Erik Thommy, this season's captain, is more than just a leader by title. He leads with presence, kindness, and an unwavering sense of who he is and what this team means to him.
Ask anyone in the building, including players, coaches, and staff, and they’ll tell you the same thing: Erik makes people feel seen. He doesn’t do it for show or because it’s expected of a captain. It’s just who he is.
“I respect everyone,” Erik says plainly. “It doesn’t matter who it is. If it’s a staff member, if it’s a player, everyone needs to be treated the same way. That’s my mentality. I want the same respect that I give to others.”
It’s the kind of leadership you don’t teach. It’s lived. Whether it’s his locker room presence, quiet moments checking in with young players, or just his natural way of lifting the room, Erik is a captain who leads by example.
And yet, that leadership isn’t just serious and steady. There’s a playful side, too. After training sessions, but especially on away trips, you’ll find Erik locked into a card game with Nemanja Radoja, Tim Leibold, and Jake Davis. This card game, created by former teammate Marinos Tzionis, is called PITCH. It’s an ongoing battle of strategy, luck, and plenty of trash talk.
Erik and Nemanja are a team against Jake and Tim, and while the trash talk is pretty even, Erik did want it on the record, he and Nemanja are winning.
“Who's winning? Obviously, us—Rado and me,” Erik said, laughing. “Rado and me. We are one team. To be honest, it's like an up and down. It depends.”
“I would say you can write down that we are winning.”
Despite all he gives to the team, Erik never loses sight of what grounds him: his family. A proud husband and father, he treasures the time spent at home with his wife and daughter. When asked if he could teleport anywhere, the answer was simple: home with his daughter and wife.
For Erik it’s about balancing his love for the game but also his dedication and love for his family. That balance shows up in how he carries himself day to day. Focused. Centered. Aware of the bigger picture.
This season’s squad is younger than it’s been in years. And while that could present a challenge for a player in his position, Erik has embraced the responsibility wholeheartedly.
“Yeah, it’s a completely different team,” he says. “But we have really good guys in our club. If it’s like either on the team or the staff or whatever, everything around it feels different, obviously.”
“Because I remember when I came first, three years ago, I wouldn’t say one of the youngest, but I was a young player compared to the other guys in our team. And now, during two years, everything changed.”
In those three years, things have changed. With the team averaging around 26 years old, Erik now has moved into the mentor role, knowing the impact he can have.
“So, I kind of like it, because you need to be a good example for the young players and show them the right path. I know my role in the team, and like I said, I like it. I like it. And I’m that guy who loves to help people and help them to take the next step.”
However, even with the shift in age and experience, Erik sees it as a two-way street. This new role is also an opportunity for growth for himself.
“For me, it’s also a big responsibility. And also, for me, some more steps ahead, which I have to take. So, it’s a good thing for me as well.”
Every team needs glue. Someone who ties the personalities, the roles, and the people together. Erik has become that thread, anchoring the team through leadership, respect, and joy.
“We all have bad times and good times,” he says. “But we need to stick to the positivity we have and just enjoy what we’re doing, because I think it’s actually one of the best things we can do right now, especially as a player.”
And maybe that’s the best way to describe Erik Thommy: Steady. Grateful. Unshakably positive. A leader in every sense and a reminder that the best captains don’t just wear the armband. They make everyone feel like they belong.
