In his youth, hockey player Tomasz Zaborski was the idol of Slovak fans. It seemed that he was waiting for a long and successful career in the NHL. However, the injuries did not allow him to fulfill his dream ...
First steps
Tomasz Zaborski was born on November 14, 1987 in the Slovak city of Trencin. Its population is 58 thousand people, and almost every one of them raves about sports. Two well-known sports clubs are based in the city at once - the football Trencin and the hockey club Dukla. The latter, by the way, is a four-time national champion.
In Trencin you can’t find a boy who wouldn’t try his hand at football or hockey. These hobbies did not bypass Tomasz Zaborsky. Only he faster than others determined the priorities. Tomas played good football, but he still liked this game noticeably less than hockey, and he shone in it is not so bright. Parents were aware of the success of his son, so they quickly enrolled him in the hockey school "Dukla".
Children's hobby turned into a profession. Dukla coaches quickly discerned Zaborsky’s talent and began to draw him into official games - first at a youthful level, then at a youth level, and since 2005, at an adult level. Zaborsky always met expectations and even earned an invitation to the youth team of the country.
The dream of the NHL
Bad soldier who does not dream of becoming a general. Bad hockey player who does not dream of playing in the NHL. This truism fully applies to our hero. Of course, Zaborsky dreamed of moving to the strongest league in the world and was immensely happy to learn that in the summer of 2006 he was chosen by the famous New York Rangers club for draft. Even if only in the fifth round, under the not very prestigious 137th number.
The mere fact of choosing a draft does not mean that the team will immediately use the young player in the first team. First, he is sent to gain experience in the clubs of the lower leagues. If there the hockey player will prove himself as it should, he will be raised to the level of the first team.
Zaborski was no exception and initially went to the little-known Saginav Spirit, performing in the OHL. There, the young Slovak made a real sensation, gaining 113 points in 127 matches according to the “goal plus pass” system! It seemed that the dream of the “Rangers” is close to fulfillment, but the bosses of the club had a different opinion. They decided that for the full adaptation of the Slovak needed another season in the AHL.
Therefore, the next championship Zaborski started at the club "Connecticut Whale." Unfortunately, everything went awry right away. Firstly, Tomas could not find contact with the coach and partners, and secondly, the Slovak began to get annoying injuries. Connecticut decided to give Tomas a lease, but by and large, he didn’t succeed anywhere. Although the statistics of the player at the same time was pretty decent - in 47 matches for “Charlotte Checkers” and “Dayton Bombers” he scored 28 points. And this is taking into account the fact that due to injuries he missed more than 50% of games, which is why he simply could not build normal gaming connections with partners!
Finland
After four seasons across the ocean, the Slovak hockey player finally realized that it was time to make a dream of the NHL. He decided to restart his career in Europe. To do this, Zaborski went to Finland, where he signed a contract with the club "Esset".
In Esset, Zaborsky had one of his best career periods. Slovak spent three full seasons in Suomi, became a real star of the Finnish championship, received the title of best league player and was included in the symbolic team of the country's main stars. In 148 matches for “Asset” Zaborski scored 118 points on the “goal plus pass” system.
It is not surprising that in the summer of 2012 a rich and ambitious Omsk “Vanguard” became interested in a talented hockey player.
Zaborski in the KHL
Zaborsky’s first season in Russia was gorgeous. Statistics will tell about this best of all: 52 matches, 21 goals, 20 assists. Zaborski became the top scorer of “Vanguard” and was very fond of Omsk fans - they even made a special golden helmet for Tomas and composed a special chant.
But the championship-2013/14 “Vanguard” did not start so well. Zaborsky didn’t play. As a result, it was decided to send him to the Ufa "Salavat Yulaev." But there the statistics of Tomasz Zaborski was weak: he scored only 13 points in 31 matches.
The contract with the hockey player, it was decided not to renew.
Where is Tomasz Zaborski playing now?
After the failure in Ufa, Tomasz Zaborski made a logical decision to return to Finland, which he loved so much. And, judging by the statistics, he did the right thing. A newcomer to the Helsinki HIFK scored more than 100 points in two seasons, after which he decided to try his hand at the Swedish Brunes. However, he was quickly injured and for the whole last season he went on the ice only 23 times. Naturally, the bosses of the Swedish team did not offer such a traumatic performer a new contract and Zaborsky again had to look for a new team.
Now Tomas plays and trains with the Finnish “Tappara”, with which he is going to enter the 2017/18 season. We wish the hockey player good luck and, most importantly, good health. Because in those seasons when Zaborsky managed to do without injuries, he showed a truly magnificent hockey.