Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — University of Vermont Hall-of-Famer Tim Thomas ’97 will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2019. USA Hockey announced the five-member class earlier Wednesday.

Thomas is joined in the 2019 induction class by current NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Brian Gionta, Neal Henderson, and Krissy Wendell. Coincidentally, Thomas’ former teammate, St. Louis, was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018 alongside Bettman. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, Dec. 12 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington D.C.

“An incredibly fitting honor for an amazing career in college, professional, and international hockey,” said head coach Kevin Sneddon. “On behalf of our current players and staff, we would like to congratulate Tim and his family on this achievement.”

Thomas, inducted to the UVM Hall of Fame in 2007, finished his collegiate career with an 81-43-15 record. He helped the Catamounts reach a pair of NCAA Tournaments, including a trip to the 1996 Frozen Four in Cincinnati. He was named a 1996 All-American with teammate Martin St. Louis ’97.

He holds the program records in games played (140), wins (81), and saves (3,950). He is second in program history in save percentage (.914) and shutouts (10), and third in goals against average (2.70).

The Flint, Michigan native played professionally overseas and in the AHL following his UVM career, and caught on with the Boston Bruins organization during the 2002-03 season. He broke into the NHL as a regular in 2005-06, and was named an All-Star four times.

In the 2010-11 season, Thomas led the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup in decades, posting a 1.98 goals against average and .935 save percentage in 25 playoff games. He is one of two goaltenders in NHL history to win the Vezina and Conn Smythe Trophies in the same season. Thomas also won the Vezina as the league’s best goaltender in 2008-09.

He finished his NHL career with a 214-145-49 record in 426 career games. In his playoff career, Thomas registered a 29-21 record with a 2.08 goals against average and .933 save percentage.

Internationally, Thomas represented the United States in seven different World Cups and won a silver medal in the 2010 Olympic Games.

Thomas is the second Catamount inducted to the U.S. Hall of Fame and first since 2009, when John LeClair ’91 was enshrined. LeClair was inducted to the UVM Hall of Fame in 2001.