Wellar and Thompson have held these positions on an interim basis since September.
Wellar, 41, had spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Hershey after joining the staff in 2018, serving under Spencer Carbery (2018-21), Scott Allen (2021-22) and Todd Nelson (2022-25). Working primarily with the Bears’ defenders and penalty killers, Wellar helped the club to three division titles, two Harry “Hap” Holmes Awards for fewest goals allowed in the league, and consecutive Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024.
Wellar played twelve professional seasons as a defenseman, primarily in the ECHL, where he won three Kelly Cup championships. A third-round pick by Washington in the 2002 NHL Draft, Wellar also skated in 306 games in the AHL with Worcester, Peoria, Toronto and Hershey, and won a Calder Cup with the Bears in 2010.
Thompson, 54, joined the Capitals as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks after two seasons (2023-2025). He had previously spent ten seasons (2011-12, 2014-23) as head coach of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers/Islanders, racking up 328 wins – ranking 18th on the AHL’s all-time wins list. The native of Calgary, Alta., also spent two seasons (2012-14) as an assistant coach with the NHL Islanders and was an AHL assistant 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 served as team captain for three AHL clubs – Providence, Hershey and Louisville – and received the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as the AHL’s Man of the Year in 1998-99.
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