Tom began playing hockey a year before the Blues came to town, and was a big fan of the St. Louis Braves (Blackhawks minor league team). The first team he played for was Winterland, coached by Jim Whitworth (HOF 2010). Tom attended the 1st St. Louis Blues hockey school the following year, taught by the Plager brothers, Noel Picard, Jimmy Roberts, and Red Berenson, winning the Most Improved Player award. His second year at the peewee level, Tom made the Rainbow Rockets, and was coached by Bud Stege (HOF 2008). Tom later played Bantams with the Rainbow Rockets, and then the Jr. B Brentwood Blazers, again coached by another HOF (2009) member, Lou Struckman. Tom worked at Winterland Ice Rink all through high school, and played on at least 3 teams throughout high school. The Blazers came first, but he also played at McCluer North High School, Valley, and any senior men's teams that needed a player after he Zambonied the ice. After high school, Tom was recruited to play at the United States Military Academy at West Pont, NY, where he played NCAA varsity hockey for 4 years. Tom then proudly served 5 years in the US Army, getting out of the Army as a Captain in 1985, and returning to St. Louis. He has coached his 2 sons in the Valley/Twin Bridges programs, as well at Hazelwood Central and Wood River High Schools. Current hockey endeavors include playing 3 nights a week during the winter with the Florissant Hockey boys, as well as 3-4 out of town trips a year with his now over 50 former teammates from college.