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Steve Thomas with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1984. Source: https://celebrityhockeyclassics.com/steve-thomas/ (May be subject to copyright) |
That was the gist of a quote my friend Bruce Freadrich had when he walked into the lounge on Main Kelsey at the University of Alberta student residence in 1989, and we were doing our hockey draft. I had just taken Steve Thomas of the Toronto Maple Leafs and was talking about him.
We were served on the joint council for res, and we had this friend who was vice-president of Henday Hall who was named – Steve Thomas.
It was kind of funny.
I was watching “After Hours” earlier tonight on Sportsnet. They were interviewing Adam Henrique of the Edmonton Oilers, and they mentioned Henrique had married Thomas’ daughter Lauren.
I was reminded of that hockey draft so many years ago. How Steve Thomas had been a player I liked, and looked to as a later round hockey pool pick.
Undrafted
Steve Thomas was born in England, raised in Markham, Ontario, and played his junior with the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey League. He went undrafted and signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He started the 1984-1985 season with their American Hockey League affiliate the St. Catharines Saints. In 64 games with the Saints, he had 42 goals and 48 assists for 90 points. For his efforts, he was presented with the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award in 1985 as the rookie of the year in the American Hockey League.
Steve Thomas was born in England, raised in Markham, Ontario, and played his junior with the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey League. He went undrafted and signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He started the 1984-1985 season with their American Hockey League affiliate the St. Catharines Saints. In 64 games with the Saints, he had 42 goals and 48 assists for 90 points. For his efforts, he was presented with the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award in 1985 as the rookie of the year in the American Hockey League.
The Leafs
Thomas also played 18 games for the Leafs in the 1984-1985 season, chipping in a goal and an assist for two points.
Thomas also played 18 games for the Leafs in the 1984-1985 season, chipping in a goal and an assist for two points.
The following year, the 1985-1986 season, Thomas again split time between St. Catharines and Toronto. He suited up with the Saints for 19 games, recording 18 goals and 14 assists for 32 points. He played 65 games for the Leafs, chipping in 20 goals and 37 assists for 57 points. He also contributed six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 10 playoff games for Toronto.
Wikipedia reveals Thomas also appeared in “Youngblood”, a hockey movie that came out in 1986 and starred Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, and a young Keanu Reeves.
Thomas would play the entire 1986-1987 season in Toronto, appearing in 78 games where he tallied 35 goals and 27 assists for 62 points. He added two goals and three assists for five points in 13 playoff games for the Leafs.
Those numbers showed Steve Thomas was turning into a goal scorer, which is why I would take him in later rounds in many a hockey draft.
Chicago
In 1987, Steve Thomas, along with Rick Vaive and Bob McGill, were traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Al Secord and Ed Olczyk. Thomas closed out the decade in Chicago.
In 1987, Steve Thomas, along with Rick Vaive and Bob McGill, were traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Al Secord and Ed Olczyk. Thomas closed out the decade in Chicago.
In the 1987-1988 season, Thomas was limited by injury, playing in just 30 games where he had 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points. He added a goal and two assists in three playoff games.
Thomas saw more action in the 1988-1989 season, as he played in 45 games, scoring 21 goals and adding 19 assists for 40 points. He also recorded three goals and five assists for eight points in 12 playoff games.
The 1989-1990 season saw Steve Thomas back at full strength, playing in 76 games where he scored 40 goals and 30 assists for 70 points. The Blackhawks made it all the way to the Campbell Conference Final in the playoffs before losing to Calgary. In 20 playoff games, Thomas recorded seven goals and six assists for 13 points.
As the ‘80s ended, Steve Thomas had become a solid scorer and contributor.
The years after
Steve Thomas would go on to play for the New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, have second stints with both the Leafs and Blackhawks, then played for Anaheim and Detroit before retiring after the 2003-2004 season. In Anaheim, he helped the Ducks reach their first Stanley Cup final in team history in 2002-2003, before losing to New Jersey in seven games.
Steve Thomas would go on to play for the New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, have second stints with both the Leafs and Blackhawks, then played for Anaheim and Detroit before retiring after the 2003-2004 season. In Anaheim, he helped the Ducks reach their first Stanley Cup final in team history in 2002-2003, before losing to New Jersey in seven games.
Thomas finished his career playing in 1,235 games, scoring 421 goals and 512 assists for 933 points. He played in 174 playoff games, recording 54 goals and 53 assists for 107 points.
He also played for Canada at the World Hockey Championships, winning silver in 1991; not medaling in 1992; winning gold in 1994; and winning silver in 1996.
Parting thoughts
Steve Thomas was always a player I could get behind. He was a solid scorer who not only contributed to every team he played on, but every hockey pool team that I drafted.
Steve Thomas was always a player I could get behind. He was a solid scorer who not only contributed to every team he played on, but every hockey pool team that I drafted.
He also had one of those generic names. Even when I googled him, I had to be more specific because a lot of Steve Thomases came up.
But to me, there really is only one Steve Thomas – well two actually.
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