Tom Draper

Thomas Edward Draper (nicknamed "Drapes" or in Finland "Toppi") (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 Espoo Blues and Rauma Lukko gaining a record of 27-17-7.

He now resides in Binghamton, New York with the family cats, his wife Kelly, and their 3 kids; Cat, Christine, and Thomas. 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 and honors

• Hap Holmes Memorial Award (lowest GAA in AHL): 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.

References

External links

• Tom Draper's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database

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