Goaltending Coach Alex Westlund Hired by Detroit Red Wings

July 8, 2022

The Detroit Red Wings announced today that they have hired Alex Westlund as goaltending coach.

Westlund, 46, departs Hershey after serving as the team’s associate goaltending coach for the past five seasons. Under Westlund’s watch, Hershey’s goaltending tandem of Pheonix Copley and Zach Fucale won the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award in 2020-21, presented to the goaltender(s) on the team which allows the fewest goals per game in the regular season. The Bears allowed an average of 2.33 goals per game, finishing with the fewest goals against in the AHL for the first time since 1996-97. Westlund’s tenure in Hershey has also seen him guide goaltenders Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek, who have each graduated to the NHL.

The New Jersey native joined the Washington organization after spending two seasons as the goalie coach with the DEL's Augsburg Panther Eishockey Club in Germany, in addition to working with Zagreb of the KHL. His resume also includes experience with USA Hockey, serving as the head goalie coach and evaluator for the New England District, being a member of the goalie evaluation group for the USA Hockey's Select 17 Festival, and participating in the prestigious Warren Strelow Camp.

The Bears will return to the ice for the club's 85th season in the American Hockey League in October. A schedule will be released later this summer. Season ticket information may be found at HersheyBears.com.