Tom Cavanagh (ice hockey)

Thomas Garrett Cavanagh (March 24, 1982 – January 6, 2011) was an American professional ice hockey center who last played with the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the sixth round, 182nd overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. After playing four seasons at Harvard University, he was signed to a professional contract by the Sharks organization.

Tom Cavanagh
Cavanagh with the Worcester Sharks in 2008
Born (1982-03-24)March 24, 1982
Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S.
Died January 6, 2011(2011-01-06) (aged 28)
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Center
Shot Left
Played for San Jose Sharks
NHL Draft 182nd overall, 2001
San Jose Sharks
Playing career 2005–2011

Cavanagh made his National Hockey League debut with San Jose near the end of the 2007–08 season and recorded an assist on his first shift. The following season, he scored his lone NHL goal March 28, 2009, a backhand shot past Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.

Playing career

Cavanagh attended Phillips Exeter Academy.

Cavanagh was the first player to play every single one of the Harvard's games during his collegiate career. Cavanagh made his 138th consecutive appearance in a Crimson jersey in Harvard's final game of the 2005 NCAA Tournament.[1]

Cavanagh is the Worcester Sharks' all-time scoring leader with 138 points in 202 games.[2] Cavanagh holds the San Jose Sharks franchise record for quickest point by a rookie for an assist on a goal by Joe Thornton that came 36 seconds into Cavanagh's first game in the NHL.[2]

Death

Cavanagh was found dead in the Providence Place Mall parking garage on January 6, 2011. The cause of death was identified as multiple traumatic injuries due to blunt force impact.[3] Police have stated that they believe the death to be a suicide. Cavanagh had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and was institutionalized several times in the last months of his life.[4][5] Cavanagh had been released from his contract with the Falcons on November 9, 2010.[6]

Career statistics
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1997–98Toll Gate High SchoolHSRI15517226428104
1998–99Toll Gate High SchoolHSRI15920292655496
1999–2000Toll Gate High SchoolHSRI18252954285012129
2000–01Phillips Exeter AcademyHS Prep3142408234—————
2001–02Harvard UniversityECAC34817254—————
2002–03Harvard UniversityECAC3414132731—————
2003–04Harvard UniversityECAC3616203626—————
2004–05Harvard UniversityECAC3410192922—————
2005–06Cleveland BaronsAHL6210112136—————
2006–07Worcester SharksAHL741232445661016
2007–08Worcester SharksAHL7719365555—————
2007–08San Jose SharksNHL10110—————
2008–09Worcester SharksAHL5115243937123258
2008–09San Jose SharksNHL171124—————
2009–10Manchester MonarchsAHL1735810—————
2010–11Springfield FalconsAHL50114—————
AHL totals 286 59 109 168 198 18 4 2 6 14
NHL totals 18 1 2 3 4 — — — — —

Awards and honors
Award Year
ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team 2004 [7]
All-ECAC Hockey Second Team 2004–05

References
  1. "Sharks teammates remember Cavanagh". NHL.com.
  2. "Sharks update: Former teammates share memories of Cavanagh". 8 January 2011.
  3. R.I. hockey athlete Cavanagh found dead at Providence mall Archived 2011-01-11 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Former RI hockey star found dead in mall garage", Boston Globe, January 8, 2011.
  5. "Tom Cavanagh: A tortured life". 30 January 2011.
  6. "Falcons AHL – fan made web page for the former Springfield Falcons".
  7. "All-Tournament Honors" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
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