Ex-Badger Valley finds niche as coach
09/11/2009, 5:46am (CDT)
By Andy Baggot
Mike Valley took a youthful gamble when he left the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team in 1998 to turn pro after his sophomore season.
He signed a free-agent contract with the Vancouver Canucks with the hope of accelerating his goaltending career and someday working in the NHL.
Valley never got there on his athletic talent - he spent six years toiling in the minor leagues and Europe before retiring in 2004 - but his wisdom and presence as a coach has paid major dividends.
That explains why a stable of high-profile goaltenders made their way to Madison this summer - current NHL fixtures and elite minor-leaguer, as well as college and prep prospects - just to work with Valley in sessions at Madison Ice Arena.
That also explains why Valley, 33, was hired recently by the Dallas Stars to coach their stable of goaltenders, a one-year deal that serves as a promotion. He spent last year as a secondary goaltending coach with the Nashville Predators.
"I'll be honest, it's moved a lot quicker than I could have expected," Valley said of his coaching career. "I was never good enough to stick (in the NHL) as a player, so it's fun to be there as a coach. It's the second-best thing."
Valley's coaching career has evolved mainly through a standard advertising axiom: Word of mouth.
His work the last two summers with Brian Elliott, an All-American who helped lead the Badgers to the NCAA title in 2006, helped Elliott develop into a starter for the Ottawa Senators last season.
In recent weeks, Minnesota All-Star Nicklas Backstrom -- who became friends with Valley when the two played in Europe -- Al Montoya (Phoenix), Jordan Pearce (Detroit) and Chet Pickard (Nashville) have come to MIA to work with Valley.
So have Bryce Christensen and Pat Nagel, college juniors who played last season at Alaska-Anchorage and Ferris State, respectively.
Word of mouth is how Valley wound up with the Stars. Their former All-Star, Marty Turco, sought out Valley and invited him to come to Texas for a week of daily workouts this summer. Turco then put in a good word for Valley during a conversation with Joe Nieuwendyk, the new Dallas general manager.
Valley will remain based in Madison, but plans to spend 15 to 20 days a month on the road working with the Stars during the season. In addition to overseeing goaltenders in the Dallas system, he'll watch video and put together pregame scouting reports on opposing goaltenders.
A recent workout at MIA found Valley shooting video from ice level as a variety of pro-level shooters - former Badgers Jake Dowell (Chicago), Davis Drewiske (Los Angeles), Robbie Earl (Minnesota) and Josh Engel (Toronto) - took aim during a variety of drills. Valley subsequently passed along copies and insights to the goaltenders.
His strength?
"A lot of it is just being able to communicate with these guys, realizing that each guy needs something a little bit different," Valley said.
Backstrom, the only goaltender in the NHL to finish in the top five in wins, save percentage, goals against and shutouts last season, said he's come to appreciate Valley's approach.
"Mike knows my game, so it's easy to come here," Backstrom said. "There's always room for improvement. I like to hear other people, what they think and they say. It's a chance for me to improve my game."
Pickard, drafted 18th overall by the Predators in 2008, said he clicked with Valley right away last year. That's why he stopped in Madison on his way from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Nashville for a series of tutorials.
"I just like the way he adapts to things I try to do," Pickard said. "He doesn't try to make big changes. It's just little things - like glove adjustments - that make a big difference.
"He's played the game. He's played at a high level. He's been around a lot of good goalies. All the things he takes from those guys, he puts into my game. I really enjoy working with him."
Valley had short stint as a volunteer coach for the Badgers last season, but NCAA rules regarding his contact with potential prospects forced him in another direction. Not that he's complaining.
"I guess I'm doing something right because they keep coming," Valley said. "It's been a lot of fun."
