From Zero to Hero: Logan Thompson's Journey to the Olympics

Team Canada has no shortage of talent at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, but no one has quite the story that Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson does. From the Western Hockey League (WHL), University Sports (USports), and hopping around various East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) teams, Thompson has seen it all – and now, at 28, he is playing in his second international tournament, and serves as an inspiration to never give up, no matter where you are in your career.

Thompson playing in the Capitals' last game before the international break. Courtesy of sportsnet.ca

Early Years

Thompson started his professional career the way many young players do: he spent four years with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, posting a .905 save percentage (SV%) and a 3.36 goals against average (GAA). After aging out of the WHL’s system, he went on to play at Brock University for the Badgers, one of only two active NHL players to play for a USports team. Thompson excelled with the Badgers, posting a .934 SV% and only 2.24 GAA. For this feat, he won USports’ Rookie of the Year and Goalie of the Year awards and was named to the USports All-Star team. 

Thompson only spent one year in USports. After his season with the Badgers, he joined the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL on an amateur tryout contract, but was released after merely eight appearances. Similarly, he signed a professional tryout contract with the Binghamton Devils of the American Hockey League (AHL), but appeared in just one game. He then went on to sign an AHL contract with the Hershey Bears, only to spend the entire season with their ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays. 

Many players in the AHL or ECHL have seen plenty of National Hockey League (NHL) action, but many haven’t, either, and it seemed like Thompson was destined for the latter's fate. Despite his impressive performances in the WHL and USports, only the best of the best play in the NHL, and for a goalie in particular, the path to the pros is that much harder. It didn’t help that many former USports players have gone on to play and have a lengthy career in the ECHL, or even overseas – Thompson didn’t have anyone else to look up to. He had gone undrafted for his entire WHL career, and on no uncertain terms, essentially told that he would never make it to the NHL. At Brock, the Calgary, Alberta native felt like he didn’t stand out, and thought that "no one really seemed to believe in [him]." Vegas Golden Knights general manager (GM) Kelly McCrimmon was one example of people who had this mindset: if Thompson did make it to the NHL, he said, he’d buy him a case of beer as a congratulations. 

Thompson playing for the Brock Badgers in USports. Courtesy of gobadgers.ca

Finding Success

Sometimes our biggest critics turn out to be the ones who believe in us the most. In 2020, when the NHL season was on hold due to COVID-19, McCrimmon saw something in Thompson (perhaps he had a case of beer he needed to get rid of?) and signed him to a two-year, entry-level deal with the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL. Though Thompson started the 2020-2021 season with Vegas’ AHL affiliate, something in him shifted – he was named AHL goaltender of the month in February 2021. Then, on March 11th, he made his NHL debut against the Minnesota Wild, relieving Marc-Andre Fleury to play eight minutes.

Thompson was sent back down to the AHL after that game, but those eight minutes gave him a taste of what it was like to play pro, and he now wanted it more than ever. After being sent down, Thompson was named Goaltender of the Month again in March, and ended up winning the award for the AHL’s best goaltender for the 2020-21 season. He was making a strong case for himself, and in January of 2022, he finally made his first NHL start, becoming the first former USports player to start an NHL game in nearly 30 years. Though the Golden Knights ended up losing that game, Thompson continued to play well enough that he signed a three-year contract extension and earned his first NHL win on February 20th in a 4-1 win against the San Jose Sharks. Entering the 2022-2023 season, he was named the Golden Knights’ starting goalie, and from there on, he never looked back. Earning his first shutout in a 1-0 win in October, Thompson was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month in November and was named to the NHL’s All-Star game in January of 2023. He was playing so well that he was considered a contender for the Calder Memorial Trophy, an award for the NHL’s best rookie. 

Thompson playing for the Vegas Golden Knights. Courtsey of momnumentasportsnetwork.com

Team Canada Honours

Following Thompson’s successful stint with Vegas, he requested a trade after McCrimmon made it clear that he would not be a starter. As such, during the 2024 NHL entry draft, he was traded to the Washington Capitals and began sharing goaltending duties with Charlie Lindgren. Once in Washington, Thompson continued to excel; upon signing a six-year extension in January of 2025, he had a 22-2-3 record, and a .925 SV% – numbers he hadn’t put up since his USports and WHL days. The Capitals went on to have the best record in the Eastern Conference during the 2024-2025 season, and a large part of their accomplishments was Thompson’s success and backstopping.

It only makes sense, then, that Thompson was chosen to represent his country on a national level. In December of 2025, it was announced that he was chosen to be on Team Canada’s Olympic Roster for the tournament in Milano Cortina in February 2026. Becoming the first former USports hockey player to appear in the Olympics, it meant that much more to Thompson. “It’s a dream come true,” he said, further adding that “[he’s] just going to be happy to be there”.  Thompson’s seen it all throughout his career, and there was a time when he thought he might be done with hockey forever, so playing behind players like Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid is a surreal and unforgettable experience. 

Logan Thompson and Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals. Courtesy of monumentalsportsnetwork.com

To many players, being denied many times in leagues like the AHL or ECHL can be a massive blow to their egos and quash their love for the game. But to Thompson, it was his fuel. Though Thompson was disappointed in the early years, he used that to his advantage, and it helped him earn his spot in the NHL and on Team Canada’s starting roster. We’ve all heard the statistics about how few players make the NHL, and Thompson sure did, too, but he didn’t let it get to him. In his USports days, he seriously considered whether or not he should focus on school and get a job, but he ultimately chose to bet on himself, and it paid off.  “I’m happy I stuck with it”, he said with a smile when asked about his unconventional career thus far. 

Us too, Logan. Thanks for never giving up on your dreams and showing everyone that no matter how you go about it, it is always possible. 

Edited by Olivia Feldgus