Earlier this evening, the Nashville Predators announced Ben Vanderklok was assuming the role of head goaltending coach, after being an assistant in the system for the last five years. Obviously, that means that Mitch Korn will not be returning.
The @PredsNHL name Ben Vanderklok their new goaltending coach. Release: http://t.co/wjcddOoZiX Poile Comments: http://t.co/ygKikOVp9U
— KWilsonPreds (@KWilsonPreds) June 12, 2014
According to Josh Cooper, Korn is on his way to Washington to replace Olie Kolzig and team with Barry Trotz once again.
Mitch Korn going to Washington to be the #caps coach. Ben Vanderklok replaces Korn http://t.co/U1oSdh6hJZ #nhl
— JoshuaCooper (@JoshuaCooper) June 12, 2014
In Vanderklok, the Preds get the man that has studied and learned under Korn, as well as worked with many of Nashville’s current goaltenders. David Poile seems to think the transition will be “seamless,” and it’s really hard to argue with that. No matter who was going to replace Korn, they had some gigantic shoes to fill.
Except for Lane Lamber,t whose situation is still up in the air, that pretty much completes the sweeping overhaul of Nashville’s coaching staff. We’ll have to wait to see if all these changes blossom into the wins that are being promised.
The full release from Kevin Wilson and the Predators:
Nashville, Tenn. (June 12, 2014) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has named Ben Vanderklok the team’s goaltending coach. The Welland, Ontario native has served as the organization’s assistant goaltending coach for the past five seasons.
“Ben has worked closely with all the goaltenders in our organization and has been integral in their development and success while learning from one of the best in Mitch Korn,” Poile said. “This is a natural fit to have Ben transition into the lead role, and his relationship with Pekka Rinne and Carter Hutton will make this process seamless.”
Since 2009, Vanderklok has worked nearly all the goalies within the organization, from Pekka Rinne, Carter Hutton, Anders Lindback, Chris Mason and Dan Ellis at the NHL level to Jeremy Smith, Magnus Hellberg, Marek Mazanec, Mark Dekanich and Scott Darling with the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals and ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones.
His work was integral in Mazanec’s transition to North America in 2013-14, which saw him play 25 games with the Predators, becoming the youngest in club history to record a shutout on Nov. 19, 2013 at Detroit and being named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for November 2013. Also last season, Darling came to the organization with one AHL game to his credit, and ended 2013-14 ranked among the league leaders in save percentage (.933), goals-against average (2.00) and shutouts (6) for the Admirals.
Poile also acknowledged Mitch Korn’s service and contributions to the franchise.
“We thank Mitch for his 16 years of work and dedication to the Nashville Predators, and we wish him well in his future endeavors,” he said.
Vanderklok has also worked as goalie coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara IceDogs since 2008, helping them reach the playoffs for six consecutive seasons and reach the OHL Final in 2011-12. During his first four seasons with the IceDogs, Vanderklok helped Hamilton, Ontario native Mark Visentin become a first-round pick of the Phoenix Coyotes (27th overall), earn silver (2011) and bronze (2012) medals with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship, become 2011 OHL Goaltender of the Year, and earn the 2012 Dave Pinkney Trophy as the goalie with the lowest goals-against average.
Vanderklok started his coaching career with the Port Colborne Pirates of the Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League (Junior B) from 2003-06 before instructing and training Brock University’s (Ontario) goalies from 2007-09. Since 2003, he has run Ben Vanderklok Goaltending, which conducts camps and clinics in the St. Catharine’s, Ontario region.
A dual Canadian-Dutch citizen, Vanderklok retired from play following four seasons (2000-04) and two league titles in 2002 and 2003 with the Amsterdam Tigers of the Netherlands Elite League. He played a pair of seasons with the OHL’s Barrie Colts from 1998-2000.
The 32-year-old and his wife Marlene have a daughter, Ava.