Tom Peluso

Tom Peluso
Born	(1952-05-07) May 7, 1952 Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position	Right wing
Played for	Denver Dallas Black Hawks Port Huron Flags Toledo Goaldiggers
National team	United States
NHL draft	61st overall, 1972 Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career	1970–1976

Tom Peluso is an American retired ice hockey right wing who was an All-American for Denver.

Career

Peluso helped his high school team, Greenway, make consecutive tournament appearances in the state tournament in 1969 and '70. He performed so well that he was one of the few American players recruited to Denver by Murray Armstrong. Peluso swiftly proved that he belonged by finishing third on the team in scoring with 51 points and helped the pioneers win a conference co-championship and return to the national tournament. The following season Peluso led the Pioneers with 69 points, winning both the regular season and tournament championships in the WCHA. He was named as an All-American and finished 4th in the nation in scoring but Denver lost the national semifinal for the second year in a row and ended up 4th for the tournament.

After Denver's season ended, Peluso joined the US National Team for the 1972 Ice Hockey World Championships. The team was looking for a promotion to the top division after being relegated the year before. The team ended up second in their division, being denied promotion due to a 5–6 loss to Poland. Despite the unfortunate result, Peluso was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1972 NHL Draft, joining the growing number of college players being considered by pro teams.

Rather than return to Denver, Peluso embarked on a professional career and joined the Dallas Black Hawks in 1972. He missed part of his first season with a torn abdominal muscle but played well enough that, after two years with the club, including the 1974 Adams Cup, he was chosen by the Kansas City Scouts in the Expansion Draft. Peluso was a rising star for the Scouts in 1975, finishing 4th on the Port Huron Flags with 56 points. His professional career was cut short the following year by injuries and he returned home to Grand Rapids.

Personal life

Peluso's brother Jim played hockey at Denver as well. The two played together in Tom's sophomore season. He had two other family members play college hockey as well; cousin Mike (born 1965) played for Alaska Anchorage and later won a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils while nephew Mike (born 1974) played for Minnesota Duluth and retired after 38 games in the NHL.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1968–69	Greenway HS	MN-HS		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Greenway HS	MN-HS		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Denver	WCHA		34	23	28	51	54		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Denver	WCHA		37	32	37	69	73		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Dallas Black Hawks	CHL		50	13	18	31	58		7	0	1	1	11
1973–74	Dallas Black Hawks	CHL		63	19	19	38	59		10	3	3	6	2
1974–75	Port Huron Flags	IHL		65	27	29	56	27		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Toledo Goaldiggers	IHL		10	1	2	3	0		—	—	—	—	—
NCAA Totals				71	55	65	120	127		—	—	—	—	—
CHL Totals				113	32	37	69	117		17	3	4	7	13
IHL Totals				75	28	31	59	27		—	—	—	—	—

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-WCHA First Team	1971–72
AHCA West All-American	1971–72

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database