Stanley Cup champion goaltender Wayne Thomas passes away at 77

The San Jose Sharks announced Wednesday that former NHL goaltender, coach and long-time executive Wayne Thomas died after a long battle with cancer. He was 77.

Born in Ottawa, Ont., on Oct. 9, 1947, Thomas started his hockey career with the Central Canada Hockey League, playing for his hometown Ottawa Capitals. After three seasons at the University of Wisconsin, posting a .909 save percentage (SV%) and 2.84 goals against average (GAA) in 38 career games. He helped the badgers reached the Frozen Four Tournament in 1970. He ranks in the top 10 all-time for Wisconsin goalies in save percentage and goals against average.

The Toronto Maple Leafs originally held Thomas’ NHL rights, which were traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1968, then the Montreal Canadiens in 1970. He made his professional debut in 1970-71 with the Canadians’ AHL affiliate, the Montreal Voyageurs, spending parts of three AHL seasons with the team as they relocated to Nova Scotia. He helped the Voyageurs win the Calder Cup in 1972.

In 1972-73, Thomas made his NHL debut with the Canadiens, posting an 8-1-0 record and .911 SV% in 10 appearances. He won his first seven home starts, helping Montreal win the Stanley Cup that spring. After a strong following season, he spent the entire 1974-75 season as the Canadiens’ third-string goalie. He would be traded to the Maple Leafs in June 1975.

Thomas would play a career-high 64 games in 1975-76, posting a 28-24-12 record, .900 SV% and 3.20 GAA, being named an NHL All-Star. He ended his NHL playing career in 1981, going 103-93-34 with a 3.34 GAA and .891 with the Canadians, Maple Leafs and New York Rangers.

Thomas was soon hired as a goaltending coach for the Rangers, then became the head coach of the International Hockey League’s Salt Lake Golden Eagles. He led them to a Turner Cup in 1986-87, and would be named Coach of the year.

Thomas would go on to serve as an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues between 1987 and 1993. Ahead of the 1993-94 season, he was hired by the Sharks as both an assistant coach and an assistant to the general manager.

“Over the next 21 years, he would take on a more advanced, day-to-day role in working with the Sharks goaltenders and ultimately, become the team’s assistant general manager, where he was involved in all aspects of the Sharks on- and off-ice operations,” the Sharks said in a press release.

After 45 years in professional hockey, Thomas retired as the Sharks’ vice president and assistant general manager in 2015.

“During the last 17 years of Wayne’s life, his greatest joy and love was his grandchildren,” the Sharks wrote. “He was overjoyed to attend every activity, concert, play, and sporting event and was an active participant in their growth and development.”