Christian Thomas (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Christian Thomas is an ice hockey player for the Oshawa Generals
of the Ontario Hockey League
(OHL). His father, Steve Thomas
played ice hockey in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs
, Chicago Blackhawks
, New York Islanders
, New Jersey Devils
, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Detroit Red Wings
, and in the OHL for the Toronto Marlboros
. Christian Thomas was drafted 40th overall by the New York Rangers
in the 2nd round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
. He signed a professional contract with the Rangers on May 19, 2011.
in 2008 as the 13th overall selection in the OHL Priority Selection. He was traded to the Generals in the middle of the season in a trade in which London received Michael Del Zotto
, John Tavares and Daryl Borden. During the 2008-09 season, Thomas scored four goals each for the Knights and the Generals. In 2009-10, his second OHL season, Thomas scored 41 goals. Tyler Seguin
and Jeff Skinner
were the only two 2010 first round draft picks to score more goals in junior hockey in 2009-10 than Thomas. He also was credited with 25 assists, for a total of 66 points, leading Oshawa in both goals and points. He had four shorthanded goals during the season, a new Oshawa franchise record. He was named the Eastern Conference's most improved player in a post-season coaches poll, and was also in the top three in several other categories—best shot, hardest shot, most dangerous in goal area, and best stickhandler.
In 2010-11, Christian Thomas finished second in the league with 54 goals and sixth in the league in scoring with 99 points, while also tying for the league lead in power play goals. He also finished 5th in the league in game winning goals with nine. 12 of his regular season goals came against the Kingston Frontenacs
, Oshawa's first round playoff opponent. He was named the OHL player of the week three times, including for the first week of the OHL playoffs. At the time Oshawa was eliminated from the OHL playoffs, Thomas was leading the OHL in playoff scoring, and he ended up 7th overall in playoff points and 9th in playoff goals. In the post-season coaches poll, he was named as having the OHL Eastern Conference's best shot and as "most dangerous in the goal area," after finishing as runner up in those categories the prior year. He also repeated his runner-up status as having the conference's hardest shot. Thomas' 95 goals over the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons are more than any other OHL player over those two seasons. As a result of Thomas scoring more than 50 goals in 2010-11, Steve and Christian Thomas became the first father son combination to each score 50 goals in a single OHL season. Steve Thomas had scored 51 goals for the Marlboros in 1983-84.
. He had two goals and one assist in six games for Team Canada
.
Oshawa Generals
The Oshawa Generals are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They are based in Oshawa, Ontario. The team is named for General Motors, an early sponsor which has its Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. The Generals are one of the most successful franchises in Canadian Hockey League...
of the Ontario Hockey League
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....
(OHL). His father, Steve Thomas
Steve Thomas (ice hockey)
Stephen Antony "Stumpy” Thomas is a retired English-born Canadian ice hockey right winger who played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Detroit Red Wings...
played ice hockey in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, 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...
, New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and 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...
, and in the OHL for the Toronto Marlboros
Toronto Marlboros
The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League from 1904 to 1989...
. Christian Thomas was drafted 40th overall by the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
in the 2nd round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
2010 NHL Entry Draft
The 2010 NHL Entry Draft was the 48th NHL Entry Draft, held on June 25–26, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, home arena of the Los Angeles Kings. This was the first time Los Angeles hosted the NHL Entry Draft. An unofficial record of 11 American-trained players were selected in...
. He signed a professional contract with the Rangers on May 19, 2011.
Junior hockey career
Thomas started his junior hockey career with the OHL London KnightsLondon Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
in 2008 as the 13th overall selection in the OHL Priority Selection. He was traded to the Generals in the middle of the season in a trade in which London received Michael Del Zotto
Michael Del Zotto
Michael Del Zotto is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the New York Rangers.-Early career:...
, John Tavares and Daryl Borden. During the 2008-09 season, Thomas scored four goals each for the Knights and the Generals. In 2009-10, his second OHL season, Thomas scored 41 goals. Tyler Seguin
Tyler Seguin
Tyler Seguin is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League . He was a draft pick of the Bruins, selected second overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft...
and Jeff Skinner
Jeff Skinner
Jeffrey Skinner is a Canadian ice hockey player for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League . Selected seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Skinner was the youngest player in the NHL during the season.-Early life:Skinner was born to lawyers Andrew...
were the only two 2010 first round draft picks to score more goals in junior hockey in 2009-10 than Thomas. He also was credited with 25 assists, for a total of 66 points, leading Oshawa in both goals and points. He had four shorthanded goals during the season, a new Oshawa franchise record. He was named the Eastern Conference's most improved player in a post-season coaches poll, and was also in the top three in several other categories—best shot, hardest shot, most dangerous in goal area, and best stickhandler.
In 2010-11, Christian Thomas finished second in the league with 54 goals and sixth in the league in scoring with 99 points, while also tying for the league lead in power play goals. He also finished 5th in the league in game winning goals with nine. 12 of his regular season goals came against the Kingston Frontenacs
Kingston Frontenacs
The Kingston Frontenacs are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The team is coached by Todd Gill and Doug Gilmour is the General Manager. The Frontenacs play home games at the K-Rock Centre, which opened in 2008.Team history predates the OHA,...
, Oshawa's first round playoff opponent. He was named the OHL player of the week three times, including for the first week of the OHL playoffs. At the time Oshawa was eliminated from the OHL playoffs, Thomas was leading the OHL in playoff scoring, and he ended up 7th overall in playoff points and 9th in playoff goals. In the post-season coaches poll, he was named as having the OHL Eastern Conference's best shot and as "most dangerous in the goal area," after finishing as runner up in those categories the prior year. He also repeated his runner-up status as having the conference's hardest shot. Thomas' 95 goals over the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons are more than any other OHL player over those two seasons. As a result of Thomas scoring more than 50 goals in 2010-11, Steve and Christian Thomas became the first father son combination to each score 50 goals in a single OHL season. Steve Thomas had scored 51 goals for the Marlboros in 1983-84.
International career
Thomas represented Canada at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships2010 IIHF World U18 Championships
The 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships was the 12th edition of the IIHF World U18 Championship. The tournament was held in Minsk and Babruysk, Belarus between April 13 and April 23, 2010. Tournament games were played at the Minsk Sports Palace in Minsk and the Babruysk Arena in Babruysk...
. He had two goals and one assist in six games for Team Canada
Canada men's national under-18 ice hockey team
The Canadian men's national under 18 ice hockey team is the national under-18 team in Canada. This team is part of a three-stage Program of Excellence beginning with the Under-17 regional teams and ending with the National Junior Team...
.