Flames Add Goaltender Coach, Video Analyst

From www.calgaryflames.com

CALGARY, AB –The Calgary Flames announced today they have named Clint Malarchuk Goaltender Coach and Chris Snow Director of Video Analysis.Malarchuk joins the Flames following one season with the Atlanta Thrashers as the team’s goaltending consultant. Malarchuk will work with all goaltenders throughout the Flames system at the NHL and developmental league levels, as well as a mentoring role with amateur prospects.“When we concluded our interview with Clint, I asked Brent what he thought, and without hesitation he said, ‘I think we should offer him a contract right now’,” said Flames General Manager Jay Feaster. “We had interviewed half a dozen candidates at that point, and it was the first time Brent had such an immediate reaction and felt so strongly that we had found the perfect fit both for Brent but, even more importantly, for our goaltenders. We welcome Clint to the Flames’ family and look forward to a very long and mutually rewarding relationship.”Malarchuk holds 20 years of professional experience as a player, 10 of which came in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques (1981-84, 85-87), Washington Capitals (1987- 98) and Buffalo Sabres (1988-92). The Edmonton, Alberta, native was also the head coach of the Idaho Steelheads of the West Coast Hockey League from 1998-2000, the goaltending coach for the Florida Panthers from 2002-05 season, goaltending coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2007-09, and most recently the goaltending coach with the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2010-11 season.Following the 1982-83 season as a member of the AHL’s Fredericton Express, Malarchuk was the recipient of the Harry (Hap) Holmes Memorial Award and he also won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 1992-93 as a member of the IHL’s San Diego Gulls. Both trophies awarded to the goaltender posting the best goals against average.As Director of Video and Statistical Analysis, Chris Snow is responsible for the complete and comprehensive planning, implementation and oversight of the club’s video and statistical data mining programs including designing, developing and implementing a proprietary data base of hockey information for use by the club. In addition, he will integrate the data-based video system PUCKS into the team’s coaching, player preparation, scouting and planning processes.“Chris Snow and I met in Minnesota earlier in the season, and Chris was the person who alerted us as to the efficacy of the PUCKS video and statistical software program,” said Feaster. “Once we started test driving the PUCKS system we brought Chris on as a consultant for a few months to help us fully integrate the system and work on special assignments. It didn’t take long for us to recognize that we would benefit greatly by having Chris join us full-time. He will be a resource for our players, coaches, scouts and management team, and his work will enable us to apply more advanced metrics and analysis to our player acquisition process.”Snow spent four seasons as Director of Hockey Operations for the Minnesota Wild. His responsibilities included analyzing team rosters and cap commitments for the purpose of strategic roster planning, preparing for contract negotiations and arbitration, assisting in day-to-day hockey administration and CBA interpretation, and coordinating the team’s summer development camp. Prior to entering the hockey business, Snow was a staff writer for the Boston Globe, where he worked as the Boston Red Sox beat writer. A graduate of Syracuse University, he has also worked for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.