Old goalie is back in the O
Forty years after graduating from the Ontario Hockey League as a workhorse goaltender, Jim Bedard is returning as a coach.
The 59-year old Bedard has been hired by the Windsor Spitfires as their goalie coach.
Bedard recently parted ways with the Detroit Red Wings as their goalie coach after 18 years with the National Hockey League team that included three Stanley Cup championships.
As an OHL goalie, Bedard played three full seasons with the Sudbury Wolves from 1973 to 1976. Bedard appeared in a whopping 174 regular-season games for Sudbury over the three-year span.
Bedard then went on to a pro career that spanned 14 years across North America and Europe. He played in 73 NHL games with the Washington Capitals.
While working for the NHL Red Wings, Bedard would often cross the border from Detroit to Windsor to help out with the OHL Spitfires. Thus, he is no stranger to the Spitfires organization.
“The last couple years, I’d stop in on a casual basis, to help out a little in my spare time,” Bedard said.
“These are good people I want to be around in a hockey atmosphere. They treat people the right way,” Bedard said of the Spitfires organization.
Bedard sees a big advantage in being familiar with Spitfire goalies Mario Culina and Michael DiPietro.
“I’m looking forward to working with Mario and Mikey again after getting to know them last year,” Bedard noted. “I think that’s a huge plus. I’m also looking forward to collaborating with (Spitfires goaltending consultant) Paul Billing. He’s someone I respect and work well with.”
Culina, who has a 1997 birth date, is a Sault Ste. Marie product and former championship goalie with the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Meanwhile, Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel said having Bedard and Billing in tandem is nothing less than positive for the Windsor goalies.
“We’re thrilled to have Jimmy join our staff,” Rychel said. “Obviously, his credentials speak for themselves. He’ll have a positive impact on our goalies and will add nicely to our overall team culture. We feel like with the combination of Jimmy and Biller, we have the league’s best goaltending instructors.”