Wayne Thomas, who spent 45 years in professional hockey, first as an NHL goalie with three Original Six franchises, and then began a post-playing career that included over two decades with the San Jose Sharks as a coach and executive, died Wednesday after a long battle with cancer, the team announced. Thomas was 77.

Following his retirement as a player in 1981, Thomas spent over a decade coaching, both as an assistant in the NHL and as a head coach in the now-defunct IHL, before joining the Sharks in 1993 to work as an assistant to the general manager and assistant coach.

Over the next 21 years, Thomas would assume a larger, day-to-day role in working with the Sharks’ goaltenders, including Evgeni Nabokov, the organization’s all-time winningest goaltender. He later became the Sharks’ assistant general manager, where he was involved in all aspects of the team’s on- and off-ice operations.

NBA

Beal, 3-time All-Star, agrees to buyout with Suns >> Three-time All-Star guard Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns agreed to a buyout on the two years remaining on his contract.

The move paves the way for Beal to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers that includes a player option after he clears waivers, ESPN reported.

The 32-year-old Beal would join a veteran Clippers roster that includes James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. Beal averaged 17.6 points over two disappointing, injury-filled seasons with the Suns.

Beal averaged a career-high 31.3 points per game during the 2020-21 season for the Washington Wizards, but his production has slowly declined since that point as injuries have taken a toll.

WNBA

Clark sidelined again >> The Indiana Fever might be without star guard Caitlin Clark again for a bit after she injured her groin Tuesday night late in a win over the Connecticut Sun.

She was out for the team’s game on Wednesday night against New York and her status for WNBA All-Star weekend, which Indiana is hosting, is up in the air.

Colleges

NCAA fines Memphis $30K, places it on probation >> The University of Memphis’ athletic department has been put on probation for two years and fined $30,000 by the NCAA after an investigation found an academic counselor paid two softball players to help a men’s basketball player with schoolwork.

The NCAA announced the mutually-agreed-to punishment, saying in a report that former Memphis academic counselor Leslie Brooks paid two unidentified softball players a total of $550 to provide test answers and complete assignments for an unidentified basketball player during a period from Jan. 25-Feb. 18, 2024.

NFL

AP writers voted Kittle as top TE >> Perhaps no position requires a wider range of skills to succeed in the NFL than tight ends, who are asked to thrive as receivers in the middle of the field as well as being key parts to the run and pass games with their blocking.

George Kittle’s ability to do it all for the San Francisco 49ers as one of the most efficient receivers and top blockers helped him score the honor of being voted the top tight end in the league by the Associated Press.

Las Vegas’ Brock Bowers was the only other player selected on all eight ballots and came in second with two first-place votes, five seconds and one fifth.

MLB

Pirates trade Frazier to Royals >> The Kansas City Royals reacquired veteran utility player Adam Frazier in an All-Star break trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Kansas City sent minor league infielder Cam Devanney to Pittsburgh.

Frazier, 33, has played in 78 games this season split between second base, left field and right field, hitting .255 with 21 RBIs. He spent last season with KC after bouncing around the majors following his start with the Pirates and has played every position except catcher and pitcher during his career since debuting in 2016.

Soccer

Real Madrid’s Bellingham has shoulder surgery >> Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham underwent shoulder surgery and was expected to miss the start of the upcoming season.

The club said in a brief statement that the England international needed surgery “to address recurrent dislocation of his left shoulder.”