ITHACA, N.Y. — The men's hockey team has announced that former Union College and professional goalie Kris Mayotte has joined the team as a volunteer assistant coach.

Mayotte was a full-time goalie coach last season in Maryland, having spent the previous seven years of his playing career as a part-time instructor. Some of his clients are familiar faces around the NCAA, including current players Michael Clemente (Brown) and Dan Sullivan (Maine), and commits Jay Williams (Miami, Ohio) and Nick Ellis (Providence).

With the Big Red, Mayotte will serve as a goaltending coach for the Big Red's trio of sophomore Andy Iles, junior Omar Kanji and freshman Vincenzo Marozzi. But he won't be limited to that role. He will also help the staff in game preparation, and help run practice drills and skill development exercises.

“I think that we've had a tremendous amount of success with our coaches here helping our goaltenders develop,” said Mike Schafer, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Men's Hockey. “I think with Kris, it gives them one extra person to pay specific attention to them, which we haven't had in a while. I think it will help in development, but it will also give them a chance to air out some of their issues that they might have, or they can discuss different things that he can relate to since he's played the position.”

A native of Pittsburgh, Mayotte is no stranger to the Cornell hockey community. He was the primary starting goalie for Union for four seasons, spanning from 2002 to 2006. Mayotte was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie team after his freshman season and earned a spot on the all-league second team after his senior campaign.

Mayotte moved on to the professional ranks for five seasons following college, playing for four American Hockey League teams (Lowell, Bridgeport, Hershey and Adirondack), three ECHL teams (San Diego, Fresno and Johnstown) and one Central Hockey League team (Arizona).