Tom Fergus

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Center
shot = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
weight_lb = 200
prospect_team =
prospect_league =
nationality = USA
birth_date = Birth date and age|1962|6|16|mf=y
birth_place = Chicago, Illinois
career_start = 1981
career_end = 1995
draft = 60th overall
draft_year = 1980
draft_team = Boston Bruins
played_for = Boston Bruins
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vancouver Canucks

Thomas Joseph (Tom) Fergus (born June 16, 1962 in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Montreal, Quebec) is a retired professional ice hockey center who played 726 regular season games in the NHL for 12 seasons between 1981 and 1993.

Playing career

Tom Fergus grew up in Canada where he played his junior hockey for the Peterborough Petes, and was selected 60th overall in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. He only scored 14 points in his draft year, but found his stride the year following, improving to 43 goals and 88 points.

In 1981–82, Fergus surprisingly made a strong Boston team at the age of just 19, and turned in a fine rookie season with 15 goals and 39 points in 61 games. He quickly evolved into a solid, productive second-line center behind top-line pivot Barry Pederson, and his production jumped to 28 goals and 63 points in 1982–83.

With Pederson injured for much of the 1984–85 campaign, Fergus spent most of the season on Boston's top line, and set career highs with 30 goals and 73 points. He also made his international debut with the United States national team in the 1985 Ice Hockey World Championship tournament in Prague after the Bruins were knocked out in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. However, with Pederson's return the following year along with Ken Linseman Boston was left with three scoring-line centers, and Fergus was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Bill Derlago.

Fergus immediately became Toronto's top center and set a new career high with 31 goals in 1985–86, as well as matching his career high of 73 points. However, his 1986–87 season was ruined by a viral infection which caused him to miss significant action, although he still produced well when healthy with 49 points in 57 games. He returned to form in 1988–89, registering a career high 45 assists and 67 points, although he drew criticism for his defensive play and his league-worst -38 rating.

Midway through the 1989–90 season, Fergus suffered a serious groin injury which caused him to miss two months of action. Although he returned for the playoffs, the injury lingered and forced him to have surgery early in the 1990–91 campaign. He missed almost the entire season, recording 9 points in just 14 games.

After a poor start to the 1991–92 season, Fergus was placed on waivers and claimed by the Vancouver Canucks. His scoring touch returned with Vancouver, as he scored 14 goals and 34 points in just 44 games, including a number of clutch goals down the stretch. He added 5 goals and 8 points in 13 playoff games. However, he was used as a utility player in a more limited role the following year, and registered 14 points in 36 games.

After being released by Vancouver, Fergus signed in Switzerland with EV Zug and spent two seasons there before retiring in 1995. He finished his career with 235 goals and 346 assists for 581 points in 726 NHL games, along with 499 penalty minutes.

Post career

Fergus now resides in Oakville, Ontario where he is active in the Toronto Maple Leaf alumni association and owns a promotional clothing company, Blue Leaf Limited.

External links

*hockeydb|1646
*legendsofhockey|10461
* [http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1980/80060.html Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com]