Tom Stillman was a member of the Middlebury men’s ice hockey and men's soccer teams, graduating in 1974 with a degree in political science. He is currently the Chairman and Governor of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) St. Louis Blues.

What was it like switching from playing soccer in the fall to lacing up your skates for hockey here at Middlebury?

That was always a time of anticipation and excitement. In those days, the equipment in the old field house couldn’t make ice without the help of cold weather.  As a result, we usually had some downtime between the soccer and hockey seasons. Hockey players would constantly check on the ice in hopes of getting started.  

I wasn’t much of a soccer player, but I enjoyed being on the team because it was an exceptional group of guys with strong leadership and a winning culture. In addition, playing soccer all fall was great preparation for the start of hockey season.

Let's shift to your time working as legal counsel for the U.S. Department of Commerce. How did you get that opportunity, and what did a day in the life look like for you in that role?

I was a political appointee in that position, serving as chief counsel to the agency in the Commerce Department that administered national-security controls on the export of so-called “dual-use” items – goods or technology that could be used for civilian or military purposes (for example, computers and chemicals). At times, the job was interesting – particularly issues related to the end of the Cold War and the opening of trade with Russia – but much of the work involved turf battles with other departments with national-security responsibilities – Defense, State, CIA, etc. – and Congressional investigations into previous approvals of sensitive exports. I can’t say I felt terribly productive during those years, although I did gain an appreciation of the pitfalls of government bureaucracy.  

You become a minority owner of the St. Louis Blues in 2007 before working your way up to majority owner five years later. How did this dream of owning an NHL franchise become a reality, and how important was it for you to keep the ownership ties in St. Louis?

In 2006, the Blues were purchased by a New York-based group, and they wanted to add a local partner. One of their advisors, knowing my interest in hockey, introduced us, and I joined the ownership in 2007. A few years later, when the primary investors decided to sell the franchise, we put together a group of local investors in hopes of purchasing the team. The transaction process took two years, with just about every twist and turn imaginable, but we finally closed and took over in May of 2012. When we launched our effort, our chances of acquiring the team were pretty slim, but it eventually worked out.

The NHL strongly favors local ownership of its clubs, and I think it is especially important in smaller markets like St. Louis. Our all-local group is committed to St. Louis, understands what the Blues mean to the community, and wants to ensure the long-term health of the franchise.

What was it like going up against Anheuser-Busch in the beer distribution realm in Missouri? 

Our company, Summit Distributing, was definitely the underdog in A-B’s hometown, but over time, we gained market share and grew the business. Broader trends in the beer market aided our efforts, including the rise of craft and import beers and the consolidation of the distribution tier, and InBev’s acquisition of A-B in 2008 made the market more amenable to our brands.  After 30 years in the business, we sold Summit in March 2024.

Flash forward to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final Game 7 against the Boston Bruins. Could you sense that the team would walk out of TD Garden with the Cup? What did it feel like to bring an NHL championship back to St. Louis for the first time?

For some reason, I was pretty calm on the day of Game 7; our kids asked Mary if I was okay. I was confident the team would play well, but I can’t say I knew we would win the Cup. The whole experience still seems like a dream to me: the intensity of the game, the moment I realized we were going to win (not until late in the third period), being on the ice for the Cup presentation, celebrating in the locker room and continuing the celebration on the team flight home with the Cup on board. Blues fans in St. Louis had waited 52 years for their first Cup championship, and the city’s response was overwhelming. The best thing a pro sports team can do is bring a community together, and we definitely saw that in St. Louis

Everyone gets a chance to spend a day with Lord Stanley after winning the Cup.  What did you do with the trophy?

Our three kids were in town for our day with the Cup. The Keepers of the Cup, as they are known, brought it to our house that morning, and we had a prolonged breakfast with the Cup in the middle of the table. Afterward, we took it downtown to the Enterprise Center for an event with local youth hockey organizations, and we took dozens of team photos on the ice with it.  Then the Cup returned to our house for some hang-around time and, that night, a large party. Several Middlebury friends were there, including my Midd teammate Rob McCallum ‘74.

How did your time at Middlebury help prepare you for your role as the chairman and governor of the St. Louis Blues?

Going to Middlebury kept me involved in hockey. I was a marginal prospect at best, but Middlebury and our coach, the late Wendy Forbes, allowed me to play college hockey. If not for that, I probably would have drifted away from the game over time, and I likely would not have gotten the chance to get involved with the Blues. I am grateful to Middlebury for allowing me that opportunity.

What is your Midd Moment?

I’m not sure it qualifies as a Midd Moment, but I remember a funny moment with Wendy, who was quite a character. In the fall of 1971, he told me that I had made the varsity team, and he took me to the closely guarded stick locker to select a stick. Of course, in those days, the sticks were made of wood, and the common practice was to test the flex of the shaft by pushing on it with the blade on the floor to see how much it would bend. In my excitement, I reached for a stick, started bending it to test the shaft, and broke it right in two. Wendy reacted with his first “Jesus Christ, Tommy” of my time on the team.

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