Former Man United prospect Joe Thompson dies at 36 after third cancer diagnosis

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Former Man United prospect Joe Thompson dies at 36 after third cancer diagnosis

2025-04-18 19:51 Last Updated At：20:00

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Joe Thompson, a former Manchester United academy player who made more than 200 appearances for local club Rochdale, has died. He was 36.

Fifth-tier English club Rochdale announced that Thompson, who had been fighting cancer for a third time, died Thursday at home with family by his side.

“We first knew Joe primarily as a talented footballer, but we would soon grow to adore his loving, infectious personality,” Rochdale said in a statement on Friday.

“He faced every battle head-on, both on and off the pitch. His journey and indomitable spirit have been an inspiration for everyone who has been touched by his story. Above all of that, Joe was a loving husband to Chantelle and an incredible father to Thailula and Athena Rae.”

A midfielder, Thompson was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2013 while playing for Tranmere. The disease returned three years later.

Thompson announced he was cancer-free in 2017 and less than a year later entered himself “into Rochdale folklore,” the club said, by coming off the bench in the final game of the 2017-18 season to score in a 1-0 win that kept the team in the third tier.

He retired in 2019 and went on to become a motivational speaker and soccer pundit. He also held an ambassadorial role with United.

Last year, Thompson was diagnosed with cancer for a third time.

United posted a tribute to Thompson on its social media channels, saying he “epitomized our club’s values.”

Rochdale, located just north of Manchester, said its players would wear black armbands during Friday’s match at Altrincham in the National League.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Vegas moves on with 3-2 win in series clincher, as Wild go 1-and-done yet again

2025-05-02 13:10 Last Updated At：13:21

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Jack Eichel and Mark Stone made clear they belong together, on a Vegas first line that can be one of the most potent in these NHL playoffs.

Eichel and Stone each had a goal and an assist and Adin Hill made 29 saves for the Golden Knights, who became the first Western Conference team to reach the second round with a 3-2 victory in Game 6 that ousted the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.

“They gave us everything we could handle,” Eichel said. “They played so hard.”

Shea Theodore scored on a power play early in the first period, Eichel got his first goal of the series late in the second period and Stone had the critical late score for Vegas, which will face Edmonton in the second round. The Oilers beat Los Angeles in six games.

The Wild have lost nine consecutive series, tied for the third-longest streak in NHL history, according to Sportradar. Their skid of eight straight one-and-done appearances is tied for the second-longest in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Wild, who last made it out of the first round 10 years ago, got two goals from Ryan Hartman, including a wraparound with 3:27 left that came 31 seconds after Stone had given the Golden Knights a two-goal lead.

Stone, who set up Eichel with a long pass out of the zone that was inches out of reach of the stick of Kirill Kaprizov after he dived to try to prevent the breakaway that beat goalie Filip Gustavsson, had four points in the last three games.

“Everyone stepped up at different parts of the series and found ways to contribute,” Eichel said. “That’s how you win this time of year.”

Neither Stone nor Eichel recorded a single point in the first three games, thanks in part to the bruising Wild who frequently took away the middle of the ice and most of the Golden Knights' opportunities to use their speed.

Coach Bruce Cassidy shuffled the lines for Game 4, which helped ignite more of an attack. The absence of Pavel Dorofeyev in Game 6 prompted Cassidy to reunite Eichel and Stone in the top trio alongside William Karlsson.

“They got better as the series went on,” Cassidy said.

Hartman tied the game for the Wild with 4 seconds left in the first period, a goal safe from replay review unlike his go-ahead score in Game 5 with 1:15 remaining in regulation that was revoked for an offside call after Vegas challenged.

The Golden Knights went on to win their second straight overtime decision, before finishing off the Wild with a third consecutive one-goal win.

“We hear the noise of getting by the first round. We understand it,” Wild left wing Marcus Foligno said. “We really felt like we could’ve done it this year, and that’s the disappointing part, right?”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL