PEORIA(25News Now) – Buffalo Sabres’ Tage Thompson scored his first Olympic goal for the U.S Thursday as they notched a 5-1 opening-game victory over Latvia, but it was two decades ago here in Peoria playing at the Owens Center and going to Peoria Rivermen games where the 28-year old star says he first fell in love with the sport.
His father Brent Thompson, a long-time ECHL/AHL/NHL assistant coach, began his full-time coaching career with the AHL Rivermen from 2005-2009. During that time, Tage blossomed into a young phenom, including helping his Peoria Youth Hockey Association team win the NIHL 2008-09 Pee Wee Elite title.
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