Thomas Patrick Chorske (born September 18, 1966) is an American former professional ice hockey player. A forward, he played for eleven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). In September, 2006, he was named color commentator for New Jersey Devils radio broadcasts, a position he only held for one season before resigning. He was replaced with former team color commentator Sherry Ross (who called games from 1992 to 1995). Chorske returned to Minnesota and now works in business and is hockey analyst for Fox Sports North covering The NHL Minnesota Wild and University of Minnesota Golden Gopher NCAA hockey games.

In 2020, he was named the general manager of the St. Cloud Blizzard in the North American Hockey League.

Playing career

Following an outstanding high school hockey career at Minneapolis Southwest High School, Chorske was named Mr. Hockey as the state's most outstanding high school player 1985, the inaugural year for the award. Soon after, Tom was selected by the Montreal Canadiens 16th overall in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.

After being drafted, Chorske played two seasons of NCAA hockey at the University of Minnesota followed by a year playing with the 1987–88 US National Team preparing for the Winter Olympics in Calgary. Unfortunately, Chorske was the last player cut from the team as they headed to Calgary for the Olympics. Tom returned to the University of Minnesota for the 1988–89 season and was instrumental in the team's success that year.

In 1989–90, Chorske played 14 games with the Montreal Canadiens, scoring three goals and an assist. After another season in Montreal, he joined the New Jersey Devils, playing 76 games in 1991–92, scoring 19 goals and 36 points. In 1993–94, he had his finest offensive year, scoring 21 goals and 41 points but it was the following season which was by far the most satisfying for Chorske, his teammates and fans of the Devils. After several years of being near the top of the NHL, the Devils finally put it all together in the spring of 1995, defeating the Detroit Red Wings in four straight games to claim the Stanley Cup.

In 1995–96, Chorske joined the Ottawa Senators where he played for two seasons and helped them make their first modern era playoff appearance in 1997. He then headed to New York to suit up for the Islanders where he scored 35 points, including 4 short-handed tallies. During the 1998–99 season, he was sent to the Washington Capitals but had abdominal surgery and was limited to 17 games before finally ending up in Calgary at the trade deadline. In 1999–2000, Chorske played 33 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, his final stop in the NHL. In 2000–01, he appeared in 78 games for the Houston Aeros of the now defunct International Hockey League, scoring 27 goals and 52 points.

Chorske's NHL totals were 596 games, 115 goals, 122 assists, for 237 points. Overall, he played in 733 professional games before retiring. He also played on several Team USA World Championship teams, twice winning bronze medals.

Personal life

Chorske played quarterback for Minneapolis Southwest High School football team in 1984 and 1985. He was named to his high school all-conference first team in 1984–85 and named the inaugural Mr Hockey in 1985 as Minnesota's top senior high school hockey player.

He competed in 1985 U.S. National Sports Festival in Baton Rouge, La. and played on first U.S. team to win a medal at World Junior Championships when he won bronze medal in 1986. He also competed in 1986 U.S. National Sports Festival in Houston.

In college, he tied for the University of Minnesota (WCHA) scoring title with 49 points and was All-WCHA First Team in 1988–89. He left the University of Minnesota after his junior year to pursue pro hockey career with the Montreal Canadiens. He was on the Montreal team that joined Minnesota to compete in the 1990 NHL Friendship Tour in Soviet Union.

During the 1994–95 NHL lockout, he played in Italy.

Chorske retired from hockey in 2002 and returned to University of Minnesota to complete his undergraduate degree. He was later hired as an analyst for Fox Sports North for the NHL Minnesota Wild and University of Minnesota Gopher's Hockey broadcasts in October 2010 until 2020. He also makes regular appearances on Twin Cities sports radio programs and the Minnesota State High School hockey tournament broadcasts.

Awards and honors

AwardYear
All-WCHA First Team1988–89
Stanley Cup champion1994–95

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1982–83Southwest High SchoolHS-MN——————————
1983–84Southwest High SchoolHS-MN——————————
1984–85Southwest High SchoolHS-MN23442670——————
1985–86University of MinnesotaWCHA39641016—————
1986–87University of MinnesotaWCHA4720224220—————
1987–88United States National TeamIntl369162524—————
1988–89University of MinnesotaWCHA3725244928—————
1989–90Sherbrooke CanadiensAHL5922244654124488
1989–90Montreal CanadiensNHL143142—————
1990–91Montreal CanadiensNHL579112032—————
1991–92New Jersey DevilsNHL761917363270334
1992–93Utica DevilsAHL61452—————
1992–93New Jersey DevilsNHL50712192510000
1993–94New Jersey DevilsNHL7621204132204370
1994–95HC Devils MilanoITA7115166—————
1994–95HC Devils MilanoALP467132—————
1994–95New Jersey DevilsNHL421081816171564
1995–96Ottawa SenatorsNHL7215142921—————
1996–97Ottawa SenatorsNHL68188261650112
1997–98New York IslandersNHL8212233539—————
1998–99New York IslandersNHL20112—————
1998–99Washington CapitalsNHL170224—————
1998–99Calgary FlamesNHL70002—————
1999–00Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL331562—————
2000–01Houston AerosIHL782725523673254
NHL totals596115122237225505121710

International

YearTeamEventGPGAPtsPIM
1986United StatesWJC71012
1989United StatesWC92136
1996United StatesWC812316
1998United StatesWC61120
1999United StatesWC61124
Senior totals29551026

External links

  • Biographical information and career statistics from , or , or , or
Sporting positions
Preceded byJosé CharbonneauMontreal Canadiens first-round draft pick 1985Succeeded byMark Pederson