Starting off with some exciting news in the neighborhood this morning. Our former neighbor, who lived for a couple of years around the corner from us on Selle Road, received a most prestigious honor last night.
Former Boston Bruins goalie and Stanley Cup winner Tim Thomas was inducted into the U.S. National Hockey Hall of Fame last night in Washington, D.C.
As is customary here in Selle, a majority of neighborhood visiting takes place along the roadside.
I first met Tim's wife Melissa one day when she walked past our driveway with three dogs on leash----all extremely well behaved.
We had a few good visits after that.
I also enjoyed a nice visit with Tim one summer night when a deer ran through our yard. It was the golden hour, and I had my camera, so I took off to try to get some pictures.
As the deer rounded the corner on its way to the next dinner plate (the Meserve Preserve orchard), I saw a man ride by on a bike.
Later, while I stood and snapped some photos of the deer eating from the apple tree, the man came back by and stopped to talk.
I soon realized it was Tim Thomas. What a nice, soft-spoken and sensitive gentleman he was!
The visit with this hockey great was short but memorable. We feel so proud and happy for him and his family as the hockey world has bestowed upon him such an ultimate honor.
You can read and watch a bit more about Tim in the items below.
Congratulations, Tim!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tim Thomas (Flint, Mich.) spent nine
successful seasons in the NHL, many of those star-studded with
milestones and accolades.
Selected 217th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1994 NHL Draft, Thomas played the majority of his career with the Boston Bruins, and was integral in the Bruins’ 2010-11 playoff run that culminated in a Stanley Cup.
At age 37, Thomas became just the second American and the oldest player to receive the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the 2011 playoffs.
A two-time Vezina Trophy recipient, Thomas finished his NHL career with 214 wins and a .920 all-time save percentage in 426 games.
Before reaching hockey’s grandest stage, Thomas’ winding path to the NHL began with a four-year stint (1993-97) at the University of Vermont, where he recorded an 81-43-15 career record with a 2.70 goals against average and .914 save percentage.
He helped UVM to NCAA tournament appearances in his final two seasons, including the program’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Frozen Four in 1996, a year in which he led the nation in save percentage at .924.
Thomas, who today is Vermont’s all-time career leader in games played (140), wins (81) and saves (3,950), was both a two-time All-ECAC and All-American selection during his collegiate career.
After capping off his collegiate career with a strong senior season, Thomas took his talents overseas to the Finnish Elite League where in his first season he was named to the all-star team and received the Urop Ylonen Award, significant of the league’s top goaltender, after leading HIFK to the league championship.
Following short stints in the International Hockey League, Swedish Hockey League and American Hockey League, Thomas made the NHL his permanent home at the start of the 2005-06 season.
In addition to winning the Stanley Cup and the Vezina Trophy in both 2009 and 2011, Thomas was a four-time NHL All-Star and recipient of the William M. Jennings Trophy. Following his storybook tenure in Boston, Thomas split time between the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars before retiring from the league following the 2013-14 season.
On the international stage, Thomas represented the U.S. on eight occasions, including in seven world championships (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2008, 2014) and also in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
He officially hung up his skates after backstopping Team USA in eight games at the 2014 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
Source: https://www.ushockeyhalloffame.com/timthomas
Selected 217th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1994 NHL Draft, Thomas played the majority of his career with the Boston Bruins, and was integral in the Bruins’ 2010-11 playoff run that culminated in a Stanley Cup.
At age 37, Thomas became just the second American and the oldest player to receive the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the 2011 playoffs.
A two-time Vezina Trophy recipient, Thomas finished his NHL career with 214 wins and a .920 all-time save percentage in 426 games.
Before reaching hockey’s grandest stage, Thomas’ winding path to the NHL began with a four-year stint (1993-97) at the University of Vermont, where he recorded an 81-43-15 career record with a 2.70 goals against average and .914 save percentage.
He helped UVM to NCAA tournament appearances in his final two seasons, including the program’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Frozen Four in 1996, a year in which he led the nation in save percentage at .924.
Thomas, who today is Vermont’s all-time career leader in games played (140), wins (81) and saves (3,950), was both a two-time All-ECAC and All-American selection during his collegiate career.
After capping off his collegiate career with a strong senior season, Thomas took his talents overseas to the Finnish Elite League where in his first season he was named to the all-star team and received the Urop Ylonen Award, significant of the league’s top goaltender, after leading HIFK to the league championship.
Following short stints in the International Hockey League, Swedish Hockey League and American Hockey League, Thomas made the NHL his permanent home at the start of the 2005-06 season.
In addition to winning the Stanley Cup and the Vezina Trophy in both 2009 and 2011, Thomas was a four-time NHL All-Star and recipient of the William M. Jennings Trophy. Following his storybook tenure in Boston, Thomas split time between the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars before retiring from the league following the 2013-14 season.
On the international stage, Thomas represented the U.S. on eight occasions, including in seven world championships (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2008, 2014) and also in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
He officially hung up his skates after backstopping Team USA in eight games at the 2014 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
Source: https://www.ushockeyhalloffame.com/timthomas
And, this morning another phenomenal sports story strikes close to home.
I called my son this morning to apologize.
That was after I had called my husband and cried while trying to read to him the Daily Bee story about Willie's girls' basketball team defeating a rival they haven't beaten in six years.
Truly tears of joy.
I apologized to Willie because Bill and I had missed last night's game.
We had focused ahead on Saturday's upcoming game at Bulldog Gym and didn't realize that the girls had three games this week.
Believe me, we are kicking ourselves while being proud and happy for Willie.
What a night it must have been for a team which has worked so hard!
Congratulations, Bulldogs.
Finally, it seems very much like a Friday, the 13th around here.
Both of our TV's are without their satellite feed.
So, I'm gonna quit while I'm ahead.
Happy Friday, the 13th.
I think I'm gonna go search for some luck from the Irish.
No comments:
Post a Comment