San Antonio Rampage General Manager Mike Santos announced today that the American Hockey League (AHL) club has signed right wing Bill Thomas to an AHL contract.

Thomas, 28, returns to the Rampage after completing the 2010-11 season with the Florida Panthers and Rochester Americans. He appeared in 53 games with the Americans posting 16 goals and 20 assists and skated in 24 games with the Panthers contributing four goals and three assists.

The Pittsburgh, Pa. native played with the Rampage for two seasons (2006-08) totaling 85 points (37 goals, 48 assists) in 122 games with San Antonio. He also appeared in seven playoff games with the Rampage during the 2007-08 season posting one goal and two assists including the game-winner in Game 3 against the Toronto Marlies. Thomas was selected to represent the Rampage at the 2007 AHL All-Star Classic but was unable to attend due to a call-up to the Phoenix Coyotes (NHL). He ranks eighth in goals (37), 10th in assists (48), eighth in points (85) and second in short-handed goals (3) on the Rampage’s all-time list.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Thomas has skated in 247 career AHL games collecting 156 points (66 goals, 90 assists) with the Rampage (2006-08), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (2008-09), Springfield Falcons (2009-10) and Rochester Americans (2010-11).

He has appeared in 80 career NHL games totaling 15 goals and 12 assists with the Phoenix Coyote (2005-08), Pittsburgh Penguins (2008-09) and Florida Panthers (2010-11).