“It’s been a long road, for sure,” Tomkins said. “It’s taken me a lot of different places. To start there in Indy and end up here today, it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve enjoyed every step, and it’s tough getting into this league and getting into games and having the opportunity to play, but it’s nice to reflect back at all the steps along the way and just how fun it’s been.”
“It’s been tough, but it’s been enjoyable at the same time,” he continued. “I love to play, and my career has taken me all over the world, and I’ve enjoyed every step, but to obviously end up here today and growing up in Edmonton, being an Oilers fan, and to have this opportunity, it’s just been incredible and a really fun journey.”
Originally a 2012 seventh-round pick of the Blackhawks, a selection made by now Oilers General Manager & Executive VP of Hockey Operations Stan Bowman, Tomkins made stops with Ohio State (NCAA), the Indy Fuel (ECHL), the Rockford IceHogs (AHL), Frolunda & Farjestad (Sweden) and even represented Canada at the 2022 Olympics and IIHF World Championship before signing with the Lightning in the NHL.
There, Tomkins made six appearances for the Tampa Bay during the 2023-24 season, while making 55 total appearances with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch over two seasons before signing with his hometown Oilers in 2025 and playing the full year in Bakersfield.