Philip Tomasino wore this burgundy set game worn jersey during the 2020-2021 AHL season for the Chicago Wolves.
Tomasino was in Chicago thanks to some unique circumstances created by the ongoing struggle with the COVID pandemic.
As a nineteen year old first round draft pick of the Nashville Predators, the Canadian forward should have been in Oshawa of the OHL finishing up his junior career. With the OHL closed due to the pandemic, he was therefore allowed to play in the AHL with the Preds affiliate Milwaukee Admirals. However, the Admirals chose not to play in 2020-2021 due to issues stemming from the pandemic.
These strange circumstances forced the Predators to seek a partnership with the Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Wolves to allow it’s prospects to play alongside the Canes prospects.
For Tomasino’s part, he made a smooth transition to professional hockey.
He had six points (3g, 3a) in his first five games and showed the potential to be an impactful player in Nashville. He finished the season with 32 points in 29 games (13g, 19a).
Phil Tomasino celebrating with his team after a May 10th, 2021 victory over the Rockford IceHogs. You can see the large rip repaired on the neck of Tomasino’s jersey in the photo. (photo credit: Chicago Wolves)
Phil wore just two sweaters in the abbreviated 2020-2021 season thanks in large part to COVID restrictions.
The Wolves had no specialty jerseys due to attendance limits, leaving them with the traditional burgundy home and white away jerseys.
This burgundy gamer was worn for Phil’s first two professional points on February 5th, as well as his first two professional goals on February 9th.
I would not say it has heavy wear, however, you certainly would not say the wear isn’t noticeable.
Tomasino’s game worn jersey has a huge repair from the neck down to the crest that stems from an April 30th, 2021 dustup with Cody McLeod.
The left sleeve has a 2” or so repair below the sleeve numbers that also has a very long loose thread. There also a few small burns in and around the white/black/gold band. There is a green paint transfer (or other?) mark in the #0 sleeve number, along with a bit of a burn mark on the #5 of the sleeve. The right sleeve is fairly clean with a couple of burn spots and some loose threads on the sleeve numbers.
The front of the jersey has a small cut at the hem on the right side, as well as puck marks in both white bands around the waist. The crest has a long loose thread where the hockey stick joins with the wolf.
Huge repair in the front of Philip Tomasino’s burgundy gamer. This seems to have occurred on April 30th, 2021 against the Iowa Wild when Cody McLeod intervened in a fracas between Tomasino and Ryan O’Rourke as the third man and ragdolled Tomasino.
The most notable feature of the jersey is a huge repair that runs from the neck of the jersey all the way to the top of the crest. This was (apparently) sustained at the end of the Chicago/Iowa game on April 30th, where Philip Tomasino got into it behind the net with Ryan O’Rourke.
Cody McLeod skated in as the third man and just waylaid Tomasino, pummeling him with uppercuts and ragdolling him around. Video was not uploaded to HockeyFights, however you can see it on AHL TV if you have a subscription as it occurs with 33 seconds left in a 4-1 victory for the Wolves.
This repair has allowed for the two of the three photomatches to this gamer thus far.
The back of the jersey has very light signs of wear.
There are a ton of loose threads in the nameplate, and the marks in the left sleeve #5 are visible.
It is signed by Phil Tomasino in the middle of the #5 on the back of the jersey.
Tomasino chips the puck up ice on February 28th, 2021 against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Several of the loose threads in his nameplate are visible to match from.
By any measure, Phil Tomasino had a strong start to his professional career.
He tied for the team lead in points with 32 points (alongside fellow Preds draft pick Tommy Novak) at the age of 19, and was selected as a member of the 2020-2021 AHL All-Rookie team.