new york rangers issue heartfelt statement following the passing of former goaltender
Photo credit: Bastille Post
The New York Rangers made a heartfelt post about former goaltender Wayne Thomas, who passed away. Thomas played for the Rangers from 1977 to 1981, and enjoyed a consistent career in the NHL that began in 1972 with the Montreal Canadiens. He'd finish it with the San Jose Sharks as a Vice President and AGM in 2015.
The hockey community is in mourning, as former Rangers goalie Wayne Thomas passed away today, as reported on "X" by the New York Rangers. He passed away at the age of 77 after fighting cancer.
Thomas was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on October 9th, 1947, and had a long storied career in hockey that ended in 2015 as Vice President and Assistant General Manager for the Sharks.
Wayne Thomas began his professional hockey career in 1972 with the Montreal Canadiens as a goalie. He'd jump between the AHL and NHL until he played his first full season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It wouldn't be until the 1977-78 season that he'd become a Blueshirt in the NHL, putting on the Rangers colors for the first time.
He'd play in New York until the 1981 season, where he'd finish a four-season run with 94 games played, with a record of 34-43-11, 3.64 GAA, and a .875 save percentage.
His NHL career ended with 243 games split between the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Montreal Canadiens. His career record 103-93-34, 3.34 GAA, and a .891 save percentage.
After his 8-year NHL career as a goalie, he'd find purpose as a goalie coach for the Rangers up until the 1984-85 season. Following that, he'd join the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in the IHL as a coach and would win the Turner Cup in his first year.
He'd hold coaching positions in the Chicago Blackhawks, Peoria Rivermen, and St. Louis Blues along the way from 1986 to 1993. There, he'd join the San Jose Sharks organization as a GM and would stick there until 2015.
He is survived by his wife, Barb (Baeder); daughters Gretchen Kane [husband Tim, and son Harrison (11)] of New York, NY; and Abra Larson [husband Hans, and son Erik (17) and daughter Elsje (15)] of Deephaven, MN; brother Gary Thomas (wife Ruth) of Richmond, Ontario and many nieces, nephews, and numerous extended family members.
Thomas gave a lot to the hockey world, and we mourn his loss and are grateful for his contributions to the game.
We send our deepest condolences to the Thomas family in these difficult times.
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JUILLET 16 | 170 ANSWERS new york rangers issue heartfelt statement following the passing of former goaltender Rest in Peace, former goalie Wayne Thomas, a New York Ranger. | ||
| Rest in Peace | 170 | 100 % |
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