OSHAWA, Ont. –  A new voice is joining the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks bench, as James Thomson has been named the new full-time assistant coach for the men's hockey program.

Thomson joins the Ridgebacks following a strong transition into coaching after an accomplished playing career, bringing both U SPORTS experience and junior hockey leadership to the program.

"I am very excited to welcome James to our coaching staff," said head coach Curtis Hodgins. "He is an extremely bright young man who has a great future in the coaching world, and he will fit in very nicely with the culture of our program. As a former U SPORTS player himself, he will bring a terrific understanding of what it means to be a student-athlete and the challenges that they face in the high-performance world of men's hockey. I look forward to working closely alongside James and our entire staff as we continue to grow and elevate our program."

A product of the Canadian junior ranks, Thomson began his career in the Central Canada Hockey League with the Kanata Lasers before moving to the Ontario Junior Hockey League. He spent parts of three seasons with the Aurora Tigers and Trenton Golden Hawks, where he was a member of a Dudley Hewitt Cup championship team.

Thomson went on to play U SPORTS hockey at Wilfrid Laurier University, serving as assistant captain from 2020 to 2022 before being named team captain for the 2022–23 season.

Following his playing career, Thomson returned to the Aurora Tigers as an assistant coach, later taking on general manager responsibilities and finishing the 2025–26 season as interim head coach. He also gained U SPORTS coaching experience during the 2025–26 campaign as an assistant coach with the York Lions.

"I'm honoured to join the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks," said Thomson. "I have a lot of respect for Curtis and the path he has forged in the hockey world, and I'm excited for the opportunity to learn from him and contribute to the program. Having gone through the U SPORTS pathway myself, I'm passionate about helping our student-athletes take the next step on the ice and in their academic and personal development."