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View Full Version : Mike Bales named Penguins goaltending coach



X-Terminator
08-19-2013, 04:57 PM
The Penguins (http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/) completed their coaching staff on Monday with the hiring of goaltender coach Mike Bales, whose primary duty starting in training camp will be to return goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to elite form.

Bales spent the past two years as Penguins goaltender development coach, where he primarily worked with prospects in the organization.

He worked closely with goaltenders Brad Thiessen and Jeff Zatkoff during the 2012-13 season. The duo helped Wilkes-Barre/Scranton permit the fewest amount of goals of any AHL team.

Bales, 42, is a native of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He spent a brief amount of time playing in the NHL with the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators – he played 23 NHL games – but spent most of an 18-year professional career in the AHL and overseas.

Former Penguins goalie Gilles Meloche stepped down as goaltender coach in June, something he had been planning for a while. He will remain with the Penguins as a scout.
Among the candidates to fill the goaltender coach were former Penguins goalie Brent Johnson, who interviewed for the job in late June.

Fleury has been working with a sports psychologist during the summer, something the Penguins suggested after yet another disappointing postseason. He has produced save percentages of worse than .900 during each of the past four playoff seasons.


Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/4557889-74/penguins-coach-goaltender?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tribunereviewpenguins+%28Peng uins+Stories%29#ixzz2cSFgxjb3

steelerdude15
08-20-2013, 01:46 PM
I wish him the best of luck. Hopefully he'll be able to help improve both Tomas and Marc.

X-Terminator
08-20-2013, 02:49 PM
He should get hazard pay just for having to deal with Fleury's mental issues. He isn't seeing a sports shrink for nothing.