OHL Mourns the Loss of Kelly Thomson

The Ontario Hockey League family is deeply saddened by the loss of former London Knights and Oshawa Generals forward Kelly Thomson who passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 34.

Once a member of what was recently voted the greatest junior hockey team in history, Thomson hoisted the Memorial Cup as a member of the 2005 London Knights before joining John Tavares and the Oshawa Generals a year later.

The London Knights are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of alumnus, Kelly Thomson.

INFO: https://t.co/vFoXZ3oXFs pic.twitter.com/KGAq4cPTVX

— London Knights (@GoLondonKnights) April 22, 2019

Following a brief playing career with the USHL’s Muskegon Fury in 2006-07 and a year spent playing for Wilfrid Laurier University in 2008-09, Thomson moved behind the bench to lead the London Nationals Jr. B club to a Sutherland Cup title in 2013. He spent four years as head coach with the Nationals, having great success before leaving his position to finish his university degree in 2015.

“It’s difficult to hear (of the passing). He was one of our boys,” Knights general manager Mark Hunter told Jonathan Juha of the London Free Press. “He was an every-day player. He had grit and determination and he was great in the (dressing) room. He made a lot of friends. It’s just too bad and terrible things can happen in this world.

“He was an integral part of why we won so consistently.”

Thomson is survived by his mother, Darlene, and his two brothers Riley and Sean.

For more on Thomson’s career and tragic passing, visit The London Free Press.

Kelly Thomson, part of legendary Memorial Cup-winning London Knights squad, dies at 34https://t.co/swvWSYJohE #ldnont pic.twitter.com/6TddrpSo8o

— London Free Press (@LFPress) April 22, 2019