thomas said. “I’m well adjusted to the faster pace and find that I have more time to make better plays. I’ve also been more vocal on the ice, which helps my teammates know where I am and what options they have.”
Lately Thomas has been playing on the Bombers top defensive pairing with Eric Sinclair, who was the league’s Defenceman of the Year last season with Melfort.
“We communicate great on the ice and move the puck really well,” Sinclair said of skating with Thomas. “He’s got a big body and he uses it to come out with the puck virtually every time, which is huge for shutting down teams and shifting the attack.”
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Thomas’ forte is protecting his team’s net.
“His size is a big advantage,” Bombers head coach Mike Reagan said. “He is tough to play against. He is physical. … He skates well for a big man. He just defends really well.”
Reagan said Thomas has a good shot and is developing offensively. Through 25 games, he has equalled the five points he put up as a rookie.
Last season Thomas battled early on to get ice time on a deep blue line. In January 2016, he competed in the CJHL Prospects Game in Surrey, BC, against the nation’s top Junior A NHL prospects. Reagan said Thomas’ confidence seemed to grow after that event.
Another step in Thomas’s development came the 2016 playoffs when veteran blueliner Pierre Luc-Morin, 20, was injured. Thomas was counted on to step in and play big minutes alongside strong defenceman Curtis Roach.
“Playoffs played a huge role in teaching me what it takes to win in high-pressure games or when the team is down a couple of goals,” Thomas said.
Thomas took what he learned and worked hard over the summer to come back as a better player.
“This summer most of my focus was on getting bigger and stronger,” he said. “I’m a tall guy, so I wanted to make sure that was something I could use to my advantage this season.”
Thomas is pleased to be back in Flin Flon this winter playing for the Bomber faithful.
“It’s a great feeling playing in front of such a supportive fan base, and it’s exciting to know that a lot of the fans look forward to games in the Whitney as much as us players do,” he said.
Thomas and teammate Brandon Lesko, a forward, were both recently selected to the Canada West selection camp for the World Junior A Challenge. The Reminder will have more on that Friday.
