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Commissioner
Tom Anastos, recognized by The Hockey News as No. 68 on the list of the 100 most influential and powerful people in the sport, is in his tenth season as the Commissioner of the CCHA, having been named to the post on March 18, 1998. His unrequited passion for the game and savvy blend of administrative, business and communication skills, combined with a Who’s Who list of connections, provide progressive vision and dynamic leadership for college hockey. His commitment to growing the sport has resulted in a statewide celebration known as ‘Hockey Day in Michigan’ each of the past two years that created an unprecedented seven consecutive hours of hockey coverage, including the live broadcast of two CCHA games, on FSN Detroit. The initiative caught the attention of USA Hockey, which will unveil ‘Hockey Weekend Across America’ on February 15-17, 2008. Television has been a focal point for the CCHA under Anastos. The CCHA was the first hockey conference to sign television agreements with College Sports Television (CSTV) and Toronto, Canada-based Leafs TV. Expanded media coverage under his watch includes a weekly show, CCHA All-Access, on FSN Detroit, and a radio show, Inside the CCHA, that is widely distributed in league markets. The CCHA Commissioner was instrumental in helping Detroit and Ford Field acquire the 2010 bid for the Frozen Four. It marks the first time that the event returns to Michigan since 1990 and first time in a non-traditional hockey arena. Anastos also serves as President of the Hockey Commissioners’ Association that addresses common issues and concerns at a national level. The group’s efforts include ongoing discussions with the NHL’s corporate office in New York, sponsorship of the annual Ice Breaker Tournament and funding of the U.S. College Hockey Report on XM Radio. Anastos facilitated the entry of the highly successful University of Nebraska-Omaha program into the CCHA in 1999-2000. He also transformed the annual CCHA Awards Banquet into a glamorous affair staged at Detroit’s historic Fox Theatre and overseen the evolution of the CCHA Championship Weekend into a festive event that’s added numerous entertainment options to the championship hockey that’s played. Prior to his appointment, Anastos served as president of the North American Hockey League, a Tier II junior league, for four seasons. During that time, the NAHL attracted strong ownership groups and developed into one of the top leagues for college-bound players in the United States. An active member of USA Hockey, Anastos is one of two NCAA representatives on the organization’s board of directors. He is also a member of USA Hockey’s Junior Council, which guides the direction of junior hockey, as well as the International Council, which oversees U.S. international programs. Anastos was a four-year letterwinner at Michigan State (1981-85) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in construction management. His Spartans won four CCHA Championships and made four NCAA Tournament appearances. As a senior, he earned second-team all-conference honors and was named to the all-tournament teams at the CCHA Tournament and Great Lakes Invitational. Anastos, a 2000 inductee into his hometown Dearborn, Mich., Sports Hall of Fame, played junior hockey for the Paddock Pools Saints of the NAHL and was the first player ever drafted from the league by an NHL team when the Montreal Canadiens selected him in 1981. After a season in the Canadiens organization, he joined the coaching staff at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and served as head coach from 1987 to 1990, compiling a 68-37-7 record. Anastos returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach to Ron Mason from 1990 to 1992. Anastos, 44, lives in Farmington Hills, Mich., with his wife, Lisa, and five children — Lauren (18), Jenna (16), Alyssa (15), Andrea (12) and Drew (10). WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT TOM ANASTOS: "Tom is an extremely impressive leader. His passion for hockey and for expanding the sport's profile is unrelenting. We eagerly look forward to working with Tom on preparations for the 2010 Frozen Four and other high-profile hockey events that will help take the game to a new level of popularity.""
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