Washington Capitals officially announces franchise Patrick Weller to their staff as assistant coaches and appoint Brent Thompson As an assistant coach for the Hershey Bears.
Weller and Thompson have been serving in those roles on an interim basis since September.
Weller, 41, spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Hershey after joining the staff in 2018, where he played under Spencer Carberry (2018-21), Scott Allen (2021-22) and Todd Nelson (2022-25). Weller worked primarily with the Bears' defense and penalty killers, helping the club win three division titles, two Harry “Hap” Holmes Awards for the fewest goals allowed in the league, and back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024.
Weirrell played 12 professional seasons as a defenseman, primarily in the ECHL, winning three Kelly Cup championships. Wirral, a third-round pick of Washington in the 2002 NHL draft, also played 306 games in the AHL with Worcester, Peoria, Toronto and Hershey, winning the Calder Trophy with the Bruins in 2010.
Thompson, 54, joins the Capitals after serving two seasons (2023-25) as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks. Previously, he served as head coach of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers/Islanders for 10 seasons (2011-12, 2014-23), recording 328 wins and tied for 18th on the AHL's all-time wins list. The Calgary, Alta., native also served as an assistant coach with the NHL Islanders for two seasons (2012-14) and was an AHL assistant coach with the Peoria Rivermen from 2005 to 2009.
Thompson was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1989 and played 14 professional seasons, including 635 games in the AHL. He was a captain for three AHL clubs (Providence, Hershey and Louisville) and received the Yannick Dupree Memorial Award as the 1998-99 AHL Man of the Year.
