Former NHL goalie Ron Tugnutt - perhaps best known for making 70 saves in a single game* - currently makes a living by helping other goalies stop pucks. Apparently he’s a standout at that position as well, because Hockey Canada decided to upgrade him from a part-time role he held for two years to make him their full-time goaltending consultant for the 2011-12 season.
His role will include scouting for the national teams “as well as working with Hockey Canada’s development department to develop and improve resources for goaltenders and goaltending coaches.”
Tugnutt had a journey NHL career, playing 537 NHL games (186-239-62 with a .895 save percentage and 3.05 GAA) for the Quebec Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets and Dallas Stars. The Nordiques made him pick No. 81 of the 1986 NHL Entry Draft.
Hockey Canada details a bit more about his experience with the program.Ron Tugnutt, 43, has worked with Hockey Canada in a part-time capacity over the past two seasons. He served as goaltending consultant for Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2010 and 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships, winning two silver medals, and will continue as the goaltending coach for Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship. Tugnutt also served as goaltending consultant with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2009 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, finishing fourth. He served as an assistant coach with the OHL’s Peterborough Petes in 2010-11. As a player, Tugnutt spent 17 seasons in the NHL and represented Canada twice, at the 1993 and 1999 IIHF World Championships.
“We are excited about Ron’s new position with Hockey Canada and look forward to working with him on a full-time basis,” said Brad Pascall, Hockey Canada’s vice-president of hockey operations/national teams. “The experience that he has, both in the NHL and internationally, will have a definite impact on our goaltenders, and we feel the way he works and thinks reflects our organization.”* Tugnutt stopped 70 out of 73 shots for the Nordiques, who skated to a 3-3 tie against Ray Bourque’s Boston Bruins on March 21, 1991.