TOM COLLEY

The Collingwood Shipbuilder’s began their climb towards ‘Senior A’ supremacy with the arrival of Tom Colley for the 1981-82 season.

 

At the age of 8, Tom’s tasted his first of 6 consecutive league championships in AAA of  the Toronto M.T.H.L. During each season, Tom’s reputation as a goal scorer grew as he tallied 55 to 92 goals per season.  TC’s goal scoring continued throughout a two year stint with the Weston Dodgers in Jr. B followed by another two years of 20+ goals in the OHA playing for the Niagara Falls Flyers and Sudbury Wolves.  

 

Eventually, Tom Colley was the fourth choice of the Minnesota North Stars in the 1973  NHL Amateur Draft and turned pro in 1973 with the New Haven Nighthawks, where he would spend the next seven years. Colley played one NHL game in 1974.  During his illustrious AHL career he earned the nickname as Mr. Nighthawk as he routinely potted 30+ goals while wearing the “C” from 1977 through 1980. This consistency was   recognized in 1998 when he was honoured by New Haven as one of the city’s greatest hockey players.

 

In 1981, Collingwood welcomed its first legitimate goal-scorer in many years. Immediately, goaltenders across the Georgian Bay loop felt the warmth of the ‘red’ light behind them  as Tom averaged 1.5 points per game for the next 5 seasons. He led the league in   scoring during the 1982-83 while the Shipbuilder won the Major Int. Champions coming    in second place in the province to Timmons.

In 1985-86, upon the completion of the Shipbuilder season, Tom was signed by the  Dundas Real McCoys to compete in the Hardy Cup. Not surprisingly, Tom provided      some clutch short-handed and power-play goals as the Real McCoys acquire the Hardy Cup. Like most champions, Tom ended his competitive hockey career going out in style  by winning the OHA Senior title 4-games-to-2 against the Dunnville Mudcats of the Southern Ontario league.

Fortunately, Tom Colley stayed in the Collingwood area upon his retirement as choose     to share his talents as a Collingwood Minor Hockey coach progressing to the coaching staff of the Collingwood Blues – Ontario Tier 2 Provincial Jr. 'A' , serving as an assistant   in two separate stints with the club. Consistent with his playing career, Tom coached his teams to multiple Silver Stick Championshipsand league titles. Not surprisingly, his induction supported by many heartfelt testimonials from his coaching career.

Away from the rink, Tom’s baseball prowess resulted in an invitation to the 1970 Pittsburgh Pirates training camp. Following his hockey career, Tom was a valued    member of the Provincial Champion - Collingwood John’s Car Wash Slo-Pitch team        that represented Ontario in the 1989 & 1993 Slo-Pitch Nationals.

Alongside his son Kevin Colley, Tom Colley’s induction marks the fourth time a parent-child has been represented in the Collingwood Sport Halls of Fame.