Thomas McCollum
Encyclopedia
Thomas McCollum is an American
ice hockey
goaltender
currently playing with the Detroit Red Wings
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). He was drafted by the Red Wings in the first round, 30th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
.
and took over in net at the next practice.
in the OHL draft, McCollum had the choice of playing with a Junior A team near his hometown of Sanborn
, New York
, but instead opted to play major junior for the Storm, citing the challenge of the OHL as a strong deciding factor. He also was shown great support from Guelph residents at a restaurant before signing.
Playing for the Storm in his rookie season in 2006–07, McCollum was named an All-Star, recording 5 shutout
s, a 2.39 goals against average
(GAA), and a .918 save percentage
. He posted similar numbers the following season, in 2007–08
, including a 1.91 GAA, .937 save percentage performance in the playoffs as Guelph was ousted in the second round. He was nominated for the OHL Goaltender of the Year
, awarded to Mike Murphy of the Belleville Bulls
, in addition to being named the Storm's Academic Player of the Year. Going into the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
, McCollum was the first ranked North American goaltender by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
. He would be drafted 30th overall by the Detroit Red Wings
in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
, the second goaltender selected, behind Chet Pickard
, who was chosen 18th overall by the Nashville Predators
.
McCollum returned to the Storm for a third OHL season in 2008-09, however, he was traded to the Brampton Battalion
following his efforts at the 2009 World Junior Championships
. McCollum had a 17-10-4 record with a 2.23 GAA and a .926 save percentage with Guelph.
, Matt Duchene
and Evgeny Grachev
. McCollum put up a 13-8 record with a 2.90 GAA and a .898 save percentage in the playoffs, as Brampton lost to the Windsor Spitfires
in the J. Ross Robertson Cup
finals.
had McCollum split the 2009-10 season between the Toledo Walleye
of the ECHL
, and the Grand Rapids Griffins
of the AHL
. In six games with Toledo, McCollum had a 2-1-0 record with a 4.48 GAA and a save percentage of .864. With the Griffins, McCollum appeared in 30 games, as he had a 10-16-2 record with a 3.48 GAA and a .881 save percentage.
On March 28, 2011, after injuries to Red Wings goalies Chris Osgood
and Jimmy Howard
, McCollum was called up from Toledo to serve as Detroit's backup. He was in uniform for Detroit's game that night against Chicago. He made his NHL debut against the St. Louis Blues
on March 30th, 2011, replacing starting goaltender Joey MacDonald midway through the second period with the score 5-2 to the Blues. McCollum conceded 3 goals on 8 shots and was himself pulled at the end of the second period. Detroit went on to lose the game 10-3.
, finishing in fifth place. McCollum took the selection as a great honour.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
currently playing with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). He was drafted by the Red Wings in the first round, 30th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
2008 NHL Entry Draft
The 2008 NHL Entry Draft was the 46th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on June 20–21, 2008...
.
Minor career
McCollum starting playing goalie when, during a mite hockey game, the goalie on his team quit; McCollum switched from defenceDefenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
and took over in net at the next practice.
Guelph Storm
Drafted by the Guelph StormGuelph Storm
The Guelph Storm is a major junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the OHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at the Sleeman Centre.-History:...
in the OHL draft, McCollum had the choice of playing with a Junior A team near his hometown of Sanborn
Sanborn, New York
Sanborn is a hamlet in the Towns of Cambria Wheatfield, New York and Lewiston, New York, USA, on the southeast corner of the intersection of New York State Route 429 and New York State Route 31. Originally called South Pekin after the formerly thriving hamlet of Pekin to the north, Sanborn was...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, but instead opted to play major junior for the Storm, citing the challenge of the OHL as a strong deciding factor. He also was shown great support from Guelph residents at a restaurant before signing.
Playing for the Storm in his rookie season in 2006–07, McCollum was named an All-Star, recording 5 shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, a 2.39 goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
(GAA), and a .918 save percentage
Save percentage
Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops...
. He posted similar numbers the following season, in 2007–08
2007–08 OHL season
The 2007–08 OHL season was the 28th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams played 68 games each during the schedule, that started on September 19, 2007, and concluded on March 16, 2008....
, including a 1.91 GAA, .937 save percentage performance in the playoffs as Guelph was ousted in the second round. He was nominated for the OHL Goaltender of the Year
OHL Goaltender of the Year
The OHL Goaltender of the Year Award is given to the best goaltender in the Ontario Hockey League, as voted on by OHL coaches and general managers.-Winners:*2010-11 Mark Visentin, Niagara Ice Dogs*2009-10 Chris Carrozzi, Mississauga St...
, awarded to Mike Murphy of the Belleville Bulls
Belleville Bulls
The Belleville Bulls are a junior ice hockey team, founded in 1981 based in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League.-History:...
, in addition to being named the Storm's Academic Player of the Year. Going into the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
2008 NHL Entry Draft
The 2008 NHL Entry Draft was the 46th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on June 20–21, 2008...
, McCollum was the first ranked North American goaltender by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
NHL Central Scouting Bureau
The NHL Central Scouting Bureau or NHL Central Scouting Services is a department within the National Hockey League that ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they will translate to the professional game in the...
. He would be drafted 30th overall by the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
2008 NHL Entry Draft
The 2008 NHL Entry Draft was the 46th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on June 20–21, 2008...
, the second goaltender selected, behind Chet Pickard
Chet Pickard
Chet Pickard is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, who was chosen 18th overall by the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
McCollum returned to the Storm for a third OHL season in 2008-09, however, he was traded to the Brampton Battalion
Brampton Battalion
The Brampton Battalion are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Brampton, Ontario and started playing in 1998.-History:The Brampton Battalion were granted an expansion franchise on December 3, 1996...
following his efforts at the 2009 World Junior Championships
2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
- Group B :ScheduleAll times local - Relegation round :The results from matches between teams from the same group in the preliminary round are carried forward to this round.-Schedule:...
. McCollum had a 17-10-4 record with a 2.23 GAA and a .926 save percentage with Guelph.
Brampton Battalion
McCollum took over the starters role with the Battalion, and posted a 17-6-0 record with Brampton, as he had a 1.94 GAA and a .929 save percentage. He was named to the 2009 OHL All-Star Classic along with new teammates Cody HodgsonCody Hodgson
Cody Hodgson is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League ....
, Matt Duchene
Matt Duchene
Matthew Duchene is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Avalanche. He was selected third overall by Colorado in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.-Junior:...
and Evgeny Grachev
Evgeny Grachev
Evgeny Grachev is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently playing with the St. Louis Blues.-Playing career:Grachev played one game with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Russian Super League in the 2007–08 season. He was selected 75th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft...
. McCollum put up a 13-8 record with a 2.90 GAA and a .898 save percentage in the playoffs, as Brampton lost to the Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The...
in the J. Ross Robertson Cup
J. Ross Robertson Cup
The J. Ross Robertson Cup is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the winner of the Ontario Hockey League playoff championship. It was presented by and named for John Ross Robertson, the president of the Ontario Hockey Association who served from 1899 to 1905.Originally it was awarded to the...
finals.
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
had McCollum split the 2009-10 season between the Toledo Walleye
Toledo Walleye
The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL...
of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
, and the Grand Rapids Griffins
Grand Rapids Griffins
The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League....
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. In six games with Toledo, McCollum had a 2-1-0 record with a 4.48 GAA and a save percentage of .864. With the Griffins, McCollum appeared in 30 games, as he had a 10-16-2 record with a 3.48 GAA and a .881 save percentage.
On March 28, 2011, after injuries to Red Wings goalies Chris Osgood
Chris Osgood
Christopher John Osgood is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He's currently ranked tenth in wins in NHL regular season history with 401 career wins. He spent the first part of his 17-year NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings, then the New York Islanders and the St. Louis...
and Jimmy Howard
Jimmy Howard
James "Jimmy" Russell Howard III is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
, McCollum was called up from Toledo to serve as Detroit's backup. He was in uniform for Detroit's game that night against Chicago. He made his NHL debut against the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
on March 30th, 2011, replacing starting goaltender Joey MacDonald midway through the second period with the score 5-2 to the Blues. McCollum conceded 3 goals on 8 shots and was himself pulled at the end of the second period. Detroit went on to lose the game 10-3.
International play
McCollum was named to the United States for the 2009 World Junior Championships2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
- Group B :ScheduleAll times local - Relegation round :The results from matches between teams from the same group in the preliminary round are carried forward to this round.-Schedule:...
, finishing in fifth place. McCollum took the selection as a great honour.
Regular season
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | Guelph Storm Guelph Storm The Guelph Storm is a major junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the OHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at the Sleeman Centre.-History:... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
55 | 26 | 18 | 10 | 3158 | 126 | 5 | 2.39 | .918 |
| 2007–08 2007–08 OHL season The 2007–08 OHL season was the 28th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams played 68 games each during the schedule, that started on September 19, 2007, and concluded on March 16, 2008.... |
Guelph Storm | OHL | 51 | 25 | 17 | 6 | 2978 | 124 | 4 | 2.50 | .914 |
| 2008–09 2008–09 OHL season The 2008–09 OHL season was the 29th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2008 and concluded on March 15, 2009.... |
Guelph Storm | OHL | 31 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 1859 | 69 | 3 | 2.23 | .926 |
| 2008–09 2008–09 OHL season The 2008–09 OHL season was the 29th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2008 and concluded on March 15, 2009.... |
Brampton Battalion Brampton Battalion The Brampton Battalion are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Brampton, Ontario and started playing in 1998.-History:The Brampton Battalion were granted an expansion franchise on December 3, 1996... |
OHL | 23 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 1333 | 43 | 4 | 1.94 | .929 |
| 2009–10 2009–10 ECHL season The 2009–10 ECHL season was the 22nd season of the ECHL. It ran from October, 2009 until April, 2010, followed by the Kelly Cup playoffs which lasted until May 21, 2010 as the Cincinnati Cyclones won their second Kelly Cup championship in three years by defeating the Idaho Steelheads in five games... |
Toledo Walleye Toledo Walleye The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL... |
ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 188 | 14 | 0 | 4.48 | .864 |
| 2009–10 2009–10 AHL season The 2009–10 AHL season was the 74th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 regular-season games each from October 2 to April 11... |
Grand Rapids Griffins Grand Rapids Griffins The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League.... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
30 | 10 | 16 | 2 | 1741 | 101 | 0 | 3.48 | .884 |
| 2010-11 | Toledo Walleye | ECHL | 23 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 1305 | 60 | 3 | 2.76 | .909 |
| 2010–11 2010–11 AHL season The 2010–11 AHL season is the 75th season of the American Hockey League. An all-time high of thirty teams will play 80 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on October 8, 2010 and ended on April 10, 2011... |
Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 22 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 1152 | 64 | 1 | 3.33 | .879 |
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... |
NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 12.00 | .625 |
| OHL totals | 160 | 85 | 51 | 20 | 9328 | 362 | 16 | 2.33 | .920 | ||
| ECHL totals | 29 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 1493 | 74 | 3 | 3.62 | .887 | ||
| AHL totals | 42 | 16 | 28 | 4 | 2893 | 165 | 1 | 3.41 | .882 | ||
| NHL totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 12.00 | .625 | ||
Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | Guelph Storm | OHL | 4 | 0 | 4 | 233 | 17 | 0 | 4.37 | .890 |
| 2007–08 | Guelph Storm | OHL | 10 | 5 | 5 | 596 | 19 | 1 | 1.91 | .937 |
| 2008–09 | Brampton Battalion | OHL | 21 | 13 | 8 | 1284 | 62 | 1 | 2.90 | .898 |
| OHL totals | 35 | 18 | 17 | 2113 | 98 | 2 | 2.78 | .908 | ||