Alumni Update – Spring 2023

Tom “Woody” Woodcock

by John Doolan

Continuing with the Fall 22 newsletter, we are highlighting another alumni member to present their career and contributions to the group. We will have a record number of alum in attendance at the upcoming meetings. Please come and join us at our Hot Stove session.

Tommy could be considered the “Godfather” of what we have today. He was an integral part of the formation of PHATS/SPHEM. I reached out to HOF member Skip Thayer for insight to his contributions to the birth of our Societies. Here is an excerpt from the reply I received from Skip. “He first brought it up to me at the NATA meeting in Colorado in 1970 and then again at the NHL trainers meeting put on by Bauer in Kitchener. He was the one that really pushed it. Woody was a prime mover for all the trainers at that time, and remember there were not many of us back in those days. Today’s group would not believe the small group we started out with. All thanks to Mr. Woodcock!!!!” His presence always gave the membership food for thought and he never held back on his opinions on how the direction of the group should be steered.

First meeting in Kitchener. Seated L-R Bauer, Frank Paice NYR, Stan Waylett MINN, Bill Vandenburg, Bauer, Don Bauer, Max Wal-der, Bauer, Lefty Wilson DET, Bauer, Barry Keast, OAK. Standing L-R Ken Carson PIT, Dan Canney BOS, Frank Lewis PHL. Guess Woody took the picture!

The Providence native was a rink rat who started skating at eight and dreamed of playing hockey. He played high school hockey and cleaned the ice for the arena to get free ice time. He was an excellent skater who was given a try-out by his beloved Providence Reds of the AHL and signed to a contract and farmed out to New Haven and Toledo of the Eastern and International leagues. It was during this pro stint that he was directed to the training side of hockey.

Brown University played out of the same arena and the coach said he would like him to work for Brown and take classes. He went to the Reds GM and was told he was too light to play and thus he went back and took the offer. He took those courses and ended up as an assistant with the Reds and became a talented disciple of his mentor George Army. Not the plan he originally hoped for, but this put Woody on his NHL path.

One day the legendary Lynn Patrick (a former Boston General Manager) who also became a mentor, came up to him and said there was going to be a big NHL expansion. He was going to be the GM for a team in St. Louis and asked if he would like to be their trainer.

Thinking it was just a one-year gig, but 16-years later he was still there. When a new owner came in with plans to move the team to Saskatoon, he told the organization that they could keep their positions if they took a twenty-five hundred pay cut. GM Emile Francis was not about to agree to the terms and left to become GM in Hartford. Tommy followed and moved back to New England with the Whalers for the next seven years.

The final stop came in San Jose, a place he never expected to have NHL hockey or a place he never thought he would make home. He went to help Jack Ferreira the first Sharks GM to put the training staff together. Thinking it would be one and out he spent the next 7 years until his retirement in 1997. Even in retirement Tommy would venture back to the Sharks for training camp and to ride the playoff train by lending a helping hand.

For the older readers, we all remember “Woody’s Rub-a-dub”. He loved the progress in analgesics to relax and heal muscle soreness. Rub-a-dub was like KFC’s secret recipe. It was a variety of balm and creams that he would combine to make his creation. Any player who had been with Woody and been traded would request a tub of the concoction when they met up. He also authored a book in 1973 titled Hockey From the Ice Up: The How To’s Of Hockey For The Boy, The Parent, The Coach. (Available on Amazon)

Tommy was most proud of caring for Gary Unger’s medical needs for 752 of Gary’s 914 consecutive games played “Iron Man’s” record. His saddest day was when Bob Gassoff a strong talented Blue lost his life at a team family party at Unger’s ranch outside St. Louis.

Tommy over saw and helped develop improvements in equipment and incorporated the use of ultrasound while developing taping techniques especially in relation to ankle injuries.

For all of you who have indulged in an adult beverage at the hospitality suite during the annual meetings, you can thank Woody. During his time in St. Louis the team was sponsored by Budweiser and Tommy had made friends with the higher ups and asked if they could supply product for the meetings. So next time you go grab a beer from the suite, raise your bottle or can and toast Tommy with “This one’s for you Woody”. As a small token to Woody’s endeavor on our behalf the Executive Committee will dedicate the hospitality suite going forward in his honor.

In retirement he was an avid golfer and for a time was a starter at the course. (Old habits are hard to quit remember the clean ice get to ice time.) He also enjoyed tennis and riding motorcycles.

Woodcock is a legend in the NHL and the Sharks training room is dedicated to him. Tommy worked over

2900 games during his 36 years reaching the Cup finals 3 times. He also was part of 5 All-Star games, won a Silver Medal at the 1985 World Championships and was the trainer for ABC’s TV’s Superstars Competition which aired in 1973.

Tommy was our HOF inductee in 2003 and received the 2022 “Tops Award” presented by the Rhode Island Reds . Pete Demers accepted the award on Woody’s behalf as Tommy left us in 2022 at the age of 89 prior to the Red’s event.

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