Shane Clifford says he has the best job in the world.
The Everett Silvertips goaltending coach will remain with the organization as the Tips announced a contract extension for for their longtime netminder mentor, who will enter his 11th season with the team.
“The Everett fans and the whole community is just home for me,” Clifford said. “That’s a big part of my life – 11 years. The rink is good, and no matter who has been with the organization, I’ve been treated really well. I’m to come back and now we have to get after and win some games.”
In addition to current Everett goalie Carter Hart, Clifford has coached the likes of Jeff Harvey, Mike Wall, Leland Irving and Kent Simpson, all household names for Everett Silvertips fans.
One of the 46-year-old’s favorite memories was the inaugural year in 2003-04 when the expansion Silvertips won the franchise’s lone Western Conference title.
“That first year was the most special year ever,” he said. “We broke so many records. People told us how bad we were going to be as a first-year team, and our players and coaches refused to believe that was going to happen.”
A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Clifford attends training camp in Everett each year and visits periodically throughout the season. He also runs his own goalie school in Pittsburgh and will spend the next five weeks holding his camp.
In addition to Everett, Clifford serves as the goalie coach for the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms and Sioux City Musketeers.
Sioux City goalie Matiss Kivlenieks signed a three-year entry deal with Columbus in May, and Youngstown goalie Ivan Kulbakov signed an AHL deal with the Blue Jackets.
“It’s been a good year,” Clifford said.
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