Abbotsford Canucks goalie coach Curtis Sanford has been hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs to fill their vacant NHL goaltending coach position.
Leafs GM Kyle Dubas made the announcement Tuesday morning:
General Manager Kyle Dubas announced today that the hockey club has promoted Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, Ryan Hardy & Darryl Metcalf to the roles of Assistant General Manager & hired Curtis Sanford as Goaltending Coach.
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 5, 2022
Sanford, 42, was hired in 2017 by the Canucks and served as a goaltending consultant with a heavy focus on the Utica Comets until joining the Abbotsford Canucks as a full time goaltending coach this past season.
Sanford was instrumental in identifying Spencer Martin as a trade target for the Canucks while watching him play with the Syracuse Crunch, and later, in developing Martin from a third-string AHL goaltender into an NHL backup.
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When things got tough for the Canucks’ AHL goaltenders both on and off the ice, Sanford was always there for them and provided them with an avenue to voice any frustrations they may have.
Simply put, Sanford gets praise from just about anyone you talk to about the work he does, and he was bound to get offered an NHL job at some point.
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