Wild brings aboard new goaltending coach
WENATCHEE - When Wenatchee Wild head coach John Becanic made the decision to hire a goaltending coach, there was no question who was at the top of his list to fill the position. Becanic hired Shane Clifford, a coach with an impressive resume who he holds in very high regard.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, who now resides in Moon Township, Pa., Clifford owns and operates Shane Clifford Goalie School, one of the top goalie schools in the country. Through his school, which was started 10 years ago, Clifford has mentored goaltenders at all levels from youth to NHL.
"I was very excited when I found out we were going to be able to bring Shane in," Becanic said. "I think he's the best goalie coach in North America. If you look at the goalies he's worked with at this level, I think he instantly makes our team better."
Some of Clifford's students include: Sebastien Caron, Marc-Andre Fleury, Arturs Irbe and Jocelyn Thibault. Another of Clifford's student's, John Gibson, a Pittsburgh native, was recently named the No. 1 North American goalie prospect by NHL Central Scouting for 2011 draft-eligibles.
"A goalie coach is a lot like a quarterback coach in football or a pitching coach in baseball," said Becanic. "There are very subtle things that make a major difference between stopping the puck and not, and Shane can help us in that way."
In addition to his goalie school, Clifford has served as goaltending coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton "Baby" Penguins, Johnstown Chiefs and Ohio State University. Clifford previously worked as Becanic's goaltending coach during his stints with the WHL's Everett Silvertips and the NAHL's now defunct Pittsburgh Forge, and he currently serves in the same capacity for the USHL's Mahoning Valley Phantoms.
In his role with the Wild, Clifford will make several trips to Wenatchee per year for a week of hands-on training with the team's goalies. He will also evaluate video on a long-distance basis and provide feedback.
A former IHL and ECHL goalie, Clifford is in Wenatchee this week for his first session of hands-on training with netminders Brandon Jaeger (Champlin, Minn.) and Greg Lewis (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Clifford has mentored Lewis since he was a child, but he was still impressed with what he has seen from both goaltenders.
"Both kids are very disciplined," Clifford said, "so once we fix something, they get it down pretty quickly. For example, Greg wasn't setting his feet properly the other day, and when you do that you get off-angle.
"Both guys want to be the best, and they want to win. We're just trying to make them better."
Jaeger was the NAHL's Goaltender of the Year in 2009-10 and a 2-time winner of the Sherbrook Hockey Goaltender of the Month last season. Jaeger was also an honorable mention pick for the SBK Hockey Goaltender of the Month award last month. He posted a record of 4-2-1 in January with a goals-against average of 1.86 and a save percentage of .913. Of his four wins in the month, three were shutouts.
The Wild acquired Lewis from Mahoning Valley earlier this month, where he went 4-2-2 with a 2.79 goals-against average and .909 save percentage. In two starts with the Wild, Lewis has turned aside 49-of-54 shots but is still searching for his first victory.
The Wild (26-17-3), which battled back into second place in the West Division, will host a 2-game series against the Dawson Creek Rage this Friday and Saturday. Both games will begin at 7:05 p.m.