VERMONT SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Photo Credit- UVM Ath. Communications

University of Vermont

Ice Hockey

Inducted 2022

As a goaltender for the University of Vermont men’s hockey team, Tim Thomas was the backbone of a Catamount team that reached unprecedented heights. Thomas, along with classmates Martin St. Louis (VSHOF 2018) and Eric Perrin,  UVM won the 1996 ECAC Regular Season Championship and reached the NCAA Frozen Four that April.

As a four-year starter, Thomas shattered numerous UVM goaltending season and career records. Upon graduation in 1997, Thomas had a dozen records in hand, including: lowest goals against average in a season (2.34) and career (2.70); saves in a season (1,079) and career (3,950); most wins in a season (26) and career (81); most career shutouts (10); save percentage in a season (.924) and career (.914); minutes played in a season (2,254) and career (8,286).

Thomas received numerous awards in his collegiate career including: two-time first team All-American; two-time ECAC all-star and one honorable mention; and the ECAC goalie of the year Ken Dryden Award (1996).

After graduation, Thomas spent several seasons excelling in Europe and for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League, to start his professional career. Thomas made his NHL debut for the Boston Bruins, in the crease for four games in 2002-03 season. After more time in the AHL, Thomas returned to Boston for 38 games in 2005-06. For the next six seasons, he was the Bruins’ No. 1 goalie.

In 2011, Thomas helped Boston win its first Stanley Cup since the Bobby Orr heydays 1970s. He received the coveted Conn Smythe Award as the Stanley Cup Most Valuable Player. Thomas brought the Stanley Cup to Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace to celebrate the Bruins achievement with  drawing a large and cheering crowd of local fans.

Thomas won two Vezina trophies as the NHL’s top goalie, in 2008-09 and in his Stanley Cup winning season of 2010-11. Thomas was named to four NHL All-Star teams and finished his career with stints with the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars.

Thomas also represented the United States on several teams from youth level to the Olympics, where his team earned a silver medal in the 2010 Winter Games. 

In 2007 he inducted into the UVM Athletic Hall of Fame and was inducted to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020.

Thomas, his wife and four daughters resided in the area for several years after graduation from UVM. He directed a very popular youth hockey camp in the Burlington area during summer vacations.