Tom Chorske

Tom Chorske - Athlete Class of 1985

Tom played quarterback for SW in 1984 and 1985, and was a four year hockey player for the school earning First Team All-Conference honors in that sport. Following an outstanding senior year, Tom was named Minnesota's first Mr. Hockey, as the most outstanding High School player in the state.

A short time later, Tom became the 16th player drafted in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft when the Montreal Canadiens selected him.

After high school, Tom played for the University of Minnesota during the '85-'86 and '86-'87 seasons, before joining the U.S National Team for the '87- '88 campaign. Tom returned to play with the Gophers in 1988-'89 as a junior and tied for the team's scoring lead with 49 points while being selected First Team All WCHA. During his three year Gopher career, Tom scored 101 points on 51 goals and 50 assists. That is what you call a complete player. He left the Gophers before his senior season to turn pro.

During his 11 years in the NHL, Tom played for the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He also spent a year playing in Italy during the 1994-'95 NHL lockout.

In the pros, Tom continued his balanced scoring proficiency notching 115 goals and 122 assists while playing in a total of 596 games.

In 1995, Tom's New Jersey Devils team won the Stanley Cup defeating the Detroit Red Wings in four straight. A picture of him holding the cup is proudly displayed in the front entrance of Bunny's Cafe Exceptional.

Tom retired from professional hockey in 2001 and is currently in the investment business and also works for Fox Sports North covering the Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Gophers doing analyst work during broadcasts. He and his wife Kristie have three children, two boys and a girl.