FORMER ICEHOGS GOALIE NAMED BLACKHAWKS DEVELOPMENTAL GOALTENDING COACH

Chicago, Ill.- The Chicago Blackhawks announced today the hiring of Wade Flaherty as developmental goaltending coach. Flaherty, a veteran of 20 professional hockey seasons, will work with Head Goaltending Coach Stephane Waite to monitor all netminders in the organization.

“We are extremely excited to add a quality person like Wade Flaherty to our organization,” Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon said. “The success he brings with him from his outstanding playing career will be extremely beneficial to our young goaltending prospects. He will be a great mentor and teacher as he prepares and develops future Blackhawks goalies."

Flaherty is a veteran of 120 National Hockey League games spanning 11 years with the San Jose Sharks (1991-97), New York Islanders (1997-2001), Tampa Bay Lightning (2000-01), Florida Panthers (2001-02) and Nashville Predators (2002-03). Originally the Buffalo Sabres 10th choice, 181st overall, in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, Flaherty has appeared in 677 career professional regular-season contests, which includes 283 in the American Hockey League, 247 in the defunct International Hockey League and 27 in the ECHL, racking up 301 wins along the way.

Last season, the Terrace, British Columbia, native finished his career as a member of the Rockford IceHogs, notching a 13-8-1 record with a 2.54 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in 31 appearances. Flaherty helped the Milwaukee Admirals capture the 2004 Calder Cup, earning the Jack A. Butterfield Award as the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs.

He broke into professional hockey in 1989-90 with the ECHL’s Greensboro Monarchs, helping the club win the Riley Cup that season while earning postseason MVP honors.