November 1, 2006

Thompson to UNH

NH Native Fulfills Dream

Hooksett, NH - Derry, NH native Paul Thompson has verbally accepted a scholarship to attend the University of New Hampshire. A lifelong dream has become a reality for the New Hampshire Jr Monarchs forward and both parties could not be happier. Currently leading the EJHL in scoring with a 15-11-26 line in 14 games, Thompson was also recently selected
to represent the EJHL Select Team heading to participate in the USA Hockey National Jr Jamboree slated for November 13 and 14 in Blaine, MN.

The 6'0, 205 center drew high praise from GM/Head Coach Sean Tremblay, "Paul has always shown the potential to be great, he simply needed to learn how to compete on a daily basis and mature as a player. He still has a ways to go, but his upside is serious pro potential. He learned a great deal as a rookie last season and has developed into the player we all envisioned. Junior hockey has played a key role in his becoming the player he is today and the player he will be in the future. Paul has a tremendous release and is a threat to score anytime around the net. The more he learns to use his body to fend off players and drive the net, the deadlier he will be in this area of his game."

"The whole New Hampshire Jr Monarchs organization is great and being a part of the Monarchs since midgets to now in my second year on the junior team has developed me into a better player and enabled me to have the opportunity to play at UNH," stated Thompson. "Without the work of Coach Tremblay and Coach Corkum this situation would not be possible and I cannot thank them enough. I also want to thank Coach Umile, Coach Borek, and Coach Lassonde for giving me the opportunity to be part of a program that I have always wanted to be a part of since I was a young player."

For now, Paul will concentrate on his studies during his senior year at Pinkerton Academy and help defend a title in his second season with the Monarchs. Destined to be a captain for the Monarchs, Paul has decided to spend one more season and spend a post-grad year training daily with the Monarchs. He will arrive in Durham in the fall of 2008. He is the second player to commit to UNH from the Monarchs and is the seventh player to go Division One this season. He is the son of Paul and Susan Thompson of Derry, NH