The Global Game

The Tale of Two Thomas'

Before the jaw-dropping, acrobatic game-saving style of Boston Bruins star goalie Tim Thomas came along, oddly there was a hockey player with the same name who donned red, white and blue of the USA Hockey 25 years earlier.


Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas playing for Team USA at the 2010 Olympics

The two-time NHL goaltender of the year suited up for team USA in 2010 in Vancouver. Thomas was a back-up to fellow Michigan native Ryan Miller, helping the team to a silver medal.

Wisconsin Badger
Tim Thomas

Wisconsin star defenseman Tim Thomas was a smaller puck-rushing d-man who anchored the Badgers blueline in the early 1980's NCAA Div I men's hockey. Thomas' prolific college career ranks him fourth all-time among UW Badger defenseman, collecting just over a point a game average over four years with 154 points in 151 games.

Early in the 1984 season, Thomas was tapped to join the United States men's national hockey team to compete in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Going into the tournament the 1984 team carried in the uneviable pressure of living up to the "Miracle On Ice" 1980 gold medal winning team four years earlier. Version 1984 had the same formula that team organizers used in 1980 - a college-laden roster, featuring future star NHL'ers such as Pat LaFontaine, Chris Chelios, Al Iafrate and Ed Olczyk. With all that firepower, experts expected at least a medal round berth, but the Americans flamed out, finishing far out of the medals, seventh overall with very average 2-2-2 record.

Team USA's Tim Thomas in
pre-olympic action against the
 Minnesota North Stars in 1984

Unfortunately for Thomas, he was the last cut from the final 20-man Olympic roster heading to Sarajevo after playing for the US squad in all the pre-olympic games. On his return to Wisconsin, the Minnesota native continued his fine play for the Badgers, making second team All-American in 1985 and posting a very impressive 63 points in 42 games.

Although he was never drafted into the NHL, Thomas played 20 minor pro games for Indianopolis Checkers and Balitmore Skipjacks from 1986 to 1988, registering a respectable 14 points, before retiring from hockey for good in 1988.