Islanders Name Calder Cup Winner, Piero Greco, Goalie Coach

The New York Islanders made another change to their coaching staff. Freddy Brathwaite is out and the Isles announced Piero Greco has been named NHL Goaltending Coach for the team.

Per Scott Wheeler, “This is a huge loss for the Leafs organization. Greco put in a ton of time developing Garret Sparks on the ice, and preparing him/establishing his routines off of it.” So Greco follows Lamoriello over from the Toronto organization and brings some recent success in net know-how.

Greco spent the last 4 seasons with Toronto’s AHL Marlies and helped the team win their first Calder Cup Championship in franchise history. It’s important to note that both Garret Sparks (first) and Calvin Pickard (seventh) finished in the top seven for goals against average. Marlies starter, Sparks not only set career numbers for games played (43) and shutouts (six) and finished tops in the AHL for gaa (1.79), Sv% (.936) & 31 wins. Per Rob Taub, “New Isles goalie coach Piero Greco coached Ducks star goalie John Gibson when they were both apart of the Kitchner Rangers of the OHL.”

Per Release, “Prior to working for the Marlies, Greco spent time coaching in the Ontario Hockey League with the Owen Sound Attack (2002-2004), Barrie Colts (2004-2010) and the Kitchener Rangers (2010-2013). The Toronto, Ontario native played professionally for 12 seasons in Europe, making stops in Italy, England and Austria. Greco also played in the ECHL with the Birmingham Bulls.”

Marlies G, Garret Sparks and Coach Piero Greco

Per Andrew Gross, “The Islanders also have had discussions with Mitch Korn, who spent last season as the Capitals’ director of goaltending and who has worked with new Islanders coach Barry Trotz since 1998, both with the Predators and in Washington.

The Bronx-born Korn, 60, was Trotz’s goalie coach both in Nashville and for their first three seasons together with the Capitals before taking an off-ice role in order to cut back on his schedule.

While Trotz and Korn were helping the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup last season, Greco was part of the Marlies’ first Calder Cup championship.”

Some still believe Korn will come over in a management capacity to oversee the Isles goaltending operations soon, but Greco will fill the role as a regular on-ice coach for the team.

Oh, and one more note for the coaching staff. Per Andrew Gross, “Isles confirm assistant coach Scott Gomez will be back with team for 2018-19.” Chris Terreri will also remain as the organization’s goaltending development coach and goalie coach for the Islanders AHL Major League Affiliate, Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Isles Notes:

State: LIRR evaluating how to increase service to Belmont.

Thomas Greiss helps military families through hockey camp at Army base.

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