Flyers, goaltending coach Jeff Reese mutually agree to part ways
Jeff Reese is leaving the Philadelphia Flyers.
The team and the 48-year-old former goaltending coach have mutually agreed to a split, general manager Ron Hextall confirmed Friday.
No further comment will be made by the Flyers, but Reese issued a statement of his own:
I thank the Flyers organization for the opportunity to coach the Flyers for the past six seasons. I've enjoyed my time here and I wish the Flyers all the success in the world. Having said that, I would appreciate it if the media would respect my privacy, as I will not be making any further comment.
Goaltender Steve Mason, who said he was very close with Reese during their time together, credited Reese for being instrumental in the netminder's resurgence.
"He's gotta be No. 1 on the chart for making this turnaround happen. I'm forever grateful for him," Mason said.
"(Reese) was the first person I called after I signed my new extension. I said this wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for you.
“Sometimes, things happen that are hard to understand in the game of hockey,” Mason said. “Honestly, for me, it just happened out of the blue.”
The Flyers starter found it hard to concentrate in Thursday's 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues.
Mason seems gut-wrenched by Reese's departure, said it was hard to focus in last night's game.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 6, 2015
Reese's replacement has not been named.
"We'll figure it out," head coach Craig Berube said Friday.