Thomas Lauder was born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland on 7th January 1918, and became the most outstanding Scottish defenceman of his era. He played in every season of the post-war Scottish National League – a semi professional league of teams predominantly staffed with Canadian players.
An Iron Turner by trade, Lauder lived for a while in Canada before returning to Scotland and he honed his hockey skills during the war years as visiting Canadian players helped develop the local talent in the rinks that stayed operational, amongst them Paisley. He joined the Pirates for the first season in peacetime and scored 27 points in helping the team win the Scottish Cup.
The following season was his most productive scoring 22 goals and 29 assists from 64 games as the Pirates won the Scottish Autumn Cup before two years later moving home to Perth and joined the Panthers. In the 53/54 season, Lauder again tasted success as the Perth Panthers lifted the Scottish Cup. He continued playing until 1955; the year after the Scottish National League merged with the English League, when all Paisley Pirates withdrew from professional hockey.
A big imposing defenceman, Tommy Lauder whilst never an All Star, was steady and dependable with very few visits to the penalty box – evidenced by just 36 pims in the 47/48 season being the most accumulated in one season.
Excluding the 46/47 season, for which full statistics are unavailable, Tommy Lauder recorded 101 goals and 236 assists for 337 points in 475 games in the Scottish National League, with a meagre 112 penalty minutes.
When the short lived Scottish Amateur League was formed in 1955, aged 37 Tommy Lauder took to coaching, having gained some experience during his days with the Paisley Pirates.
Compiled with research, provided by Martin C.Harris July 1999 and David Gordon September 2005.
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