Former Bruins nice Tim Thomas volunteers to assist rebuild flood-damaged buildings in Vermont

Bruins

“I reside up right here now. Beginning to really feel like I am part of the neighborhood.”

Boston Bruins players including goalie Tim Thomas, center, walk to the ice rink to practice at Fenway Park in Boston on Dec. 31, 2009, in preparation for New Years Day's Winter Classic NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Tim Thomas is now dwelling again up in Vermont lately. (AP Picture/Elise Amendola)

Former Bruins nice and 2011 Stanley Cup champion Tim Thomas made a uncommon public look in New England this week, with the two-time Vezina Trophy winner doing his half to assist out flood-damaged communities up in Vermont.

In a video posted by the Bruins on Twitter, Thomas spent Monday serving to to rebuild YouthBuild’s Vermont-based facility within the metropolis of Barre.

“It’s been nice,” Thomas told Bruins reporter Eric Russo. “I obtained to find out about a brand new group, YouthBuild, and be taught in regards to the good work they’re doing with serving to a ton of youngsters to seek out their means. So it was good to have the ability to assist them out.”

YouthBuild is a nationwide program that assists younger adults ages 16 to 24 by providing them job coaching and academic alternatives in a number of trades. YouthBuild’s facility in Barre was closely broken earlier this summer time by the devastating floods that swept by way of the state. 

Thomas has all the time had a particular reference to Vermont. Regardless that he initially hails from Michigan, Thomas performed his collegiate profession with the UVM Catamounts from 1993-97, serving to lead his crew to the varsity’s first Frozen 4 again in 1996.

After Thomas and the Bruins received the Stanley Cup in 2011, Thomas introduced the Cup as much as Burlington to have a good time. 

“I reside up right here now,” Thomas defined. “Beginning to really feel like I’m part of the neighborhood. I all the time did, which is why I got here again. I graduated from the college right here and my spouse’s from Essex. We got here up right here within the summertime on a regular basis once I was enjoying for the Bruins. I do know folks from Barre, I don’t know anyone that was really personally affected, but it surely’s affected the entire space. I’m glad to be part of this.”

Regardless of his spectacular profession in Boston and position within the crew’s first Cup title in 39 years, Thomas has largely been out of the highlight for the previous decade. After retiring from the NHL following the 2013-14 season, Thomas was not often heard from, each within the media and varied hockey circles.

The gifted goaltender resurfaced after being named as a part of the USA Hockey Corridor of Fame’s Class of 2019, later detailing the mind harm from his enjoying profession that derailed his life lengthy after he determined to hold up his gear.

A yr after his retirement, Thomas underwent a mind scan that exposed that two-thirds of his mind was getting lower than 5% blood circulate and the opposite third was averaging about 50%.

“My rebound impact was like, this wasn’t price it,” Thomas stated of the scan outcomes and grappling with post-concussion signs. “That’s the place I used to be then. The place I’m at the moment is previous that. I ended up studying so many classes out of the expertise. It introduced me tighter with my household. It taught me a price for all times and a price for my mind that I’ve by no means had earlier than. And I’ve appreciation for every thing that I by no means had earlier than. I don’t remorse something.”

Within the years that adopted, Thomas has began to turn out to be extra seen within the hockey neighborhood.

After participating within the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup Zoom reunion in 2020, Thomas later advised The Athletic that he hopes to start connecting together with his former teammates on a extra common foundation shifting ahead.

“About 16 months in the past, I got here by way of the opposite facet, so to talk,” Thomas advised The Athletic in 2021. “As I continued to get higher and higher, I’m searching for issues to be concerned in which can be attention-grabbing. I’m trying to reconnect with buddies and acquaintances that I constructed over my life.”

With Thomas and his household now located in Vermont, it wouldn’t come as a lot of a shock if Thomas makes an anticipated return look at TD Backyard sooner or later through the Bruins’ centennial season celebrations all through the 2023-24 marketing campaign.

“I’m trying ahead to it,” Thomas advised Russo. “I’m trying ahead to seeing some outdated teammates. It looks like Bruins have deliberate plenty of thrilling occasions and it ought to be a enjoyable season.”