News

Breaking News: Tomas traded to the Anaheim Ducks

2010-07-20T05:53:00Z

Yesterday evening, July 19, 2010, the New York Rangers traded Tomas to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Matt McCue. Tomas is looking forward to being a part of the Ducks organization, although it is still unclear what the Ducks' plans are for Tomas. It is most likely that he will be playing for Anaheim's AHL team, the Syracuse Crunch, in Syracuse, NY, but Tomas is ready and willing for any opportunity to show his skills in the NHL.

"I'm looking forward to having a chance to prove myself and fight for my position this year. I'm really excited to be a part of the Anaheim Ducks organization," said Zaborsky after finding out the news.

Tomas is continuing to work with other hockey players this offseason in his hometown of Trencin, Slovakia, to prepare for training camp in September.

Interview with Tomas

2010-04-19T14:17:00Z

We got the chance to talk to Tomas for a few minutes during this busy time, as Tomas is participating in Slovakia's camp for the World Championships. We had the opportunity to ask about his season in Assat, the future, and favorite players, among other things. Here's what he had to say:

TZ.com: "You had a nice end to the season in Pori, Finland. What do you think changed the second half of the season?"
Tomas: "Yes, my season was pretty good. I think I started working a lot harder in practice and games, and it paid off."

TZ.com: "What did you like about playing in Pori?"
Tomas: "Pori is a hockey town. Everybody loves hockey there. The fans always support the team, even on the road, so it's really nice to play there."

TZ.com: "There were a lot of line changes this season on Assat, who were you most comfortable playing on a line with?"
Tomas: "I liked to play with a lot of players, but I really liked playing with Vellu, who was my pair. I also liked playing with Kupro and Sakari."

TZ.com: "You had three major penalties this season, resulting in a one game suspension. Do you think that playing so physically is good for your game?"
Tomas: "I like to play physical, because it puts more pressure on the defensemen. I don't always want to fight, but I want to protect my linemates. A good teammate always helps his player if he is in trouble on the ice."

TZ.com: "What was different between playing in Finland and playing in North America?"
Tomas: "Finland was faster than the AHL, and I think it requires more skills as well. Another difference is that there are less games played in Finland, as well."

TZ.com: "Would you like to play in Finland next year?"
Tomas: "I don't know where I will play, yet, but I really like playing in America and Finland so we will see what happens."

TZ.com: "What do you think you need to improve upon for next season?"
Tomas: "Well, I am only 22 years old, so there is always something for me to learn and improve on, so I get better. I hope my season will be better than last season."

TZ.com: "Who was your favorite player you ever played with? Why?"
Tomas: "I don't know. There was really a lot of players who I enjoyed playing with. I think Sakari Salminen and Velu (Savalainen) would be right up there!"

TZ.com: "Who is the player you most want to be like?"
Tomas: "Wayne Gretzky or Marian Hossa."

TZ.com: "You are able to play a number of positions. (LW, RW, C, D) What is your favorite position to play?"
Tomas: "It doesn't really matter what position I play. I just want to play. But, I do like to be a defenseman on the powerplay, and as left-wing or center, depending on what system we are playing."

TZ.com: "What did you think when you got the call to go to Slovakia's national team camp for the 2010 world championship?
Tomas: "I was really excited to have a chance to play for the national team. It is an honor."

TZ.com: "If you had the chance to play with any Slovak player, who would it be and why?
Tomas: "It would be Marian Hossa, because he is the best player. I also like him as a person off the ice."

TZ.com: "You scored 2 goals and were star of the game against the Czech Republic in the first exhibition game. What were you feeling?"
Tomas: "It was a great game for me. I played well, worked hard, and tried to make it hard on the opponent's defense. I was happy my first game ended up with two goals and a star of the game.

TZ.com: "Going to Belarus for the second part of the camp, what do you think the Slovak team needs to do to get some wins?"
Tomas: "We need to get used to the system, and to eachother. We need to get our chemistry together. Then, everything will come together and we will win some games."

TZ.com: "What do you do off the ice to stay in shape?"
Tomas: "I work out almost every day, except for game days, so that helps me to stay in shape."

TZ.com: "If you could win the Stanley Cup or an Olympic gold medal, which one would you choose?"
Tomas: "I would choose to win an Olympic medal, for sure!"

Do you have questions for Tomas that we didn't get to ask? Write them in, and we'll have Tomas answer them for you!

2 goals vs. Czech Republic. Interview on Monday.

2010-04-18T00:58:00Z

Tomas has been selected to participate in Slovakia's national team camp for the world championship. The team had their first two exhibition games of the season against the Czech Republic on Friday and Saturday. In the first game, Tomas notched two goals for Slovakia, their only two of the loss. He was named Slovakia's player of the game, and received a container of Czech beer for his efforts. Tomas played very well offensively and defensively, making a strong case for himself to Slovakia's coach Hanlon and GM Peter Bondra. Tomas was especially excited that his family made the trip to Prostejov to see him play. This included his father, Milan, who hadn't seen him play in four years.
On Saturday, Slovakia had another disappointing loss to the Czechs; this time going down 3-2. Tomas had a couple great opportunities, but dispite his strong play, just couldn't get the puck past the Czech goalie. After the game the roster was reduced, and the players who will be attending the second round of the camp were announced. Tomas Zaborsky is one of those players! He will be heading with the rest of the Slovak team to Belarus on Wednesday to play more exhibition games with four other teams.
Check back on Monday for the long awaited season wrap-up interview with Tomas.
Many people have been sending messages of support for Tomas and we would just like you to know that he appreciates all of them! Keep them coming!

The Last Game

2010-03-20T19:49:00Z

Assat Pori's season came to a close today with a 4-2 loss at home against the Espoo Blues. Sadly, Assat was unable to make the playoffs, but they fought hard until the end. Tomas played well in the last game, scoring a goal and earning a star of the game award. This marks the third time Tomas has received a star of the game award in the last four games.

Tomas is not sure yet where he will go next, as the New York Rangers need to choose if he will play more games this season in the United States or not. Of course, we will keep you up to date on where he will go, and check back in the next few days for Tomas' post-season interview.

Four Games Left

2010-03-13T02:11:00Z

With only four games left in the regular season, Assat is continuing to claw for playoff position. The last two games have resulted in devastating losses for Pori, but the team's spirits remain high as they wish to make the most of their remaining opportunities to pick up some points. The current standings are as follows:

1. KalPa         106
2. Lukko         101
3. JYP             101
4. HIFK            95
5. HPK              87
6. TPS              79
7. Tappara      76
8. Karpat         76
9. Jokerit         75
10. Blues        73
11. SaiPa        72
12. Pelicans   70
13. Assat         69
14. Ilves           54

Wins in each of the final four games would result in the addition of twelve points to Assat's current total of 69. Considering the fact that the team currently seated in the sixth position, TPS Turku, is now ten points ahead of Assat, it surely is possible for Pori's team to make their way into the post-season.

Assat's next opponent is Karpat Oulu, in Oulu, tomorrow night. After making the seven hour trip up north, the Pori team needs to be well-rested and ready to take on a formidable Oulu team. The puck drops at 17:00, and live updates are available on www.sm-liiga.fi. Also, don't forget to become a fan of Tomas on the site's player profile page!

A Win for Assat

2010-03-07T01:53:00Z

After losing the first two games after the Olympic break to Tappara and Lukko, respectively, Assat has picked up their first win in the month of March. They played three hard fought periods to conquer the Pelicans 5-3. A full sixty minutes was played full force, and the playoff intensity was clearly visible as both teams battle for a playoff spot.

With many injuries plagueing the Assat team, each player is now being forced to step up their game, picking up extra ice time and trying to create more scoring opportunities. In the last three games, they have had many chances, but tonight was the first night that things seemed to go their way. Troy Milam has stepped up the defense, earning him a star of the game honor. This has been a big help for the team, especially in the absence of Ville Uusitalo and Matti Kuuisto. Tonight's other Assat heroes include Veli-Matti Savilainen, who had a goal and an assist, and our very own Tomas Zaborsky, who also netted a goal and an assist.

Tomas has been playing wonderfully as of late. In addition to his two points tonight, Tomas also scored on Tappara's goaltender in the first game post-Olympics. Tomas has said that he wants to be a great help to the team as they head down the final stretch of the regular season. Making the playoffs is an extremely important event, not only for the team but for the fans as well. Each of these games is critical in Assat's chances of making it to the post-season, and Tomas has said that he wants to do everything he can to help the team achieve their goals.

Olympic Break

2010-02-26T14:32:00Z

With only nine games left in the season, Assat sits in tenth place in the standings with 65 points. SaiPa and the Blues also have 65, while Tappara stands in ninth place with 67 points, and Jokerit in eighth with 69. As only ten points separate fifth place from twelfth place. The action is on pause right now for the Olympic break but will pick up again next week as Assat takes on Tappara.
Since the Christmas break, Tomas has been on fire! He has been creating many chances for the Assat team, for a season total of 4 goals and 15 assists for 19 points in 34 games. His ice time has dramatically increased as a result. Thanks to the play of the forwards, and the defense given especially by goaltender Jussi Rynnas, who has been virtually unbeatable the second half of the season, Assat continues to fight vigorously for position.

With Assat on hiatus during the Vancouver Olympics, we would like to wish all the athletes good luck, especially to the hockey teams and our friends playing for Slovakia, USA, and Finland.

The First Half

2010-01-01T14:03:00Z

It is the start of the new year, and the start of the second half of the season for Assat Pori. Right now Assat is in the middle of the pack, fighting with several teams for playoff position. The points race is very close for nearly every team except for the distant winner, Lukko Rauma. Tomas has been playing extremely well lately, creating many scoring opporunities for Assat, and putting in a goal against HPK Hammenlinna on the 29th. The battles continues tomorrow night against the Espoo Blues.

You win some, You lose some

2009-10-26T21:22:22Z

Assat Pori played two games this past weekend. The first game was Friday night at Lukko Rauma, one of the league's best teams. It was a tough battle between the two teams, as they scrambled back and forth across the ice. There were a lot of turnovers from both sides, but in the end it was Lukko Rauma who prevailed, scrounging up a 4-2 win over Assat. Tomas assisted on the second goal from his linemate, Veli-Matti Savinainen. Saturday night's game against the Espoo Blues wasn't much different than Friday night's, other than the outcome. Both teams wrestled for puck possesion the entire game, each team turning over the puck more than they would have liked. Assat Pori came out with the win, though, taking down the Blues with a 2-0 victory. Assat is in action tomorrow, October 29th, at HIFK Helsinki.

First Game with Assat Pori

2009-10-17T10:56:00Z

Tomas played his first game with Assat Pori last night against Helsinki's Jokerit team. The crowd was very loud, from the beginning of the game until the end, giving Tomas a wonderful welcome, and pumping the team up to a 4-0 win. Tomas played the entire game on a line with Veli-Matti Savinainen and Czech native Camil Piros. In the first period, Piros and Zaborsky went two-on-two into Jokerit's zone, when Tomas passed to Piros behind the defense for the first goal of the game. The team was up 3-0 in the second period when Zaborsky's line stepped out for the powerplay, when Tomas got a pass on the goal line and backhanded it in the net for the final goal of the game. Zaborsky says, "The game here is really fast, with a lot of skilled players. I feel really comfortable on a line with Piros and Savinainen. The chemistry is there. I never played in front of better fans than in Assat Pori. They were so loud and supportive. It really pumped me up."
Tomas also received his first penalty in Finland, with a tripping penalty in the second period, and mixed things up in the third period with a little scramble with five seconds left in the game resulting in a powerplay for Assat Pori. The next game for Assat is on Friday against rival Lukko Rauma.

Getting Back on the Ice

2009-10-15T11:29:00Z

Tomas is ready to get back on the ice and start off the 2009-2010 season with a new team. The New York Rangers of the NHL have assigned Tomas to Porin Assat of Finland's SM-Liiga. Tomas is ready to be back on the ice after scoring 5 points in 4 games at the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack training camp. After being forced to end his 2008-2009 season early with a shoulder injury, Tomas is feeling good and ready to perform at his top level with Assat. Fans in Finland will be able to see Tomas don a Pori uniform for the first time in Friday evening's game against Jokerit. For information in Finnish, please go to the Porin Assat website at this link: www.assat.com

Update from Hartford

2009-03-02T15:52:00Z

Tomas has been fitting in quite nicely with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. After playing seven games with the team, Tomas has notched one goal and two assists for a total of 3 points and a plus/minus rating of +5. Tomas got his first American Hockey League goal against the Lowell Devils, and acquired both of his assists on Saturday, February 28, at Portland. He is looking good on the ice, creating a lot of scoring opportunities for the Wolf Pack in the limited amount of ice time he is given. Tomas is looking forward to the next game for the Wolf Pack on Wednesday, March 4, at home against Worcester. Check back soon for more updates.

Tomas News- Hat Tricks and Hartford!

2009-02-13T05:36:00Z

Tomas was fitting in quite nicely with the Dayton Bombers, scoring 10 goals and 6 assists in 19 games for a total of 16 points with the team. He scored his first North American hat trick last weekend against the Johnstown Chiefs at Hobart Arena on Saturday night, and even had the opportunity to go for a fourth goal on a penalty shot, but allowed team capitan Labinski to take the shot to also get a hat trick that night to give the Bombers an 8-3 win over the Chiefs. The next night Tomas drew a large crowd for autographs, along with Nino Musitelli, Cristian Gaudet, Brock Wilson, Britt Dougherty, and fellow Slovak Milan Maslonka, as it was hockey card night at the Nutter Center. Tomas' scoring streak was snapped after scoring 6 goals and 2 assists in 5 games, and being named first star of the game two games in a row.

Yes, it was quite a nice fit in Dayton, however today, February 12, 2009, Tomas was reassigned by the New York Rangers to the Hartford Wolfpack of the American Hockey League. Tomas is very excited for the opportunity to play in Hartford. It is a wonderful organization and his skills will surely be an asset to the club. The Wolfpack is currently the home of Tomas' former Charlotte teammates from earlier this season- Jared Nightingale, David Urquardt, and Matt Ford. Hartford has also recently acquired former Dallas star, Sean Avery.

Tomas joins the team on the ice for the first time this season at their Friday morning practice and is a possibility for their game that night (2/13). For ticket information, please check the Hartford Wolfpack website, and if you can't make it to the game, listen online! GO ZABORSKY!!!

Tomas traded to the Dayton Bombers

2009-01-01T05:29:00Z

Tomas was traded to the Dayton Bombers of the ECHL's American Conference North Division today. A new year, a new beginning for Zaborsky. Tomas leaves the Charlotte Checkers with a total of 28 games played this season, tallying four goals and eight assists for twelve points, a plus/minus standing of +1, and a total of fourteen penalty minutes. Tomas is looking forward to playing with the talented players of the Bombers.

Thanksgiving Weekend!!!

2008-12-03T02:50:21Z

The Charlotte Checkers lost their first game on Tuesday at home against the Missisippi Sea Wolves 2:0. The Checkers dominated the whole game, but they couldn't put the puck behind Ryan Munce. They outshot their opponent 34 to 20, but none of the shots ended up being a goal. The next game, the Checkers defeated the Augusta Lynx, on Saturday night, 6:2 in Augusta. Tomas scored a powerplay goal in the second period. He also added one assist in the third period on a pass to his linemate, Mike Bayrack. He also added one plus point to his +/-ranking setting him at a zero right now. Ryan Hillier scored 2 goals for the Checkers, Lee Falardeau and Jeff Miles added one goal each in Brodeaur's net. Sunday night, the Checkers played home against Augusta again where they lost a dramatic game 2:1 in a shootout. Ryan Murphy added a goal for Checkers. Tomas put 4 shots at the net, but none of them found way to the back of the goal. Tomas got a chance to go during the shootout, but Brodeaur saved his backhand deak shot. The Checkers have a tough weekend ahead with games at home on Thursday against Gwinnett, and Friday against South Carolina, then closing the weekend with an away game at Gwinnett.

Weekend Update!

2008-11-11T02:34:00Z

Tomas played 3 games over the weekend, and although the Checkers lost all three games, Tomas played very well and tallied a goal and an assist. They started the weekend in South Carolina, losing to the Stingrays 3-0. They continued on the road to Augusta, Georgia, taking the game to overtime, but losing to the Lynx 4-3. Tomas scored a goal in the third period of that game. The other two goals came from PJ Corsi and Jeff Miles. The final game of the weekend was at home against the Stingrays. After leading most of the game 2-1, the Checkers were scored against in the final four minutes of the third period. The Checkers tried to come back, but just couldn't muster enough strength in the heartbreaking loss. Tomas picked up an assist on the first goal of the evening on the power play goal from Nightingale. The second goal of the night came from Kenny Smith. The Checkers play this week home against South Carolina on Thursday, away in Gwinnett on Friday (Tomas' birthday!!!), and home again on Saturday against Mississippi.

Welcome! Vitajte!

2008-10-26T04:00:00Z

Hello and welcome to Tomas Zaborsky's official website. First and foremost, thank you for visiting. We are currently still working on the new website, but we hope to have everything up and running soon in both an English and Slovak version. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, they are appreciated. Just go to the Contact Us page and send us a message!

Tomas and his Charlotte Checkers are finishing his 3-game road trip tonight in Biloxi, Mississippi against the Mississippi Sea Wolves. Tomas had an assist last night in the team's overtime victory. That gives him his third point in four games, he is now tied for 92nd amongst ECHL players in the points race. This week, the Checkers play in Gwinnett County, GA, against the Gladiators on Tuesday, and finish the week with their homeopener on Halloween night against the Augusta Lynx. Come out and support Tomas or visit the team's website and click on the link to listen to the game live on the internet.

Thank you for your support and GO CHECKERS!