Peter Thome, a 29‑year‑old former collegiate goaltender from Minneapolis, is poised to make a surprising return to the ice this season, not as a player but as the Minnesota Wild’s designated Emergency Backup Goalie and a hockey operations analyst.
From North Dakota to the NHL Draft
During his four‑year tenure at the University of North Dakota from 2017 to 2021, Thome compiled a 19‑14‑4 record with a 2.24 goals‑against average and a .904 save percentage. His junior campaign in 2019‑20 remains the pinnacle of his college career, as he posted a 7‑1‑1 record, a 1.37 GAA and a .936 save percentage that still stands as the best single‑season save percentage in program history.
That performance earned him a place on the NCHC Academic All‑Conference Team for three consecutive years and caught the eye of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Draft. After turning professional, Thome bounced between the ECHL’s Maine Mariners and the Idaho Steelheads, appearing in 29 games for the University of St. Thomas in 2021‑22 before signing two contracts with the Maine Mariners in the 2022‑23 season.
From the rink to the boardroom
Following his playing days, Thome shifted into coaching and administration, serving as an analyst for the Chicago Steel of the USHL during the 2022‑23 season and later as Director of Hockey Operations for the same club in 2023‑24. He also spent time as a video coach with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, where he contributed to scouting and player development.
The NHL’s latest collective bargaining agreement now requires each team to maintain a permanent Emergency Backup Goalie who has never appeared in an NHL game or logged more than 80 professional appearances. Thome fits that criterion perfectly, and the Wild have announced that he will wear sweater number 00 for the 2024 season, a symbolic nod to his unconventional role.
Beyond the statistical milestones, Thome’s journey reflects a blend of on‑ice grit and off‑ice acumen. As he steps onto the Wild’s bench this year, his presence will not only provide a safety net for the team’s net‑minding but also bring a wealth of analytical insight to the organization’s hockey operations department.