Tim Thomas

            What is a hero to me? A hero is someone who displays great amounts of commitment and bravery, they can battle through adversity and still keep there eyes on the goal. Tim Thomas is my hero because he fits this description perfectly. Born in Flint Michigan in 1974, Tim was always into hockey as a child. His family had a money shortage when he was a kid which was a setback for a hockey goalie.

University of Vermont (http://www.uscho.com/2011/06/16/from-vermont-to-the-stanley-cup-thomas-journey-a-memorable-one/ ( Jim Connelly))

After he finished his high school hockey career in Davison High School, he got a scholarship to the University of Vermont to play for the Catamounts. He still has 3 records there today for most games played, wins, and saves. He was selected twice onto the ECAC first all-star team in 1995 and 1996. One of his biggest setbacks is his height.  5' 11" doesn't seem too small but compared to lots of professional goalies he was short. When you are a short goalie you tend to have to move more and flop around the net a lot.

Tim Thomas In Jokerit (http://ilves.com/arkisto/2005/kuvat200305.php (Jouni Valkeeniemi ))

Teams were scared to draft Tim Thomas but in 1994 but the Quebec Nordiques took him with one of their last picks. He only attended one Quebec training camp before being released; they said he was "too small" and that he had no style. That year he went to go play Professional hockey in Sweden and then he played a few games in North America with the ECHL and IHL. He ended up starting a few years in North America but usually ended up being released so he went to Europe. He got his first NHL action in 2002-2003 with the Boston Bruins.

Stanley Cup (http://www.primitivepuck.com/2011/06/16/7th-heaven-lose-ongo-no-doubting-thomas-stanley-cup-puns/ (igor))

His career in the NHL was shortened due to the lockout so he once again went and played in Europe. When he came back he gave the NHL a real surprise. He has been involved in 4 all-star games; he won the Vezina twice, he won the Conn Smyth (Stanley cup MVP) in 2011 and also won a Stanley Cup.  He also won a silver medal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. He was the first goalie since 1974 to win the Vezina, Conn Smyth, and the Stanley cup in the same year. Now he lives in Boston and still has a successful career in hockey at the age of 37 and still has the drive to win another Stanley cup.

Tim Thomas has inspired me greatly by how much he had to persevere to get to his ultimate goal of the NHL. He was cut a lot of times but he never gave up. His caring towards the game is shown every time he is on the ice because he never gives up on anything and shows his full emotions on the ice. "Some of the kids having trouble because they rely on technique too much could probably use some street hockey, because when you have to move on your feet and stuff you can't use the same technique so it will help you get out of it". This is something that all athletes need to be successful at if they want to get better.