Quick ascent for former Alaska Aces bench boss Brent Thompson in the coaching ranks -- he was named an assistant coach for the NHL's New York Islanders today.

Thompson last season led the Isles' AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to a division title in his first season as head coach for the Tigers. That came after he was head coach -- for the first time in his career -- of the Aces for two seasons, which he capped by guiding them to the ECHL's Kelly Cup in 2011.

So, Thompson, a former NHL defenseman, returns to the best league in the world.