Hockey community mourns tragic loss of longtime NHL goaltender and coach at age 77

Former Chicago Blackhawks Assistant Coach Wayne Thomas has lost the battle to cancer at the age of 77.

The hockey world is in mourning, as the San Jose Sharks announced the news today on "X".

Thomas has a storied career in professional hockey that made a stop in Chicago along the way to the San Jose Sharks, where he'd finish it in 2015, as Vice President and Assistant General Manager, a role held since 2001.

He originally started his career in the CCHL, playing for the Ottawa Capitals with a record of 2.84 GAA and a .909 save percentage. Ironically, his NHL rights were held by the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he made it to the Canadiens by trade from the Los Angeles Kings.

Thomas began his 243-game NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens in the 1972 NHL season, shortly after winning the Calder Cup in the AHL with the Voyageurs.

His NHL career totals are 243 GP-103-93-34, 3.42 GAA, and a .891 career save percentage.

When he retired, he joined the New York Rangers behind the bench as a goalie coach up until the 1984-85 season. He'd leave to join the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the IHL and win the Turner Cup in 1986-87.

Thomas would return to the NHL, where he'd stay until 2015, starting as an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks. He'd finish his time behind the bench in 1993 with the St. Louis Blues, where he'd later head further West to join the San Jose Sharks as GM and assistant coach in 1993-94.

He'd serve 45 years in the NHL, until retirement in 2015 with the San Jose Sharks as AGM and Vice President.

HawksInsider sends our deepest condolences to the Thomas family, friends, and colleagues during this trying time.