Windsor Spitfires fans are both sad and happy that head coach Rocky Thompson is leaving the team.
Thompson has been named the new head coach of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.
The Wolves are an affiliate of the NHL’s newest team, the Vegas Golden Knights.
Spits fan Diane wishes coach Thompson well in his future endeavours.
"Sad but amazing for him, great, congratulations and good luck," says Diane.
Spits Goalie Michael DiPietro tweeted "Congrats coach! The Chicago Wolves are lucky to get a guy with your character and commitment to the game! Till next time rock."
Spits Forward Jeremy Bracco tweeted "Congrats to my old coach Rocky Thompson on the Chicago job. Well deserved!!"
Congrats to my old coach Rocky Thompson on the Chicago job well deserved!! #Spitfires #GreatGuy
— Jeremy Bracco (@jbracco97) June 7, 2017
Spits fan Danny wishes Coach Thompson the best of luck in Chicago.
"I think he's going to do good where he's going. I think he's really respected and he's going to make Chicago proud," Danny says.
Spits fan Danny says Thompson will be missed.
"Best of luck Rocky. Oh yeah, he's definitely going to be missed here. I don't know who they're going to get but they have big shoes to fill," says Danny.
Spits fan Sam says he's more sad than happy about the move, but wishes Thompson the best of luck anyway.
"I wish him luck, but I wish he could stay if he could," Sam says.
The Spits will hold a news conference on Thursday at 10am to give comments and details.
Coach Thompson, General Manager Warren Rychel and team President Bob Boughner will be attending.
Thompson coached the Spitfires to the 2017 Memorial Cup in Windsor almost two weeks ago.
He was in his second year as the Spits’ bench boss, having taken a Windsor team that had finished last in the 2014-2015 season and brought them back to the playoffs last season.
He helped Windsor overcome a first-round loss to archrival London in this year’s OHL playoffs and guided them to a perfect record in the Memorial Cup.
Before joining the Spits, Thompson was an assistant coach in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers.