Tom Draper
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edward Draper (born November 20, 1966 in Outremont, Quebec
) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
goaltender
. He was chosen in the eighth round, 165th overall,and the 8th pick by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft
. On February 28, 1991 the Jets traded Tom to the St. Louis Blues for future considerations. Which on May 24, 1991 turned out being for Jim Vesey and in the same contract he was traded back to the Winnipeg Jets. Then on June 22, 1991 the Buffalo Sabres acquired him from the Jets for the seventh round draft pick in the 1992 entry draft. On September 30, 1993 the Sabres traded him to the New York Islanders for a seventh round draft pick, Steve Plouffe in the 1994 entry draft. He then became a free agent and the Winnipeg Jets picked him up again on December 14, 1995.
Draper played collegiately at the University of Vermont
and, after college, played one season in Finland
with Tappara
of the SM-liiga
. He made his North American professional debut with the AHL
's Moncton Hawks
in the 1988–89 season
, and also appeared in two NHL
games with the Winnipeg Jets that same season.
In his NHL career, Draper played with the Jets, Buffalo Sabres
, and New York Islanders
. In 1991-92 season when he played 26 games for the Buffalo Sabres, going 10-9-5 with a 3.21 GAA. He ended up playing 53 professional games in the NHL.
He also spent several seasons in both the AHL and the IHL. In the 1998–99 AHL season
, with the Rochester Americans
, Draper shared the Hap Holmes Memorial Award
(lowest team goals against average
) with teammate Martin Biron
. Overall in the NHL Tom had a goals against average of 3.70 and 19 wins. After his NHL career Draper went back to Finland and became a top net-minder playing for the teams Helsinki Blues and Lukko Rauma gaining a record of 27-17-7.
He now resides in Binghamton, New York with the family cats(which he doesn't like), his wife Kelly, and their 3 kids; Cat, Christine, and Thomas. In his personal life he is a legendary rapper but unfortunately he only performs for family members. He now works as an Account Manager for Coca-Cola Enterprises and is a goaltending coach for the Binghamton Junior Senators. Tom has led the Binghamton Jr. C Senators to a sixth place finish in the regular season of the Continental Hockey Association league and a trip to the league finals.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
) is a retired Canadian professional 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...
. He was chosen in the eighth round, 165th overall,and the 8th pick by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft
1985 NHL Entry Draft
The 1985 NHL Entry Draft was the first draft outside of Montreal. The event was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, and attended by 7,000 fans. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the...
. On February 28, 1991 the Jets traded Tom to the St. Louis Blues for future considerations. Which on May 24, 1991 turned out being for Jim Vesey and in the same contract he was traded back to the Winnipeg Jets. Then on June 22, 1991 the Buffalo Sabres acquired him from the Jets for the seventh round draft pick in the 1992 entry draft. On September 30, 1993 the Sabres traded him to the New York Islanders for a seventh round draft pick, Steve Plouffe in the 1994 entry draft. He then became a free agent and the Winnipeg Jets picked him up again on December 14, 1995.
Draper played collegiately at the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
and, after college, played one season in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
with Tappara
Tappara
Tappara is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Tampere, Finland at Tampereen jäähalli. The team have won 15 league championships ....
of the SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
. He made his North American professional debut with 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...
's Moncton Hawks
Moncton Hawks
The Moncton Hawks were a professional ice hockey team based in Moncton, New Brunswick. They played in the American Hockey League between 1987 and 1994 operated as a minor league affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets. Home games were played at the Moncton Coliseum...
in the 1988–89 season
1988–89 AHL season
The 1988–89 AHL season was the 53rd season of the American Hockey League. Fourteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league abandoned awarding points for an overtime loss. The Sherbrooke Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season...
, and also appeared in two NHL
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...
games with the Winnipeg Jets that same season.
In his NHL career, Draper played with the Jets, Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
, and New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. In 1991-92 season when he played 26 games for the Buffalo Sabres, going 10-9-5 with a 3.21 GAA. He ended up playing 53 professional games in the NHL.
He also spent several seasons in both the AHL and the IHL. In the 1998–99 AHL season
1998–99 AHL season
The 1998–99 AHL season was the 63rd season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Providence Bruins finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...
, with the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
, Draper shared the Hap Holmes Memorial Award
Hap Holmes Memorial Award
The Hap Holmes Memorial Award is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the goaltenders of the American Hockey League team with the lowest goals against average, and who have appeared in at least 25 regular season games....
(lowest team 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....
) with teammate Martin Biron
Martin Biron
Martin Gaston Biron is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He has also played professionally for the Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and New York Islanders...
. Overall in the NHL Tom had a goals against average of 3.70 and 19 wins. After his NHL career Draper went back to Finland and became a top net-minder playing for the teams Helsinki Blues and Lukko Rauma gaining a record of 27-17-7.
He now resides in Binghamton, New York with the family cats(which he doesn't like), his wife Kelly, and their 3 kids; Cat, Christine, and Thomas. In his personal life he is a legendary rapper but unfortunately he only performs for family members. He now works as an Account Manager for Coca-Cola Enterprises and is a goaltending coach for the Binghamton Junior Senators. Tom has led the Binghamton Jr. C Senators to a sixth place finish in the regular season of the Continental Hockey Association league and a trip to the league finals.
Awards
- Hap Holmes Memorial AwardHap Holmes Memorial AwardThe Hap Holmes Memorial Award is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the goaltenders of the American Hockey League team with the lowest goals against average, and who have appeared in at least 25 regular season games....
(lowest GAA in AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe 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...
): 1998–1999 season - In the 1985-86 and the 1986-87 seasons Draper was named to East Coast Athletic Conference All-Star First Team.
- For the 1988-1989 season he was named to American Hockey League All-Star Second Team.
Sources
- http://www.hockeygoalies.org/bio/draper.html
- http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=18251
- Personal Interview with Tom Draper-12/10/09
- Personal Interview with Cat Draper-12/10/09