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Inducted into the Hall of Fame in
1951. Thomas
Lauder was born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland on 7th January 1918, and became the most outstanding Scottish
defenceman of his era. He played in every season of the post-war
Scottish National League – a semi professional league of teams
predominantly staffed with Canadian players. An
Iron Turner by trade, Lauder
lived for a while in Canada before returning to Scotland and he honed
his hockey skills during the war years as visiting Canadian players
helped develop the local talent in the rinks that stayed operational,
amongst them Paisley. He joined the Pirates for the first season in
peacetime and scored 27 points in helping the team win the Scottish Cup. The
following season was his most productive scoring 22 goals and 29 assists
from 64 games as the Pirates won the Scottish Autumn Cup before two
years later moving home to Perth and joined the Panthers. In the 53/54
season, Lauder again tasted success as the Perth Panthers lifted the
Scottish Cup. He continued playing until 1955; the year after the
Scottish National League merged with the English League, when all
Paisley Pirates withdrew from professional hockey. A
big imposing defenceman, Tommy Lauder whilst never an All Star, was
steady and dependable with very few visits to the penalty box –
evidenced by just 36 pims in the 47/48 season being the most accumulated
in one season. Excluding
the 46/47 season, for which full statistics are unavailable, Tommy
Lauder recorded 101 goals and 236 assists for 337 points in 475 games in
the Scottish National League, with a meagre 112 penalty minutes. When
the short lived Scottish Amateur League was formed in 1955, aged 37
Tommy Lauder took to coaching, having gained some experience during his
days with the Paisley Pirates. Compiled with research, provided by Martin C.Harris – July 1999.
and David Gordon September 2005. |
