Orono, Maine -- University of Maine men's ice hockey head coach Ben Barr announced on Monday that Alfie Michaud will remain on staff as an assistant coach with the Black Bears.
 
"We are fortunate to keep Alfie on staff," says Barr. "His passion for the program is unmatched and his track record for recruiting and developing goaltenders is second to none. Alfie is well respected in all circles of the hockey world and will be a crucial piece of the development of our current roster and recruiting future student-athletes to wear the Black Bear uniform."
 
Michaud began his stint on staff at UMaine as a volunteer assistant goaltending coach during the 2016-17 season before being promoted to a full-time assistant in 2017. For the past four seasons, Michaud has mentored and developed Maine's goaltenders along with directing all aspects of Maine's penalty kill unit.

"Coaching at Maine is an honor, and I am grateful to continue" says Michaud. "We will work diligently to help our players each and every day with the intent that they experience what I did as a student-athlete at UMaine. We received a first class education while competing for championships. This will be the hope and goal every day."
 
In his first season as an assistant coach, Michaud began to mentor freshman Jeremy Swayman. Michaud guided Swayman throughout his 100 career games, playing a key part in helping to develop Swayman into one of the top goaltenders in UMaine history. Under Michaud's guidance, Swayman developed into one of the top goaltenders in the nation as he earned the Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in NCAA Division I. Swayman, a Hockey East First Team All-Star and Stop It Goaltending Goaltender of the Year, earned First Team All-American honors and was one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award in 2020. The junior netminder set the University of Maine single season record with 1,099 saves during the 2019-20 campaign.
 
Swayman, the current back-up goaltender for the Boston Bruins, has made 10 starts for the NHL club in 2021. In his 10 starts between the pipes, Swayman has posted a 7-3 record with a 1.50 GAA and a .945 save percentage. Swayman also appeared in eight games for the Providence Bruins and was named an Atlantic Division All-Star.

During his playing days with the Black Bears, Michaud helped guide the University of Maine to its second NCAA National Championship in 1999, earning the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player accolade and an NCAA All-Tournament team recognition. In 1998 Michaud was named to the Hockey East All-Tournament team.

Following his graduation from the University of Maine in 1999, Michaud spent parts of 16 years as a goaltender in the professional ranks, including stints with the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks and the American Hockey League's Syracuse Crunch and Manitoba Moose.

Aside from his playing career, Michaud has built an impressive coaching and mentoring resume. Since 2010, he has been the owner and coach of Dream Catcher's Hockey which offers private coaching and clinics. Michaud spent a year as the head coach of the U18 Portland Junior Pirates before being named goalie coach for the Portland Pirates in 2014. He spent a year with Portland's AHL club before opening RISE Sport Testing, a developmental testing agency for schools and various sports. Michaud is also a member of NHL Native Alumni Association.

Stay tuned to GoBlackBears.com for more information on the Black Bears as Coach Barr continues to fill his coaching staff.

-UMaine-