Thomas Larkin (ice hockey)

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Thomas Larkin
2024-12-28 Eisbaren Berlin gegen Schwenninger Wild Wings (Deutsche Eishockey-Liga 2024-25) by Sandro Halank-018.jpg
Larkin in 2024
Born (1990-12-31) 31 December 1990 (age 34)
London, England, UK
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
DEL team
Former teams
Schwenninger Wild Wings
Springfield Falcons
Medveščak Zagreb
Adler Mannheim
National teamFlag of Italy.svg  Italy
NHL draft 137th overall, 2009
Columbus Blue Jackets
Playing career 2011present

Thomas Larkin (born 31 December 1990) [1] is a British-born Italian ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing with Schwenninger Wild Wings of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). [2] Larkin was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 5th round (137th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the first Italian-trained player ever selected in the NHL Entry Draft. Larkin attended Phillips Exeter Academy and then spent four years at Colgate University, where he played for the Raiders ice hockey team, and served as the team's co-captain during his senior season. Internationally, Larkin has represented Italy at the world championships.

Contents

Playing career

In Larkin's final season at Phillips Exeter Academy he set a school record for most goals and assists by a defenceman in one season (14 and 38, respectively). He also had the school record for most career points by a defenceman (82). [3] Prior to the 2009 NHL Entry Draft Larkin was ranked 87th overall amongst North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. This was an improvement of 59 spots from his place three months prior. [4] He was selected in the fifth round, 137th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets, becoming the first Italian-trained player ever chosen in the NHL Entry Draft. [4]

Larkin had an impressive freshman season at Colgate University, playing in 33 games and registering 19 points with 32 minutes in penalties, but his production fell to just 11 points in 41 games played during his sophomore 2010–11 season. [5] Upon completion of his collegiate career, on 5 July 2013, Larkin was signed to a two-year entry-level contract by the Columbus Blue Jackets. [6]

At the conclusion of his entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets, Larkin was not tendered a new offer and was released to free agency. On 22 August 2015, Larkin signed his first professional European contract, agreeing to a one-year contract with Croatian KHL participants Medveščak Zagreb. [7] He eventually played for the Zagreb team until 16 February 2017 and then was picked up by Adler Mannheim of the German DEL. [8]

On 7 November 2017, Larkin hit Daniel Paille during a match between Swedish club Brynas and Adler Mannheim, resulting in Paille leaving with a severe concussion. [9] Two days after the incident, Larkin apologized on Twitter, writing:

"It wasn’t my intention to cause an injury. I wanted to put pressure on the puck carrier behind the net. I would like to apologize to Daniel Paille and I hope he is back playing soon." [10]

A year later on 29 November 2018, Swedish prosecutor Joakim Johansson indicated that Larkin would be charged with assault for blindsiding Paille. [11] Larkin was later acquitted of both the criminal charges and the civil case. Paille was ordered to pay Larkin's legal costs as well as those of Adler Mannheim, which totalled just over $400,000 USD. [12]

In the 2018-19 campaign, Larkin captured the German championship with Mannheim, scoring the game winner in overtime of game five in the finals against Munich. [13]

Larkin played seven seasons with Adler Mannheim before leaving as a free agent to sign a one-year contract with Schwenninger Wild Wings of the DEL on 16 April 2023. [14]

International play

Larkin competed at the 2011 IIHF World Championship Division I, 2012 IIHF World Championship and 2014 IIHF World Championship as a member of the Italy national ice hockey team.

Personal life

Larkin was born in London but grew up in Cocquio-Trevisago, Italy. [15] His father is from Boston, Massachusetts while his mother is from Milan, Italy. [4] When Larkin was four his family moved to Italy; it was there, at age 7, that he first began to play hockey, joining his older brother at the HC Varese's rink. [4] Larkin speaks five languages (English, Italian, French, Spanish and German). [3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2006–07 Phillips Exeter Academy HS-Prep 281785
2006–07 HC Varese ITA U19351610
2007–08Phillips Exeter AcademyHS-Prep296152118
2007–08HC VareseITA U191000010002
2008–09Phillips Exeter AcademyHS-Prep3514385230
2008–09Boston Little Bruins18U AAA1811210
2009–10 Colgate University ECAC 333161932
2010–11 Colgate UniversityECAC41561141
2011–12 Colgate UniversityECAC374101448
2012–13 Colgate UniversityECAC363111455
2012–13 Springfield Falcons AHL 71012
2013–14 Evansville IceMen ECHL 333172060
2013–14 Springfield FalconsAHL190224810000
2014–15 Springfield FalconsAHL625121789
2015–16 KHL Medveščak Zagreb KHL 3423556
2016–17 KHL Medveščak ZagrebKHL5823578
2016–17 Adler Mannheim DEL 50114701110
2017–18 Adler MannheimDEL5151318281020210
2018–19 Adler MannheimDEL3361117301412322
2019–20 Adler MannheimDEL2918936
2020–21 Adler MannheimDEL35417212461014
2021–22 Adler MannheimDEL50610163990004
2022–23 Adler MannheimDEL4921113261210114
2023–24 Schwenninger Wild Wings DEL414151926714520
2024–25 Schwenninger Wild WingsDEL422101227
AHL totals886142013910000
KHL totals924610134
DEL totals335309612624065671384

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2007 Italy WJC18 D1 17th41236
2008 ItalyWJC18 D116th530320
2011 Italy WC D1 18th41010
2012 Italy WC 15th70114
2014 ItalyWC15th70114
2016 Italy OGQ DNQ60110
2016 ItalyWC D1A17th511210
2017 ItalyWC16th70004
2018 ItalyWC D1A18th52022
2021 Italy OGQ DNQ30000
2023 ItalyWC D1A19th55162
2024 ItalyWC D1A19th51340
Junior totals942626
Senior totals541081826

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
All-ECAC Third Team 2011–12
DEL
Champion (Adler Mannheim) 2019 [16]

References

  1. "Thomas Larkin Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  2. "Thomas Larkin (Schwenninger) - Career Stats - Flashscore.com". www.flashscore.com. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  3. 1 2 NHL.com (2009). "Thomas Larkin Prospect Card". NHL.com. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Merk, Martin (29 June 2009). "Against the current". IIHF.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  5. "Columbus Blue Jackets Depth Analysis, Fall 2011". Hockey's Future. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  6. "Blue Jackets sign defenseman Thomas Larkin". Columbus Blue Jackets. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  7. "A great victory for the pre-season" (in Croatian). KHL Medveščak Zagreb. 22 August 2015. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  8. "ADLER Mannheim". adler-mannheim.de (in German). Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  9. "Sweden charges British-born Italian player for hit on ice". thenewstribune. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  10. "Thomas Larkin on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  11. "Sweden charges British-born Italian player for hit on ice". AP NEWS. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  12. "Judge makes ruling in criminal and civil case against Thomas Larkin for hit on Daniel Paille four years ago". Markerzone.com. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  13. "München wehrt sich nach Kräften, aber Larkin schießt Mannheim in der Overtime erstmals seit 2015 wieder zum Titel". www.eishockeynews.de (in German). Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  14. "Wild Wings strengthen with Thomas Larkin" (in German). Schwenninger Wild Wings. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  15. Springfield Falcons (14 March 2013). "Falsons sign Larkin to ATO". FalconsAHL.com. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  16. "Adler Mannheim wins DEL". IIHF . 27 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.