Thomas Vernon Ayres (March 27, 1909 in Toronto, Ontario – February 18, 1968) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played six seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Americans, Montreal Maroons, St. Louis Eagles and New York Rangers. He was known as a tough player but not much of an offensive threat.
He played junior hockey for the Parkdale Canoe Club (1927 to 1929) and the Toronto Young Rangers (1929-30). The New York Americans signed him as a free agent in 1930 and brought him up for the 1930-31 season. He played for three seasons and was traded to the Montreal Maroons in 1933. Ayres played only part of the 1933-34 season with the Maroons and was then sent to the St. Louis Eagles for the following year.
Ayres played the complete season with the Eagles and then was claimed by the New York Rangers when the Eagles folded. He played 28 games for the Rangers in 1935-36, his last in the NHL. Ayres then played for four seasons in the American Hockey League and finished off his career with the St. Louis Flyers of the American Hockey Association in 1940-41 and 1941-42.
In the NHL he played in 211 games, scoring 6 goals and 11 assists with 350 penalty minutes.