Matt Thomas

Well-known for his passionate coaching style and a constant preacher of an up-tempo playing philosophy, Thomas is also responsible for all hockey operations decisions, player transaction movement and cultivates the Thunder relationships with their NHL affiliates, the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks and AHL affiliates, the Oklahoma City Barons and Worcester Sharks. He was in his fifth season in an ECHL head coaching position and second-youngest in the league when he took the helm on December 30, 2008.

Following the team's 10-17-4 start before Thomas' arrival, the Thunder finished at a 22-16-2 pace after he took the reins, and advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the third straight year. The Thunder followed by embarking on the deepest postseason run in the organization's four-year history with a seven-game upset of the Pacific Division champion Ontario Reign in the opening round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, and pushed the defending National Conference champion Las Vegas Wranglers to the seventh game of the Pacific Division Final. Last season, he guided the Thunder to their first trip to the Conference Final, dethroning the defending Conference champ Alaska Aces and the 2009-10 Pacific Division winner, the Bakersfield Condors, in the process.

Thomas, 34, previously spent three years plus as head coach for the Fresno Falcons, who ceased operations on Dec. 22, 2008 after beginning the year with a record of 18-10-1, leading the Pacific Division. Stockton marks Thomas' third head coaching position, compiling a record of 234-143-54 and a winning percentage of .606 in 431 career games at the helm for the Thunder, Fresno and Atlantic City.

Thomas, who has never missed the playoffs in his six years as a head coach and two years as an assistant, served as assistant coach for Head Coach Mike Haviland (currently an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL) when the two helped guide the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies to a Kelly Cup Championship in 2002-03.

Thomas has served behind the bench in two ECHL All-Star Games (2005 - American Conference, 2009 - National Conference), including his first year as head coach for Atlantic City. In 2005-06, Thomas was the youngest head coach in the ECHL at the age of 29 when he guided the Fresno Falcons to a berth in the National Conference Finals and their first division title in team history with a record of 43-15-14 and 100 points. That year, Fresno became the first team in ECHL history to finish the regular season without a regulation loss inside of their own division.

A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Thomas spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the national-power University of Maine (NCAA) and helped guide the Black Bears to the NCAA Championship Game in 2001-02. Thomas began his coaching career as an assistant coach for his alma mater, the Rochester Institute of Technology (NCAA), which advanced to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four during his one year behind the bench in 1998-99.

Thomas' playing days were highlighted by a junior career in the Metro (Toronto) Junior A Hockey League, before moving onto the college ranks where he served as captain for RIT, helping guide the Tigers to a #1 ranking and an NCAA Tournament bid during his senior season when he was the recipient of ECAC Division-III West all-star honors.

Matt and his wife, Andrea currently reside in Stockton with their infant son, Devlin.