The Anaheim Jr. Ducks are pleased to announce JF Berube as their new director of goaltending.

“We’re thrilled to welcome JF to the club,” Jr. Ducks President Art Trottier said. “Our goalies will gain valuable experience from him.”

Berube provides an added benefit in that he completed a 13-year professional hockey career only a year ago. Jr. Ducks players will learn under a coach whose career included 41 NHL games and nearly 300 more in the American Hockey League. 

However, it was his 50-plus games for the Ontario Reign from 2011-13, when the franchise was still in the East Coast Hockey League, that brought him to this point. 

“Ontario is where I met my wife after my first pro season,” Berube said. “That’s what landed me here post-career. That was always the plan, to settle down here after my playing career ended.”

After being away from the game for a season, Berube was ready to jump back in. His passion for helping others and a chance meeting with Jr. Ducks Director of Player Development Alex Kim in 2020 led to this opportunity. 

“I didn’t want to take too much time off, and it was always in the back of my mind that I’d like working with young goalies and trying to help them grow their games,” Berube said. “I’ve always enjoyed teaching, and I like helping the kids and seeing them improve. That’s what drives me. 

“It was really exciting to hear the Jr. Ducks were looking for a goaltending director.

“It was fun to get to know Alex the past few years. This spring I helped him with goalies at his camp, and that’s when we spoke. It was fun to get to know the players.”

Berube, 32, was a fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2009. He also played in the New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets organizations.