Leafs hire ex-figure skater as skating coach

The Maple Leafs have hired former figure skater Barbara Underhill as the team’s new skating coach, according to Sportsnet’s John Shannon.

Underhill , who was named as one of the 100 most influential people in ice hockey by the Hockey News in 2011, has worked with the Anaheim Ducks, New York Rangers, and Tampa Bay Lightning in the past as a power skating instructor.

New York Rangers forward Brian Boyle made drastic improvements to his skating under the watch of the 48-year-old Underhill.

She represented Canada in figure skating in the 1980 and 1984 Winter Olympics and, along with partner Paul Martini, won the 1984 World Championship.

With the hiring of Underhill, current Leafs skating coach Graeme Townshed is not expected to return next season.

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