Shane Clifford: What a Goalie Coach Learned From Fleury, Irbe and Wolf (Ep. 373)
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Shane Clifford, who has coached goalies at every level including Marc-Andre Fleury with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Dustin Wolf in the WHL, and Arturs Irbe in the ECHL, emphasizes two key development principles: never throw away reps, and avoid the 'hockey witness protection program' by staying visible to teams that could offer you a spot. Clifford currently works with Idaho in the NAHL and Sioux City in the USHL alongside private coaching.
- Never throw away reps in practice — Shane Clifford stresses that every repetition in training is an opportunity goalies should treat as game-critical.
- Avoid the 'hockey witness protection program' by staying geographically close to teams that place players at the next level, keeping yourself visible to decision-makers.
- Clifford's experience spans coaching Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL/Penguins), Dustin Wolf (WHL), and Arturs Irbe (ECHL), giving him rare multi-level developmental perspective.
- Mobility is a key physical priority Clifford emphasizes for goalies trying to advance from youth hockey into junior and beyond.
- Goalie parents should be mindful of the language they use when discussing their child's goalie partner — how it's framed shapes the young goalie's mindset and relationships.
Episode 373 of the InGoal Radio Podcast, presented by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports, features long-time junior (and former NHL and NCAA) goalie coach Shane Clifford.
Feature Interview
presented by NHL Sense Arena
In the feature interview, presented by NHL Sense Arena, Clifford shares great advice and tips from more than two decades coaching goalies, including Marc-Andre Fleury with the Penguins, Dustin Wolf in the WHL and Arturs Irbe in the ECHL. Clifford, who is currently working with Idaho in the NAHL and Sioux City in the USHL as well as doing private coaching, has a lot of valuable lessons for goalies and parents trying to take that next step into junior, and beyond, about everything from mobility to the importance of not throwing away reps, and avoiding the “hockey witness protection program” by staying where a potential team sends its players.
Parent Segment
presented by Stop It Goaltending U
In the Parent Playbook, presented by Stop it Goaltending U the App, Hutch has a great reminder about “the stuff that lasts,” the value of goalie friendships, and the importance of the language parents use when talking about their child’s goalie partner.
Pro Reads
presented by Vizual EdgeWe also review the latest Pro Reads, presented by Vizual Edge, with Devin Cooley of the Calgary Flames walking us through a tough rush chance and his threshold for “skate or slide” decisions.
Weekly Gear Segment
presented by The Hockey Shop Source for SportsAnd in our weekly gear segment, presented by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports, we look at the new TPS Response 2K Pro goalie stick, with pro features at a price slightly below the top end.
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