"Jamie has been around for a while, and I'm really going to rely on his leadership and experience this season," Marks said. "He's been a top-line contributor everywhere he's been, and he's an extremely fast and gifted skater. He's a very well-rounded player who's going to be a big part of our offense."

Thompson, 34, had 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) and 48 penalty minutes in 54 games for the Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League last season. The 6-foot, 185-pound native of Framingham, Mass., has played in six different North American professional hockey leagues, including 176 career regular-season games in the American Hockey League with Worcester and Providence from 1998-99 through 2001-02 where he notched 62 points (38 goals, 24 assists) and 137 penalty minutes. He also has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) and four penalty minutes in 14 career AHL playoff games.

Thompson also has 126 points (50 goals, 76 assists) and 116 penalty minutes in 145 career-regular season games with Elmira, Quad City and Danbury of the former United Hockey League from 2003-04 through 2005-06. He has 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) and 32 penalty minutes in 39 career UHL playoff games during that same stretch.

Prior to turning pro, Thompson had 41 points (16 goals, 25 assists) and 48 penalty minutes in 78 games with the University of Maine in the Hockey East conferencefrom 1992-93 through 1995-96.

Thompson also has 43 points (21 goals, 22 assists) and 37 penalty minutes in 43 games with the Peoria Rivermen in 1998-99, his only ECHL season.