By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
When former Vermont hockey coach Mike Gilligan thinks about two of his favorite former players, Lightning wing Marty St. Louis and Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, plenty of similarities come to mind.
They are cut from the same competitive cloth, battlers who had to overcome the odds and "labor through a lot of organizations that weren't believing in them in the early going." It was that drive that led St. Louis, 35, to go from being undrafted to an NHL MVP and Stanley Cup winner, and Thomas, 37, to persevere through several seasons in the minors and in Europe before finally making it to the NHL at age 28 and turning into arguably the league's top goaltender.
"Both," Gilligan said, "have the hearts of lions."
St. Louis and Thomas have remained good friends since starring for the Catamounts in the mid 1990s, but the stakes for a reunion have never been higher for a reunion as the upcoming Eastern Conference final, beginning Saturday in Boston. To Gilligan, the stage is fitting.
"It proves to a lot of young athletes and proves to a lot of guys that don't get a break," Gilligan said. "Both are great role models for fighting their way into things."
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The way St. Louis and Thomas played in college, it's surprising to Gilligan they had to wait so long to get a shot.
St. Louis was a Hobey Baker finalist as college hockey's top player for three seasons, pairing with former Lightning Eric Perrin as a dynamic one-two punch.
"He was probably one of the top players I've ever seen in college," Gilligan said. "He sees the game like he was sitting in the stands looking down at the ice. He knows what plays to make all the time. You couple that with tremendous heart and work ethic, and it's quite a package.
"Whenever Marty touched the puck, everyone was on their feet because they just knew something was going to happen."
To Gilligan, it was hard keeping St. Louis off the ice, saying no one played more minutes in four years than him.
"He'd come to the bench sometime, and I wouldn't even open the doors," Gilligan said. "Just let him rest and get back out there."
And when the Catamounts slipped, Thomas was there to save them. He remains third all-time in the NCAA Division I in career saves (3,950). While Gilligan said Thomas was more "happy-go-lucky" than the serious St. Louis, he was a picture of intensity in net.
"Timmy's style has always been erratic, but centering around the puck and stopping it, he's just so tough," Gilligan said. "He'll take it off the helmet, the shoulder, he'll do anything to stop a shot."
Gilligan said it was the "heyday" for the Vermont program, including its first Frozen Four in 1996. "That four-year period, we could beat anybody," Gilligan said. "A lot of it had to do with those guys."
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Gilligan was very surprised St. Louis went undrafted. "I made several calls to people I knew in the business," he said. "They said, 'Maybe if it was a Russian last name they would take a chance on him.' Just because of his lack of height. A lot of people missed the boat on him."
As St. Louis' career took off upon joining the Lightning in 2000-01, including winning the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2004 and hoisting the Cup, Thomas followed from afar.
"It was pretty awesome being able to watch him when he won the Cup and it's been awesome watching him on TV for a number of years," Thomas said. "These past few years, I've been able to join the party, so to speak."
Thomas spent several years in the minors, and overseas, including four stints in Finland. He was actually in Lightning training camp before the 1999-2000 but didn't make his NHL debut until 2002. He seized the Bruins starting role for good in 2007, winning the Vezina Trophy for the league's top goaltender in 2009 and could win it again this year. St. Louis, after his sixth 30-goal season, is a finalist for the Hart.
"(Thomas) battled through it just like I did, and the success he had is well-earned," St. Louis said. "You have to admire that."
Gilligan said he's going to try to attend one of the two games in Boston, but will likely sit on his hands like he usually does when watching St. Louis and Thomas play, afraid to root for either.
"I grew up outside of Boston," Gilligan said. "But when Marty plays, I don't say a word."
Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com.