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AUGUST 2019 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 5 k USA Hockey's efforts to con- tinue to improve its approach for goaltending development and education took another step forward with the recent hiring of Steve Thompson as USA Hockey's American Development Model manager of goaltending. In his new role, Thompson will be responsible for the develop- ment and management of the American goaltending program, including player development, coaching education, parent edu- cation and more. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to help grow this great program that so many people had a hand in develop- ing," said the 30-year-old who started his coaching career at the University of Alaska Anchorage after three seasons as a goalie at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The Anchorage native has been a member of the USA Hockey goaltender coaching community since 2014, serving as a goalten- ding coach and evaluator at USA Hockey district and select camps, and as an associate coach-in- chief of goaltending for USA Hockey's Pacific District. He recently made his inter- national coaching debut this past season as a staff member with the U.S. Women's National Team that won gold at the IIHF Women's World Championship. P layers representing the 24 member clubs of the North American Hockey League will join forces to take on the world at the 2019 Sirius Junior Club World Cup, Aug. 23-31. T h e I I H F- s a n c t i o n e d e v e n t w i l l p i t severa l world-cla ss Junior hockey clubs against each other in Sochi, Russia, at the s a me v enue s u s e d for t he 2 014 Ol y mpic Winter Games. Joining the NAHL squad will be HC Lokomotiv (Russia), Modo Hockey (Sweden), HC Ocelari Trinec (Czech Republic), HC Davos (Switzerland), Oulun Karpat (Finland), EC Red Bull Salzburg (Austria) and a combined team from the Alberta Junior Hockey League (Canada). Leading the NA HL's 24-man charge will be head coach Scott Langer, the head coach of the Aberdeen Wings that captured its first Robertson Cup title this past season. "This is another great example of the NAHL defin- ing itself as the league of opportunity," said NAHL Commissioner and President Mark Frankenfeld. " We ex pect the ga mes to be played at a ver y hig h level, as we will be competing against some world-class compet it ion, so it w i l l be a f u n a nd u n ique cha l lenge for our players." GOALIES JUNIORS NAHL SQUAD POISED TO TAKE ON THE WORLD k Alaska native Steve Thompson is leaving behind the Last Frontier to take over as the manager of goaltending with USA Hockey's American Development Model. The former University of Alaska Fairbanks netminder brings a wealth of knowledge that will serve goalies around the country. PHOTO COURTESY OF O'Hara Shipe Thompson Looks To Take Goalie Program To New Heights