PLYMOUTH, Mich. – Thomas Speer has been named National Goaltending Coach for USA Hockey and Rick Comley Jr. has been hired as assistant director of player personnel for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, it was announced today.
Speer will be based at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, and will work with goaltenders on both the U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 teams as well as oversee the Warren Strelow National Goaltending Mentor Program. He will also scout and track goaltenders at ages ranging from 15-20.
Prior to joining the NTDP, Speer was a goaltending coach for four seasons with the Allen Americans, the ECHL affiliate of the San Jose Sharks. He also served as goaltending coach for the Wichita Falls Wildcats of the NAHL the past two seasons.
The Janesville, Wisconsin, native also served as the director of camp development and personnel for Elite Goalies Camp for the past 10 years. He’s also served USA Hockey as a goalie development coordinator in Oklahoma and Texas since 2016.
Comley, who spent the past season as an amateur scout with the New Jersey Devils, has been named the assistant director of player personnel for the NTDP. He will assist with recruiting and evaluation efforts for the NTDP.
Prior to the Devils, Comley was the director of scouting and assistant general manager for the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League. He has also served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Sioux City Musketeers, director of scouting for the USHL and an assistant coach and scout for the Des Moines Buccaneers.
Comley helped create the USHL’s central scouting department, won a Clark Cup with the Buccaneers and has scouted 39 NHL Draft picks throughout his career.
ABOUT THE NTDP: USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program is in its 21st season of competition and is based at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. The goal of the full-time development program is to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on U.S. National Teams and success in their future hockey careers. Its efforts focus not only on high-caliber participation on the ice, but creating well-rounded individuals off the ice.
