Thursday, January 29, 2015
CHI Hires Andrew Thomas
Former Denver captain to assume role of Director of Education and Recruitment.
College Hockey, Inc., has named former University of Denver captain Andrew Thomas as the organization’s new Director of Education and Recruitment, Executive Director Mike Snee announced today. Thomas, currently the Director of Hockey Operations at Rensselaer, will complete the season with the Engineers before officially assuming his new role with College Hockey Inc.
“We are thrilled to welcome Andrew Thomas and know he will thrive in this role, educating players and families on the many benefits of college hockey,” Snee said. “Andy is a passionate young man whose commitment to college hockey is genuine. We were fortunate to have a tremendous pool of qualified candidates but Andy’s background, experiences and enthusiasm set him apart. He will be a real asset to NCAA hockey.”
Thomas, 29, will lead College Hockey Inc.’s efforts to promote NCAA hockey to talented young players and their families. He will succeed current Director of Education and Recruitment Kyle Lawson, who is leaving College Hockey Inc. March 31 to pursue a new professional opportunity.
“My experiences in college hockey were the most integral part of my development as a person and as a player,” Thomas said. “I deeply value the relationships and experiences I had at the University of Denver, and I look forward to being a strong advocate of college hockey for prospective players and their families.”
In his role at RPI, Thomas worked closely with the men’s and women’s hockey staffs to coordinate video work, team travel plans and community relations efforts. He joined the Engineers last summer following a six-year professional hockey career that spanned Europe, the AHL and ECHL. Rensselaer’s head men’s coach, Seth Appert, was an assistant coach at Denver during Thomas’s tenure with the Pioneers.
“I have had the privilege of recruiting, coaching and now working with Andy, and he’s everything you want in a teammate, co-worker and employee,” Appert said. “With his work ethic and professionalism, I am confident he will excel in his new role and continue to be a terrific ambassador for our sport.”
Thomas was a four-year standout at Denver and won the NCAA championship with the Pioneers in 2004-05. He was selected in the fourth round of the NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals following his freshman season. A defenseman, Thomas ranks among the school’s top 10 in career games played (161) and penalty minutes (278). He captained the team as a senior after serving as assistant captain as a junior.
A Dean’s List student, Thomas earned his degree from Denver in 2008, majoring in business administration with a minor in business ethics and legal studies. He was the recipient of the WCHA Scholar Athlete Award in 2008 and co-founded Denver’s Captain’s Club, which brought together captains throughout the school’s athletic department for collaboration.
“I’m very pleased to hear that Andrew is joining College Hockey Inc.,” said George Gwozdecky, who coached Thomas at Denver and is now an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning. “He was a tremendous student-athlete and captain at the University of Denver. He is a leader and a perfect example of what makes college hockey so special.”
Thomas is a native of Bow, N.H., and played for the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (Eastern Junior Hockey League) and Waterloo Black Hawks (United States Hockey League) prior to attending Denver.