Tomkins makes NHL debut

Former Indy Fuel goaltender Matt Tomkins became the 741st former ECHL player to reach the National Hockey League when he debuted with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday at Ottawa. 

Tomkins is the first former ECHL player to make his NHL debut during the 2023-24 season. He appeared in 79 games for the Fuel during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons posting an overall record of 40-28-7 with two shutouts, a 3.17 goals-against average and a save percentage of .907. During the 2018-19 season, he led all ECHL goaltenders with 3,221 minutes played and was tied for the league lead with 29 wins.

A seventh-round selection (199th overall) of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Tomkins has posted a record of 11-20-4 in 36 career appearances with Rockford of the American Hockey League with a 3.35 goals-against average and a save percentage of .896. He had spent the last two seasons in Sweden, spending time with Frolunda HC and Farjestads BK Karlstad.