Canucks' Ian Clark stepping back from goalie coaching duties
“Unfortunately, Ian can no longer go on the ice regularly to do the things that have made him successful. But this new role will fit with his expertise and having Clarkie going out to find and develop talent will be a big asset to the organization,” Allvin said.
It may be mid August, but that hasn’t stopped the Vancouver Canucks from producing a week full of goalie news.
On the heels of word Tuesday that the Vancouver Canucks have been poking around free agent goalies — Postmedia has confirmed the initial reports from CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal — comes another bombshell: Canucks director of goaltending Ian Clark appears set to take a step back from day to day coaching duties with the NHL team’s goalies.
Dhaliwal was first to report and then the team quickly announced that Clark, who has been with the Canucks since 2018 (his second stint with the team), will no longer serve as the team’s NHL goalie coach.
Marko Torenius, who has served as Clark’s deputy serving in a dual role coaching the goalies in Abbotsford and also working with prospects like Ty Young, is expected to step up to the NHL Canucks and take over Clark’s duties at the NHL level.
Clark will now serve as goalie scout and goaltending development coach, the team confirmed in a release.
According to a statement from GM Patrik Allvin, the change is on Clark’s initiative.
“Unfortunately, Ian can no longer go on the ice regularly to do the things that have made him successful. But this new role will fit with his expertise and having Clarkie going out to find and develop talent will be a big asset to the organization,” Allvin said.
The timing is curious, though: it’s August, usually coaching staff changes are announced earlier in the summer. The coaching staff is usually in the thick of planning for the season by now.
Clark recruited Torenius two years ago. The Finn had been working as goalie coach for SKA St. Petersburg, but resigned his position after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He’d been with St. Petersburg since 2014.
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He’d previously coached with Sibir Novosibirisk of the KHL, and the the Espoo Blues in Finland before that.
Clark was hired in July 2018 to replace Dan Cloutier as the team’s goalie coach and was promoted to director of goaltending in 2021. He’d previously worked with the Canucks from 2002-2010, then moved to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Meanwhile, InGoal Magazine’s Kevin Woodley said on Sportsnet 650 Wednesday morning he’s skeptical that No. 1 goalie Thatcher Demko will be ready for training camp.
