Matt Tomkins

Last updated

Matthew Tomkins
Born (1994-06-19) June 19, 1994 (age 31)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team
Former teams
Edmonton Oilers
Frölunda HC
Färjestad BK
Tampa Bay Lightning
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
NHL draft 199th overall, 2012
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 2017present

Matthew Tomkins (born June 19, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). [1]

Contents

Playing career

Tomkins played junior hockey in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) for two seasons (2011–2013). He was selected in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. After junior career, Tomkins committed to the Ohio State University and played for their Buckeyes ice hockey team. After graduation Tomkins signed a one-year contract with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL), the affiliates of the Chicago Blackhawks, on June 27, 2017. [2] He later signed one-year contract extensions with Rockford in 2018 and 2019. [3] [4] On January 23, 2020, Tomkins signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Chicago Blackhawks and was assigned back to Rockford. [5]

However, Tomkins left North American and signed a one-year contract with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) on May 28, 2021. [6] On June 2, 2022, he signed a one-year contract with Färjestad BK of the SHL. [7]

Tomkins returned to North America following the 2022–23 SHL season and May 10, 2023, he was signed as a free agent to a two-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. [8] Tomkins made his NHL debut with the Lightning on October 15, in a 5–2 loss to the Ottawa Senators where he made 33 saves. [9] Later during the 2023–24 season, on November 7, 11 years after he was drafted, Tomkins picked up his first NHL career win in a 5–3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. [10]

Spending the 2024–25 season with the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL, Tomkins was a co-recipient of the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award, the Crunch and the Laval Rocket having tied for the fewest goals allowed in the league. He had a 12-10-4 in 26 appearances with the Crunch, with a 2.55 goals against average, a .907 save percentage and three shutouts. [11]

Tomkins left the Lightning organization following two seasons, and was signed as a free agent to a two-year, two-way contract with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, 2025. [12]

International play

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
World Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2022 Finland

After the NHL decided not to send players to the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tomkins was selected to Canada national team as one of three goaltenders. [13] Tomkins was backup for the first two games of the preliminary round, a win over Germany and a loss to the United States. In the third game, he made his first start for Canada and got a shutout against China in a 5–0 win. [14] Tomkins would follow by backstopping Canada to a 7–2 qualification round win over China again, before bowing out to Sweden in a 2–0 quarterfinal loss.

After his play in the 2022 Winter Olympics s, Tomkins was once again called upon to Canada national team at the 2022 IIHF World Championship. He did not play until the gold medal game, where an injury early in the third period to starter Chris Driedger forced Tomkins into the game, where Canada would eventually lose 4–3 in overtime to Finland. [15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGPWLOTLMINGA SO GAA SV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2011–12 Sherwood Park Crusaders AJHL 33181121,89810803.41.894104613.530.897
2012–13Sherwood Park CrusadersAJHL44221462,53310842.56.924105503.26.899
2013–14 Ohio State University B1G 176729284302.78.911
2014–15 Ohio State UniversityB1G146727684223.28.876
2015–16 Ohio State UniversityB1G145717755003.87.888
2016–17 Ohio State UniversityB1G2212531,1364712.48.909
2017–18 Indy Fuel ECHL 2511921,3828003.47.912
2017–18 Rockford IceHogs AHL 81414453004.04.871
2018–19 Indy FuelECHL54291953,22116323.04.905
2019–20 Rockford IceHogsAHL135717694003.12.896
2020–21 Rockford IceHogsAHL155918794703.21.907
2021–22 Frölunda HC SHL 33191301,8557632.46.9088535122302.70.885
2022–23 Färjestad BK SHL32201201,9188122.53.9117344031802.68.905
2023–24 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 63213602003.33.892
2023–24 Syracuse Crunch AHL291512217307312.53.90410158505.16.808
2024–25 Syracuse CrunchAHL261210415296532.55.907
SHL totals65392503,77315752.50.91015879154102.69.895
NHL totals63213602003.33.892

International

YearTeamEventResultGPWLT/OTMINGASOGAASV%
2022 Canada OG 6th3210178311.01.963
2022 Canada WC Silver medal icon.svg101021308.31.786
Senior totals4220199311.01.963

References

  1. "Matt Tomkins at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  2. "IceHogs sign Olczyk, Tomkins to one-year deals". icehogs.com. June 27, 2017. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  3. "Goaltender Tomkins, IceHogs agree to terms". icehogs.com. June 19, 2018. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  4. "IceHogs agree to one-year extension with Tomkins, sign Olofsson to ATO". icehogs.com. March 21, 2019. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  5. "RELEASE: Blackhawks Agree to Terms with Matt Tomkins". NHL.com. January 23, 2020. Archived from the original on January 23, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  6. Pettersson Kymmer, Peter (May 28, 2021). "Schack, Matt". frolundahockey.com (in Swedish). Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  7. Eriksson, Stefan (June 2, 2022). "Matt Tomkins klar för spel i Färjestad BK". farjestadbk.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  8. "Lightning sign goaltender Matt Tomkins to a two-year contract". NHL.com. May 10, 2023. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  9. Fraser, Callum (October 15, 2023). "Tarasenko gets 1st goal for Senators in win against Lightning". NHL.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  10. "Kucherov scores early, Tomkins earns first NHL win as Lightning beat Canadiens 5-3". ESPN. November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  11. "Rocket, Crunch tandems share Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award". TheAHL.com. April 19, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  12. "Oilers sign Tomkins to two-year contract". Edmonton Oilers. July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  13. TSN ca Staff (January 23, 2022). "Canada to use Levi, Pasquale, Tomkins in net at Olympics - TSN.ca". TSN. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  14. Tozer, Jamie (February 13, 2022). "Team Canada defeats China in final preliminary round game". Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  15. Ellis, Steven (May 29, 2022). "Finland Wins 2022 Men's World Hockey Championship Gold". The Hockey News. Retrieved July 4, 2022.