Player Profile: Tim Thomas

Here is week 2 of the Player Profile series showing the candidates for the Bruins starting goalie spot this fall. This week is highlighting Tim "The Tank" Thomas. A Native of Davison, Michigan (near Flint), Thomas was the number one goalie at the University of Vermont during all four years he was there from 1993-94 until 1996-97. He was an ECAC All-Star and NCAA All-American during his sophomore and junior seasons. Tim was selected by Quebec Nordiques in ninth round (217th overall) of the 1994 Entry Draft. However, Thomas waited to sign with the team, choosing to finish his time at UVM and then signed with HIFK Helsinki of the Finnish Elite League after stumbling in the ECHL and IHL. Thomas returned to Europe until 2002, when he signed by the Bruins. It was this year Thomas finally made his NHL debut, and defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. After playing the next season in Providence, Thomas yet again left for Finland. During the lockout, he played for Jokerit Helsinki, where he played almost every game and was the teams MVP. Thomas chose to return to Boston the next season, creating controversy when he evoked an escape clause in his contract the left Jokerit without a starting goalie. Thomas began the year in Providence, but when both Andrew Raycroft and Hannu Toivonen got hurt, Tim was called up. In his first game, nationally televised on NBC, Thomas lost a shootout 2-1 to Dallas, stopping 37 of 38 shots, and certainly should have won. We all know what happened from there. You cant finish a Tim Thomas article without mentioning the "Mage". The mage is a combination of the two headwear options for goalies, a mask or a cage. Some people love it other hate it, but Tim likes the mask he created in order to increase air circulation inside his helmet.Prediction for Thomas in '07- Backup or Platoon to/with Fernandez.