Tom Lawson (ice hockey)

Did You Know?

• Lawson became a fire-fighter for the town of Ajax, Ontario after his playing career.
• His brother-in-law is former professional hockey player Ryan Murphy.

Playing career

Born in Whitby, Ontario, Lawson went to Henry Street High School and played junior hockey with the Markham Waxers during the 1998–99 season. He then accepted a scholarship to Bowling Green State in Ohio, where he played as a freshman on the hockey team in 1999–2000. The following year, he turned pro with the Knoxville Speed of the United Hockey League and appeared in one game for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, making his American Hockey League debut.

As the starting goaltender for the Fort Wayne Komets in 2002–03, Lawson had a standout season, winning the UHL Championship. He was named the league's top goaltender and playoff MVP, and earned a spot on the UHL First All-Star Team. That summer, the Colorado Avalanche signed him to an NHL contract. For the 2003–04 season, the Avalanche assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, where he played a career-high 32 games, recording 13 wins and a 2.30 goals-against average. He stayed with the Avalanche organization for the next two seasons, splitting time between the Bears and the Lowell Lock Monsters.

In 2006–07, Lawson began a European career, signing a one-year deal with Lukko Rauma in Finland's SM-liiga. He then moved to Russia, becoming the starting goaltender for CSKA Moscow, the Red Army Team, in the Russian Superleague for the 2007–08 season. He was the first Canadian to play goal for the Red Army and led the league in wins, shutouts, and games played. After that successful stint, he signed a two-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk for the inaugural season of the Kontinental Hockey League. Over two seasons with Novosibirsk, Lawson appeared in 59 KHL games before being released on January 15, 2010. Later that month, on January 26, he moved to Sweden to finish his career with Leksands IF of the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan.