From Hockey Goalie to… Catcher?

            The Tim Thomas era displayed the classic story of an underdog paying his dues to the sport of hockey and finally displaying a historical performance in 2011 to take the team to win the coveted Stanley Cup. However, following an early playoff exit in 2012, Thomas announced in an unprecedented move that he would not be returning for the 2012-2013 season.

            Following the controversial move, Thomas has been living with his family in Colorado and his rights have since been traded to the NY Islanders. However, he has recently announced that he would be holding a press conference on Monday morning regarding a “major change in his career.”

             The next morning, camera crews gathered as Thomas sat in the living room of his home and spoke to several news reporters.

            Thomas first spoke in expressing his disappointment in not playing a this season, apologizing to the NHL and to the people of Boston. In a crazy turn of events, he then made a wild annoucement: he would be resigning from professional hockey and trying out for the Boston Red Sox as a catcher.

            The media immediately burst open with questions for the Thomas, who was willing to answer any they had.

            When asked if he had tried to work it out with Islanders first, Thomas nodded but added that, “I haven't played a minute for them. I don't feel any obligation to the team and now that my contract is up, I will not even be entertaining offers from their organization or anyone else in the NHL."

            Many questions, however, were directed at his role on the Red Sox.

            “They way I see it,” he commented, “is that the Sox face a glaring problem at catcher right now. 'Saltalamamba' can't hit and he’s thrown out two batters all season. I’m not saying I’m an all star, but I had the best arm on my little league team so I think I could do some damage. Plus, have you seen what I can do with the glove? I can pretty much promise there won’t be one pitching getting by me.”

            One reporter asked where Mike Napoli fit into the equation, but Thomas simply replied, “That fatso? Keep him at first base."

            Another reporter asked Islanders GM Garth Snow what he thought about Thomas’s decision.

            “Well, you know, it’s a tough situation. We hate to see him go. He's a great player and we were hoping to use his skills. It just looks like the Timmy and the team are going in two different directions.”

            It appears that not only is Thomas going in a different direction than the Islanders, but also the entire National Hockey League.

            “I’ve been doing some hitting at the batting cages, and a little bit of throwing the ball around in the back yard with my wife. I think I’m in pretty good shape, you know?” Thomas commented. “We’ll see what happens.”

            Thomas is expected to show up for a tryout with the Red Sox at Fort Myers this summer. With the playoffs over, Thomas will begin his training, not as the all-star goalie he once was, but rather as a catcher for the Boston Red Sox. Thomas remains confident in his new career choice, but for now he is focused on polishing his Vezina trophy in his bunker deep in the bowels of the Rocky Mountains.