Corey Hirsch
Encyclopedia
Corey Hirsch is a retired Canadian ice hockey
goaltender
. He spent the majority of his National Hockey League
career with the Vancouver Canucks
. He is currently the goaltending coach for the St. Louis Blues, having currently served the Toronto Maple Leafs
along with Francois Allaire
.
of the Western Hockey League
for four seasons. He was named to the WHL Second All-Star Team in his second season with Kamloops and was subsequently chosen 169th overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
by the New York Rangers
.
Upon being drafted, Hirsch led the league in shutouts, with 5, and goals against average with 2.72 in 1991–92, he was named CHL Goaltender of the Year
and the Del Wilson Trophy
as the WHL Goaltender of the Year. As the Blazers captured the President's Cup
(now the Ed Chynoweth Cup) in 1992, they advanced to the Memorial Cup
and defated the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
5–4 in the final. Hirsch was additionally awarded the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy
as the tournament's top goaltender.
In 1992–93
, his first professional season, he played for the Binghamton Rangers
, New York's AHL
affiliate, and won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the league's top goalie. At 2.79, he was also awarded the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award for the lowest goals-against-average (shared with goaltending teammate Boris Rousson).
Hirsch started in his first NHL game that season, as well, a 2–2 tie against the Detroit Red Wings
on January 19, 1993. He recorded his first win on his next start, an 8–3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings
on January 23.
In 1994
, Hirsch was the goalie for the Canadian Olympic team that lost to Sweden in the gold medal game.
Hirsch remained with Binghamton for three seasons until New York traded him to the Vancouver Canucks
on April 7, 1995, in exchange for forward Nathan LaFayette
.
Hirsch split goaltending duties with Kirk McLean
in 1995–96 and was named to the All-Rookie Team after posting a 2.93 goals against average, .903 save percentage and a winning 17–14–6 record. He also finished fifth in Calder Memorial Trophy
voting (won by Daniel Alfredsson
). During the season, he recorded his first career NHL shutout on January 15, 1996, a 6–0 win against the Boston Bruins
.
Hirsch failed to build on his successful rookie season, however, and was demoted to the Canucks' AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch
in 1998–99 with the acquisition of Arturs Irbe
.
On July 2, 1999, he was waived by the Canucks and for the next few seasons, would bounce around the league between the Nashville Predators
, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Washington Capitals
, and Dallas Stars
. Playing for minor league affiliates, he only appeared in a handful of NHL games for the remainder of his career. In 2002–03
, he recorded AHL career highs with a 2.64 goals against average and a .921 save percentage in 35 games with the Utah Grizzlies
.
Before retiring, Hirsch played three seasons overseas in the Swedish Elitserien
, and the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
. He worked with the national junior team
as part of the 2007
and 2008 World Junior
gold medal winning teams.
On September 9, 2008, the Toronto Maple Leafs
announced they had hired Hirsch as their goaltending coach.
On June 18, 2010, the St. Louis Blues announced they had hired Hirsch as their Goaltending Coach.
Professional
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
. He spent the majority of his National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
career with the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. He is currently the goaltending coach for the St. Louis Blues, having currently served the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
along with Francois Allaire
François Allaire
François Allaire is an ice hockey goaltending coach currently working for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the North American National Hockey League . He developed considerable expertise during the 1980s as the Montreal Canadiens' first-ever goaltending coach. In the 1990s, he promoted his methods to the...
.
Playing career
Hirsch played major junior hockey with the Kamloops BlazersKamloops Blazers
The Kamloops Blazers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League based out of Kamloops, British Columbia. They play their home games at Interior Savings Centre.-History:...
of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
for four seasons. He was named to the WHL Second All-Star Team in his second season with Kamloops and was subsequently chosen 169th overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
1991 NHL Entry Draft
The 1991 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 22 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. A total of 264 players were drafted. The draft was famous for the controversy surrounding star first overall draft pick, touted by some observers to be The Next One, Eric Lindros, who was drafted by the...
by the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
.
Upon being drafted, Hirsch led the league in shutouts, with 5, and goals against average with 2.72 in 1991–92, he was named CHL Goaltender of the Year
CHL Goaltender of the Year
The CHL Goaltender of the Year Award is given out annually to the top goaltender in the Canadian Hockey League.-Winners:*2010–11 Darcy Kuemper, Red Deer Rebels*2009–10 Jake Allen, Drummondville Voltigeurs*2008–09 Mike Murphy, Belleville Bulls...
and the Del Wilson Trophy
Del Wilson Trophy
The Del Wilson Trophy is awarded to the top goaltender of the Western Hockey League.The award is named after Del Wilson, who was the general manager of the Regina Pats when they won the Memorial Cup in 1974.- Winners :...
as the WHL Goaltender of the Year. As the Blazers captured the President's Cup
President's Cup (WHL)
The Ed Chynoweth Cup is an ice hockey club championship trophy awarded to the playoff champion of the Western Hockey League . Originally called the President's Cup when the league was founded in 1966, the trophy was renamed in 2007 to honour Ed Chynoweth's long service to junior hockey in Canada...
(now the Ed Chynoweth Cup) in 1992, they advanced to the Memorial Cup
1992 Memorial Cup
The 1992 Memorial Cup occurred May 9-May 17 at the Coliseum in Seattle, Washington. Participating teams were the Western Hockey League host Seattle Thunderbirds, as well as the winners of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League which were the Verdun...
and defated the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The Greyhounds play home games at the Essar Centre. The present team was founded in 1962 as a team in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. The Greyhounds name has been used by several ice hockey...
5–4 in the final. Hirsch was additionally awarded the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy
Hap Emms Memorial Trophy
The Hap Emms Memorial Trophy is awarded to the outstanding goaltender at the Memorial Cup of the Canadian Hockey League.The award is named after Leighton "Hap" Emms, who led four teams to championship victories at the Memorial Cup in the 1950s and 1960s....
as the tournament's top goaltender.
In 1992–93
1992–93 AHL season
The 1992–93 AHL season was the 57th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Binghamton Rangers finished first overall in the regular season with 124 points, a which holds to this day...
, his first professional season, he played for the Binghamton Rangers
Binghamton Rangers
The Binghamton Rangers were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Binghamton, New York, USA at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.-History:The market was previously served by:-Playoffs:-Single Season:...
, New York's AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, and won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the league's top goalie. At 2.79, he was also awarded the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award for the lowest goals-against-average (shared with goaltending teammate Boris Rousson).
Hirsch started in his first NHL game that season, as well, a 2–2 tie against the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
on January 19, 1993. He recorded his first win on his next start, an 8–3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
on January 23.
In 1994
Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics was held at the Fjellhallen in Gjøvik and the Håkons Hall in Lillehammer, Norway. The competition, held from February 12 to February 27, was won by Sweden and Canada as runner-up.-Final rankings:Source:* Gold -...
, Hirsch was the goalie for the Canadian Olympic team that lost to Sweden in the gold medal game.
Hirsch remained with Binghamton for three seasons until New York traded him to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
on April 7, 1995, in exchange for forward Nathan LaFayette
Nathan LaFayette
Nathan LaFayette is a former ice hockey player in the NHL. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 3rd round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, and Los Angeles Kings...
.
Hirsch split goaltending duties with Kirk McLean
Kirk McLean
Kirk Alan McLean is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League for the New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers...
in 1995–96 and was named to the All-Rookie Team after posting a 2.93 goals against average, .903 save percentage and a winning 17–14–6 record. He also finished fifth in Calder Memorial Trophy
Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The Rookie of the Year trophy has been awarded 79 times since its creation for the 1936–37 NHL season...
voting (won by Daniel Alfredsson
Daniel Alfredsson
Daniel Alfredsson is a Swedish professional ice hockey player. He is the captain of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League . He is considered a leader by example and has been compared to former Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman in his value to the Senators...
). During the season, he recorded his first career NHL shutout on January 15, 1996, a 6–0 win against the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
.
Hirsch failed to build on his successful rookie season, however, and was demoted to the Canucks' AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch
Syracuse Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter...
in 1998–99 with the acquisition of Arturs Irbe
Arturs Irbe
Artūrs Irbe is a former Soviet and Latvian professional ice hockey goaltender. He has played in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets. He served as the goaltending coach for the Washington Capitals...
.
On July 2, 1999, he was waived by the Canucks and for the next few seasons, would bounce around the league between the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
, and Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
. Playing for minor league affiliates, he only appeared in a handful of NHL games for the remainder of his career. In 2002–03
2002–03 AHL season
The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season...
, he recorded AHL career highs with a 2.64 goals against average and a .921 save percentage in 35 games with the Utah Grizzlies
Utah Grizzlies
The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :...
.
Before retiring, Hirsch played three seasons overseas in the Swedish Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
, and the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
Post-playing career
After retiring, Hirsch became a goaltending consultant for Hockey CanadaHockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
. He worked with the national junior team
Canada national junior hockey team
The Canadian men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Canada. The team represents Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championship, held annually every December and January...
as part of the 2007
2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 2007 edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was held in Mora and Leksand, Sweden between December 26, 2006 and January 5, 2007. The venues were FM Mattsson Arena in Mora, and Ejendals Arena in Leksand...
and 2008 World Junior
2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2008 IIHF World U20 Championship, or, as it is commonly referred to in Canada as the 2008 World Juniors and the United States, the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships is the 2008 edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships...
gold medal winning teams.
On September 9, 2008, the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
announced they had hired Hirsch as their goaltending coach.
On June 18, 2010, the St. Louis Blues announced they had hired Hirsch as their Goaltending Coach.
Awards
Major Junior- WHLWestern Hockey LeagueThe Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
West Second All-Star Team – 1990 - CHL Goaltender of the YearCHL Goaltender of the YearThe CHL Goaltender of the Year Award is given out annually to the top goaltender in the Canadian Hockey League.-Winners:*2010–11 Darcy Kuemper, Red Deer Rebels*2009–10 Jake Allen, Drummondville Voltigeurs*2008–09 Mike Murphy, Belleville Bulls...
– 1992 - CHLCanadian Hockey LeagueThe Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
First All-Star Team – 1992 - Hap Emms Memorial TrophyHap Emms Memorial TrophyThe Hap Emms Memorial Trophy is awarded to the outstanding goaltender at the Memorial Cup of the Canadian Hockey League.The award is named after Leighton "Hap" Emms, who led four teams to championship victories at the Memorial Cup in the 1950s and 1960s....
(WHL goaltender of the year) – 1992 - WHL West First All-Star Team – 1992
- Del Wilson TrophyDel Wilson TrophyThe Del Wilson Trophy is awarded to the top goaltender of the Western Hockey League.The award is named after Del Wilson, who was the general manager of the Regina Pats when they won the Memorial Cup in 1974.- Winners :...
(Memorial CupMemorial CupThe Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
top goaltender) – 19921992 Memorial CupThe 1992 Memorial Cup occurred May 9-May 17 at the Coliseum in Seattle, Washington. Participating teams were the Western Hockey League host Seattle Thunderbirds, as well as the winners of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League which were the Verdun... - Memorial Cup All-Star Team – 1992
Professional
- Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award (AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
goaltender of the year) – 19931992–93 AHL seasonThe 1992–93 AHL season was the 57th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Binghamton Rangers finished first overall in the regular season with 124 points, a which holds to this day... - Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award (AHL's lowest goals-against-average) – 1993 (shared with Boris Rousson)
- Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award – 1993
- AHL First All-Star Team – 1993
- NHL All-Rookie TeamNHL All-Rookie TeamThe NHL All-Rookie Team is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from the best rookies in the National Hockey League at each position for the season just concluded based on their performance in that year...
– 1996 - IHL Goaltender of the Month – December 1999
- IHL Goaltender of the Week – December 4, December 18, 2000