University of Massachusets Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2014
- Class:
- 2004
Thomas Poeck is regarded as one of the most highly accomplished members of the ice hockey program in UMass history. The native of Klagenfurt, Austria, was the Minutemen's first-ever Hobey Baker finalist and an all-American selection in 2004. That same year he was named as the InsideCollegeHockey.com National Defenseman of the Year.
Over his final two seasons, Poeck helped UMass to a 38-29-7 record and a pair of appearances in the Hockey East Championship Semifinals. In 2004, Poeck guided UMass to the Hockey East Championship game in what is considered one of the greatest title games in league history as the Minutemen fought No. 2-ranked Maine through three overtime periods before falling 2-1. That year he became the Minutemen's first-ever Hockey East First Team All-Conference selection after being named to the second team in 2003.
The converted forward was the seventh player in program history to eclipse the 100-point barrier and finished his career with 102 points on 44 goals and 58 assists in 130 games. As a senior, he had a career-best 41 points with 16 goals and 25 assists.
At the time of induction,ย Poeck rankedย 10th in program history for career points, 11th in career goals and 15th in career assists. He also ranked fourth in game-winning goals (7), fifth in power play goals (17) and fourth in power play points (44). His 10 power play goals in 2003-04 were tied as the second-most for a single-season in program history as were his 20 power play points that year. Additionally, he still held program records for a defenseman, including season goals (17, 2003-04), career goals (44), season points (41, 2003-04) and career points (102).
Poeckย played for the Austrian National Team and made Olympic appearances in 2002 (while a sophomore at UMass) and again in 2014. Prior to his time at UMass, Poeck won a World Championship (C-Pool) with the Austria Under-20 National Team in Nagano, Japan. In international competition, Poeck has played in five World Championships (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2013).
Professionally, Poeck signed a free agent contract with the New York Rangers after the 2004 season ended and scored his first NHL goal that same day. All told, he spent 11 years playing hockey professionally between the NHL, the AHL and in Europe.ย He also played in 257 AHL games with 34 goals and 111 assists to his credit. Poeck's career also took him back to Europe where he has played professionally in Switzerland, Sweden and Austria.
Poeck was inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2014.
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