Thomas McCollum Thomas McCollum ( born December 7 , 1989 ) is an American ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . He was drafted by the Red Wings in the first round , 30th overall , in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft . Minor career . McCollum starting playing goalie when , during a mite hockey game , the goalie on his team quit ; McCollum switched from defence and took over in net at the next practice . Junior career . Guelph Storm . Drafted by the Guelph Storm in the OHL draft , McCollum had the choice of playing with a Junior A team near his hometown of Sanborn , New York , but instead opted to play major junior for the Storm , citing the challenge of the OHL as a strong deciding factor . He also was shown great support from Guelph residents at a restaurant before signing . Playing for the Storm in his rookie season in 2006 – 07 , McCollum was named an All - Star , recording 5 shutout s , a 2 . 39 goals against average ( GAA ) , and a . 918 save percentage . He posted similar numbers the following season , in 2007 – 08 , including a 1 . 91 GAA , . 937 save percentage performance in the playoffs as Guelph was ousted in the second round . He was nominated for the OHL Goaltender of the Year , awarded to Mike Murphy of the Belleville Bulls , in addition to being named the Storm ' s Academic Player of the Year . Going into the 2008 NHL Entry Draft , McCollum was the first ranked North American goaltender by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau . He would be drafted 30th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft , the second goaltender selected , behind Chet Pickard , who was chosen 18th overall by the Nashville Predators . McCollum returned to the Storm for a third OHL season in 2008 - 09 , however , he was traded to the Brampton Battalion following his efforts at the 2009 World Junior Championships . McCollum had a 17 - 10 - 4 record with a 2 . 23 GAA and a . 926 save percentage with Guelph . Brampton Battalion . McCollum took over the starters role with the Battalion , and posted a 17 - 6 - 0 record with Brampton , as he had a 1 . 94 GAA and a . 929 save percentage . He was named to the 2009 OHL All - Star Classic along with new teammates Cody Hodgson , Matt Duchene and Evgeny Grachev . McCollum put up a 13 - 8 record with a 2 . 90 GAA and a . 898 save percentage in the playoffs , as Brampton lost to the Windsor Spitfires in the J . Ross Robertson Cup finals . Professional career . Detroit Red Wings . The Detroit Red Wings had McCollum split the 2009 - 10 season between the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL , and the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL . In six games with Toledo , McCollum had a 2 - 1 - 0 record with a 4 . 48 GAA and a save percentage of . 864 . With the Griffins , McCollum appeared in 30 games , as he had a 10 - 16 - 2 record with a 3 . 48 GAA and a . 881 save percentage . On March 28 , 2011 , after injuries to Red Wings goalies Chris Osgood and Jimmy Howard , McCollum was called up from Toledo to serve as Detroit ' s backup . He was in uniform for Detroit ' s game that night against Chicago . He made his NHL debut against the St . Louis Blues on March 30th , 2011 , replacing starting goaltender Joey MacDonald midway through the second period with the score 5 - 2 to the Blues . McCollum conceded 3 goals on 8 shots and was himself pulled at the end of the second period . Detroit went on to lose the game 10 - 3 . International play . McCollum was named to the United States for the 2009 World Junior Championships , finishing in fifth place . McCollum took the selection as a great honour . Off the ice . McCollum assists in goaltending camps near his hometown in Western New York .