The Vancouver Canucks have made some changes to their goaltending coaching staff.
The club announced Wednesday that Abbotsford Canucks development coach and goaltending coach Marko Torenius has been promoted to goaltending coach of the Vancouver Canucks.
The move comes as the result of the Canucks’ current head goalie coach and director of goaltending, Ian Clark, transitioning to a new role as a goalie scout and goaltending development coach.
According to Vancouver, Clark requested a new position.
“When Ian approached me to say that he needed to make a change in his role to transition off the ice, we quickly went to work to find a solution,” said general manager Patrik Allvin in a statement from the team.
“With Clarkie wanting something different at the hockey club, we were extremely fortunate to have Marko in the system and ready to take on the responsibility of becoming our new goaltending coach in Vancouver. Unfortunately, Ian can no longer go on the ice regularly to do the things that have made him successful. But this new role will fit with his expertise and having Clarkie going out to find and develop talent will be a big asset to the organization.”
Torenius has worked with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks for the past two seasons. Clark, meanwhile, is currently in his second stint with the NHL organization. He was a part of the coaching staff from 2002-10 before returning to the team in 2018. He signed a multi-year contract extension in 2021.
The Canucks are expected to run with a goaltending tandem of starter Thatcher Demko and backup Arturs Silovs for the upcoming season, however, it was reported Tuesday that the team could be looking to add some additional depth.
According to Canucks insider Rick Dhaliwal, speaking on Sportsnet 650’s Halford and Brough show, the team has begun “poking around the goalie market,” possibly looking to invite someone to training camp on a professional tryout.
Not much is known about the status or timeline for Demko, who was injured during Game 1 of the Canucks’ first-round playoff series against the Nashville Predators.