Tom Kostopoulos

Thomas George Kostopoulos (Greek: Θωμάς Κωστόπουλος; born January 24, 1979) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is currently a member of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL). Kostopoulos was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the seventh round (204th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, and the 2013–14 season was his 15th year as a professional hockey player.

Playing career

In his early years, Tom graduated from Fairwind Senior Public School in 1993. After playing much of his minor hockey in the GTHL with the Toronto Marlboros and Mississauga Reps, Kostopoulos played 1 year with the Brampton Capitals of the OJHL (OHA). He was a 2nd round pick (18th overall) in the 1996 OHL Priority Selection by the London Knights. Kostopoulos's nickname during his tenure for the London Knights was "Tommy Non-stopoulos" due to his extraordinary on-ice work ethic.

Kostopoulos was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the seventh round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Before that he played junior hockey with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. He made his professional minor-league hockey debut with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. Kostopoulos made his NHL debut with the Penguins in the 2001–02 season and enjoyed his best season so far with Pittsburgh in 2003–04. During the 2005 off season, he played with the Manchester Monarchs, having signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Kings. On July 3, 2007 he signed a free-agent contract with the Montreal Canadiens.