Tom Moulton
Induction Year: 2022
Birthday: September 3, 1955
City/Town: Lynn, MA
A native of Danvers, Mass., and a longtime resident of the Seacoast region, Tom Moulton was an assistant coach for the U.S. Sled Hockey Team that won its first gold medal at the Paralympic Games in 2002.
Moulton, 67, has been a supporter of youth hockey, men’s leagues and sled hockey in New Hampshire and the U.S. for decades. But it’s his role on the 2002 U.S. team at the Paralympic Games, as an assistant to head coach Rick Middleton, the former Boston Bruins great, that cemented his hockey legacy.
After finishing in last place at the 1998 and 2000 World Championships, Team USA entered the 2002 Paralympic Games ranked sixth out of six teams.
“The reasons Tom Moulton deserves to be inducted into the NH Legends of Hockey are the same reasons why I asked him to be my assistant coach on the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team for the 2002 Paralympics,” said Middleton. “I’ve been around hockey people for six decades now and I have never met anyone that is more passionate about the game of hockey than Tom.”
Moulton continued to assist Middleton with the National Sled Hockey Team and helped alter the course of the program. He received the USA Hockey Bob Johnson Award in 2002, and the four straight Paralympic gold medals (2010, 14, 18, 22) won by Team USA spurred greater interest in the sport, both in New Hampshire and across the country.
“I have fond memories of Coach Moulton as an outstanding coach that every day brought to the rink his enthusiasm and passion for the game,” said Kip St. Germaine, a player on that 2002 gold-medal team. “As athletes he challenged us and expected our best efforts. I cannot thank him for his generosity, giving of his time and energy in helping us achieve our ‘golden’ dream.”
A player his entire life, Moulton has been a big supporter of sled hockey, youth hockey and men’s league hockey. He has sponsored multiple adult amateur teams, helping them pay for jerseys, ice time, etc.
“And he continues to do so,” said Middleton. “He was always the consummate organizer and made sure that everyone got a chance to play who wanted to. All anyone had to do was show up at the rink and have fun. That passion and knowledge for the game of hockey is what I wanted the U.S. National sled hockey players to see. I knew that once they got to know him and see his passion they would respect him and come to love him as a coach.”