The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Steve Briere as their new goalie coach, the team announced Monday.
Briere had recently served as goalie coach for a handful of junior teams including the NAHL’s Topeka Roadrunners and the Fargo Force and Des Moines Buccaneers of the the USHL. He has also owned and operated Canadian Professional Goalie Schools.
During his playing career, the Winnipeg native was a journeyman who spent time in the USHL, NCAA, ECHL, IHL, AHL and overseas in the British National League.
The Maple Leafs allowed the fourth most goals against last season, giving up an average of 3.13 goals per game.
Rick St. Croix, the Maple Leafs’ former goalie coach, was fired in April when the team parted ways with general manager Dave Nonis, interim head coach Peter Horachek and the bulk of the scouting staff.
Also on Monday, the Maple Leafs hired Ari Vuori as director of European scouting. Vuori has spent the past eight seasons as a European scout with the Detroit Red Wings. Prior to that he was with the Los Angeles Kings for 11 seasons.
