IMAGE INFORMATION
EditRobert Wayne "Twinky" Thomas - Born October 9, 1947 in Ottawa, Ontario - Died July 16, 2025 in Falmouth, Massachusetts was a Canadian/American ice Hockey goaltender, coach, assistant general manager and executive.
- Calder Cup Champion 1972 with Nova Scotia Voyageurs.
- Stanley Cup Champion 1973 with Montreal Canadiens.
- Prince of Wales Trophy Champion 1973 with Montreal Canadiens.
Molson Cup Winner 1973-74 with Montreal Canadiens.
- Turner Cup Champion 1987 with Salt Lake Golden Eagles (coach).
Thomas was awarded the Commissioner's Trophy as the IHL's Coach of the Year.
Thomas made his NHL debut with Montreal Canadiens on January 14, 1973 vs Vancouver Canucks at Pacific Coliseum in a 3-0 Canadiens win. Also his 1st NHL shutout, becoming the 10th goalie in NHL history to record a shutout in his debut.
Thomas played in 10 games for Montreal in his 1st season, winning 7 in a row to start his NHL career.
Thomas was in tough with Montreal as their 3rd goalie behind Ken Dryden and Michel Plasse. Dryden sat out the 1973-74 season to complete his Bar Exam, which gave Thomas 42 games, but still no playoff action.
Thomas was eventually traded to Toronto Maple Leafs in June 1975, playing 2 seasons in Toronto before the New York Rangers claimed him in the NHL Waiver Draft in October 1977. Thomas played for the Rangers for the rest of his NHL career in New York.
Thomas played in 243 regular season NHL games, winning 103, losing 93 with 34 ties, 10 shutouts, GAA 3.34, 7 assists and 41 penalty minutes. He played in 15 NHL playoff games, winning 6, losing 8, 1 shutout and a GAA 3.54.
Thomas played in the 1976 NHL All Star Game.
In his last season, Thomas was hired by the New York Rangers as a goaltending coach, one of the first in professional Hockey, remaining in that position until the end of the 1984–85 season.
Thomas then became the head coach of the IHL Salt Lake Golden Eagles, guiding them in his 2nd year to the Turner Cup championship and was awarded the Commissioner's Trophy as the IHL's Coach of the Year.
Between 1986 and 1993, Wayne served as an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, then joined the san Jose Sharks in 1993 as assistant to the general manager and assistant coach.
Thomas retired from the Sharks as vice-president and assistant GM in 2015 after 45 years in pro Hockey.
