The Maine Mariners [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/mariners-goldberg-named-echl-executive-of-the-year]have re-signed two more players to contracts, announcing that defenseman Tristan Thompson and forward Jackson Stewart are returning for the 2025-26 ECHL [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/]season. Thompson, a 28-year-old blueliner from Canmore, AB, signed with the Mariners on New Year’s Day and had a strong run through the end of the season. The fourth-year pro posted 25 points (1-24-25) in 39 games, a rate of .64 points per game which led all Mariners defensemen. He also eclipsed 100 career ECHL points. The Mariners are Thompson’s fourth ECHL team, joining Rapid City [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/community/latest-news/rush-make-trade-with-greensboro-gargoyles], Savannah [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/multi-goal-performances-lift-ghost-pirates-over-adirondack], and Adirondack [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/adirondack-thunder-and-tulsa-oilers-swing-a-trade]. He’s also played professionally in France, Norway, and Slovakia. Thompson played collegiate hockey [https://thehockeynews.com/ncaa/]at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Jackson Stewart, 21, was the youngest player on the Mariners roster in 2024-25. Acquired in a February trade from the Bloomington Bison [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/community/latest-news/be-a-part-of-bloomington-bison-history], the gritty forward appeared in 10 games for the Mariners, accumulating 53 penalty minutes which included five fighting majors. The Norwood, ON native still seeks his first professional point, skating in a combined 27 games between Maine and Bloomington last season. Stewart played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/]with the Kingston Frontenacs and Owen Sound Attack.
