HERSHEY, PA – The Hershey Bears, in conjunction with their NHL affiliate, the Washington Capitals, announced via press release today that Alex Westlund has been named associate goaltending coach. Westlund assumed the role previously held by Scott Murray, who was promoted to head goaltending coach earlier this summer.

Photo credit – Thorwartl

Westlund is a native of New Jersey and has several years of experience both as a coach and player. He is the all-time leader in games played (99) and saves (2704) for Yale University om a career that spanned 1994-1999. He earned NCAA 2nd Team All-American honors, and was named the Ken Dryden Award winner as the ECAC’s Goaltender of the Year.

Following his collegiate career, he played in over 750 professional games from 1999-2015 including appearances with the AHL’s Worcester IceCats, Milwaukee Admirals, and Hartford Wolf Pack. He also spent time playing overseas.

More recently, Westlund has been coaching goalies with Augsburg Panther Eishockey Club in Germany. He also has worked with Zagreb in the KHL in addition to USA Hockey and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (NAHL).

Westlund joins the organization and will primarily focus on instructing goaltending prospects in Hershey as well as South Carolina. In Hershey, Westlund has veteran net-minder Pheonix Copley along with Vitek Vanecek while Parker Milner and Adam Carlson will both be in South Carolina. Additionally, Westlund may have an opportunity later this year to work with Ilya Samsonov pending the Russian’s KHL season.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Washington and Hershey organizations,” said Westlund via press release. “It’s a great opportunity to collaborate with Mitch Korn and Scott Murray to help our goalies develop to the best of their ability. Hershey’s history in the AHL is second to none, and I can’t wait to get to work with Troy Mann and the rest of the staff.”

FULL PRESS RELEASE

By Julie Beidler
Follow @juliebeidler

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