Tommy Cross

Last updated

Tommy Cross
Tommy Cross 2022 Calder Cup Finals (2).jpg
Cross with the Springfield Thunderbirds in 2022
Born (1989-09-12) September 12, 1989 (age 35)
Simsbury, Connecticut, U.S.
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for Boston Bruins
NHL draft 35th overall, 2007
Boston Bruins
Playing career 20122023

Thomas Reginald Cross (born September 12, 1989) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins. Cross was selected by the Bruins in the second round (35th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Contents

Playing career

Cross played his first two years of high school hockey at his public Simsbury High School in Simsbury, Connecticut; garnering Connecticut player of the year honors his sophomore season. Cross was playing high school hockey when he was first originally drafted by the major junior club Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, 252nd overall in the 2006 Entry Draft. With little intention to pursue a major junior career in Canada, Cross continued his development through prep (transferring to Westminster School in Simsbury, CT for his junior and senior seasons), and featured with the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets of the United States Hockey League to end the 2007–08 season. He committed to a collegiate career with Boston College of the Hockey East.

At the conclusion of his senior season culminating in captaining the Eagles to his second NCAA Championship, Cross was signed by the Bruins to a two-year entry-level contract on April 11, 2012. [1] Cross immediately made his professional debut at the tail end of the 2011–12 season, with Boston's AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.

After two seasons with the P-Bruins, having solidified a position on the blueline, Cross was given a one-year extension with the Bruins on July 18, 2014. [2] In the 2014–15 season, in his third full season in the AHL, Cross established career highs offensively with 4 goals and 18 assists for 22 points in 54 games.

Cross was announced as the Providence Bruins captain to begin the 2015–16 season. He featured in the opening two games with Providence before he received his first NHL recall by Boston on October 14, 2015. He made his long-awaited NHL debut with the Bruins, alongside teammate Tyler Randell in a 6–2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on October 15, 2015. [3] He later registered his first point, an assist, in his second career game against the Arizona Coyotes on October 17, 2015. [4]

On June 14, 2017, the Bruins re-signed Cross to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000. [5]

After six seasons within the Bruins organization, Cross left as a free agent to sign a one-year, two-way contract for $650k with $450k guaranteed with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 1, 2018. [6] In the 2018–19 season, Cross appeared in 73 regular season games with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, affiliate to the Blue Jackets, producing 34 points.

Cross left the Blue Jackets at the conclusion of his contract to sign a two-year, two-way contract as a free agent with the Florida Panthers on July 1, 2019. [7] After spending the entirety his first season with the Panthers AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, Cross was penciled in to continue in Springfield before the Thunderbirds opted out of the shortened 2020–21 season. On February 25, 2021, Cross was assigned by the Panthers to reunite with former club the Providence Bruins for the remainder of the campaign. He posted 3 goals and 8 points in just 16 games. [8]

Having concluded his contract with the Panthers, and opting to continue his tenure with the return of the Springfield Thunderbirds for the 2021–22 season, Cross was signed by new NHL parent affiliate, the St. Louis Blues, on a one-year, two-way contract on July 31, 2021. [9] Cross as captain of the Thunderbirds, was an integral part of the blueline, collecting 8 goals and 29 points in 67 regular season games. He led the club in the post-season to the Calder Cup finals, contributing with 11 points in 18 contests.

On June 26, 2022, Cross opted to continue his tenure with the Thunderbirds, signing a one-year AHL contract. [10] In the 2022–23 season, Cross was limited to just 18 regular season appearances, registering 4 assists. After being swept by the Hartford Wolfpack on April 21, 2023, Cross announced his retirement from professional hockey citing injuries. [11]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2004–05 Simsbury High USHS 235404518
2005–06Simsbury HighUSHS2215355018
2006–07 Westminster Prep USHS 258122020
2006–07 U.S. National Development Team NAHL 20220
2007–08Westminster PrepUSHS195162120
2007–08 Ohio Junior Blue Jackets USHL 90448
2008–09 Boston College HE 2408824
2009–10 Boston CollegeHE38551036
2010–11 Boston CollegeHE287111845
2011–12 Boston CollegeHE445192466
2011–12 Providence Bruins AHL 20002
2012–13 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL 246131923
2012–13 Providence BruinsAHL421101123120338
2013–14 Providence BruinsAHL553475440114
2014–15 Providence BruinsAHL54418228541014
2015–16 Providence BruinsAHL64320239731120
2015–16 Boston Bruins NHL 30110
2016–17 Providence BruinsAHL74122335691627920
2016–17 Boston BruinsNHL10110
2017–18 Providence BruinsAHL738283683412312
2018–19 Cleveland Monsters AHL73727347181236
2019–20 Springfield Thunderbirds AHL507142156
2020–21 Providence BruinsAHL1635810
2021–22 Springfield ThunderbirdsAHL67821298018381136
2022–23 Springfield ThunderbirdsAHL180441610000
NHL totals3011010110

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2007 United States U18 Silver medal icon.svg70114
Junior totals70114

References

  1. "B's sign Cross to entry-level deal". Boston Bruins. April 11, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  2. "Bruins announce six roster transactions". Boston Bruins. July 18, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  3. "NHL debut a long time coming for Bruins duo". Boston Globe. October 15, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  4. "Bruins top Coyotes for second straight win". National Hockey League. October 17, 2015. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  5. "Bruins sign defenseman Tommy Cross to one-year, two-way contract". Boston Herald. June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  6. "Columbus Blue Jackets sign Tommy Cross". Columbus Blue Jackets. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  7. "Panthers agree to terms with Defensemen Tommy Cross and Ethan Prow". Florida Panthers. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  8. Providence Bruins (February 25, 2021). "He's back! Tommy Cross returns". Twitter . Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  9. "Blues sign Cross to one-year, two-way contract". St. Louis Blues. July 31, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  10. Springfield Thunderbirds (June 26, 2022). "We've signed Tommy Cross to one-year extension!". Twitter . Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  11. "Tommy Cross announces retirement". Springfield Thunderbirds. August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.