Cliff Thompson
Introduction '''Clifford Bernard Thompson''' (December 9, 1918 – February 6, 1997) was an American professional ice hockey player. He played defense in the Boston Bruins organization from 1939 until 1950, playing 16 career games in the National Hockey League with the Bruins during 1941–42 and 1948–49 seasons. The rest of his career was mainly spent in the minor Eastern Hockey League. After his playing career Thompsons became an linesman, and in 1955 was involved in an altercation with Maurice Richard, leading to Richard's suspension and the Richard Riot.
Playing career Born in Winchester, Massachusetts but grew up in Stoneham, Massachusetts, Thompson started his pro career with a tryout with the Boston Olympics in the 1938–39 season. He returned for two seasons with the Olympics, scoring 16 goals in 35 games in his rookie season. In 1941–42, he made his NHL debut with the Bruins, playing three games, while mainly playing for the Hershey Bears and St. Paul of the American Hockey Association (AHA). From 1942–1945, Thompson fought in World War II. He returned to the Olympics and played every season for the club until 1950, with a ten-game call-up to the Bruins in 1948–49 and nine games for the Bears that same season.
Career statistics ===Regular season and playoffs===Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP  G  A  Pts  PIM GP  G  A  Pts  PIM 1938–39 Hebron Academy HS-ME —  —  —  —  — —  —  —  —  — 1938–39 Boston Olympics QPHL 4  3  1  4  2 —  —  —  —  — 1939–40 Boston Olympics EAHL 35  16  14  30  33 5  0  2  2  4 1940–41 Boston Olympics EAHL 65  12  18  30  80 4  0  4  4  4 1941–42 Boston Bruins NHL 6  0  0  0  2 —  —  —  —  — 1941–42 Hershey Bears AHL 20  3  5  8  2 —  —  —  —  — 1941–42 St. Paul Saints AHA 28  5  6  11  22 2  1  0  1  0 1941–42 Boston Olympics EAHL —  —  —  —  — 1  0  1  1  0 1945–46 Boston Olympics EAHL 43  7  13  20  18 12  2  4  6  0 1946–47 Boston Olympics EAHL 53  11  19  30  51 9  2  6  8  6 1947–48 Boston Olympics QSHL 48  10  20  30  57 —  —  —  —  — 1947–48 Boston Olympics EAHL 19  5  16  21  22 —  —  —  —  — 1948–49 Boston Bruins NHL 10  0  1  1  0 —  —  —  —  — 1948–49 Hershey Bears AHL 9  0  0  0  2 —  —  —  —  — 1948–49 Boston Olympics QSHL 26  4  18  22  35 —  —  —  —  — 1949–50 Boston Olympics EAHL 26  7  14  21  57 3  2  1  3  0 EAHL totals 241  58  94  152  261 34  6  18  24  14 NHL totals 16  0  1  1  2 —  —  —  —  —
Awards and honours *EAHL Second All-Star Team (1947, 1948)
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