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That's exactly what he did on April 6 when he made his NHL debut, against his older brother, Tage, no less. He picked up his first-career NHL point (assist) on just his second shift against the Buffalo Sabres.
"It was definitely special," Thompson told the media following the game. "It was crazy with the emotions, excitement, nerves. I thought the guys in the room did a good job of keeping me calm, just enjoying the moment and having fun out there."
Thompson's journey to the NHL was a long and winding path. Growing up the son of a former NHL player and coach, Brent Thompson, the family was constantly on the move. Thompson's senior year of high school was also his 12th school attended.
"I think it was pretty cool. We were fortunate to live in a lot of places," said Thompson, whose favorite was Alaska. "You meet a lot of new people along the way. Which was a lot of fun."
While the location may have changed, the one constant was hockey. Tyce, who began skating at 3 years old, and his brother were always close by their father at a rink.
"The odd day we would miss school and go down and skate after practice, be around the rink all the time," he said. "It was definitely a lot of fun and a reason why I grew up playing hockey today."
And it also fed his and his brother's desire to make hockey his life.
"(Hockey was) all we knew. We saw it every day, and it's what we wanted to do," Tyce said. "Fortunately, we're both still doing it. Ever since a young age both my brother and I wanted to be hockey players."
Tage, being the older brother by two years, made the jump first in 2017 after being a first-round pick of Buffalo. Tyce had to wait a little longer, but he made his debut against Tage. The Thompson brothers split the first two games against each other, both played in New Jersey, with their mother Kim in the crowd.
"She was unbelievable for both me and my brother, trying to juggle both of us, go to tournaments at the same time, but different places," Tyce said. "Maybe sending me off with a family to go to Chicago and my brother somewhere else. She would stay in hotels and driving all the time. She was great."
Their father, who is currently the head coach of the American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, couldn't attend the game. But he also played a huge role in the development of his progeny.
"Having him there the whole way, whether it was coming out for practices to help out or in the summer skating us," Tyce said. "He still skates us in the summer. Gives us different tips on the ice."
Tyce admitted that their father skated both sons very hard, and still does. And that hard work paid off with two NHL players. Even if it took two years for an NHL team to realize Tyce's potential.
"It's rewarding to know that a team likes you and takes you in the draft," he said. "The draft isn't everything. There are a lot of free agents that sign and end up making it. I was willing to go that route, but fortunately the Devils picked me up. And I'm happy to be a part of their organization."
