University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Ink Thompson, Warning
5/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Thompson, who will turn 20 on July 3, played the last three years in the USHL. The 6'3", 210-pound defenseman played high school hockey at Eden Prairie. He played 53 games with Sioux Falls in the USHL during the 2008-09 season before playing his final two years with the Waterloo Black Hawks.
In three USHL seasons, Thompson saw his offensive statistics and penalty minutes increase every year. He combined to play in 170 career games and had eight goals, 24 assists and 303 penalty minutes. Thompson had five goals, 18 assists and 117 penalty minutes in 58 games last season in Waterloo. He was second on the team among defenseman in points and third on the team in penalty minutes.
"Blake is a little bit of what we need," said Lucia. "He is a three-year veteran of junior hockey and is a stay-at-home defenseman. He has great size and strength. Hopefully he can develop and be an outstanding defensive defenseman for us."
Warning, who will turn 19 on Sept. 29, played the last two seasons with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. The 5'9", 175-pound forward is from Chesterfield, Mo., and played 109 career USHL games. He totaled 33 goals, 29 assists, a +18 rating and 119 penalty minutes in two years with the RoughRiders. Last season, he registered 24 goals and 19 assists in 56 games. Warning was third on the team in goals and fourth in points.
"Sam has had two very productive years in the USHL," said Lucia. "He scored 24 goals this past year as a senior in high school. He is small, quick and tenacious and should have an opportunity to be a real dynamic college hockey player."
