Former rival goaltender, Patterson to lead USHL Black Hawks keepers

Waterloo, Iowa (Courtesy Waterloo Black Hawks)–New Waterloo Black Hawks Goaltending Coach Kent Patterson was a successful USHL netminder and an NHL Draft pick, then earned the starting job at the University of Minnesota and embarked on an extensive professional hockey career.

It’s a path current Waterloo goalie Jared Moe has begun to follow – and upon which the Gopher recruit hopes to continue – during his second season with the Hawks.  The announcement of Patterson’s addition to the Waterloo staff on Thursday gives Moe and the Black Ha

wks’ goaltenders a new resource.

“I’m looking forward to helping goalies at that level get to where I’ve been,” said Patterson, adding, “This is a great opportunity for my coaching career.”

A decade ago, Patterson was preparing for his first year at the University of Minnesota, following two solid seasons with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.  From 2006 to 2008, Patterson backstopped Cedar Rapids to 30 wins in 49 appearances, including three shutouts.  His 91.3% save percentage in 2006/07 ranked second in the USHL, and he turned in a similar 91.2% mark the following year.

During a four-year stint with the Gophers, Patterson took the starting reins during his junior and senior seasons, earning All-WCHA recognition both years (Second Team in 2010/11, First Team in 2011/12).  A 2007 draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche between his first and second seasons in Cedar Rapids, Patterson played his first professional hockey game in 2012. It was the beginning of a career which continued through the 2017/18 season and took him to the AHL, ECHL, CHL, and SPHL.

Patterson’s pedigree includes mentorship by two other former Gopher goaltenders: 1988 Hobey Baker Award winner Robb Stauber, the current head coach of the United States Women’s National Team, and Justin Johnson, member of two Minnesota national championship teams in the early 2000s. Johnson is also founder of the M.E.G.A. Total Development goaltending program; Patterson currently serves as West Director/Lead Instructor for the Twin Cities-based organization. 

Like Patterson, the Hawks’ Moe returns for a second USHL season after being chosen during the NHL Draft.  He was selected in the sixth round by the Winnipeg Jets after delivering a 23-6-1 record and helping the Hawks to the Anderson Cup in 2017/18.  Moe and his Waterloo teammates open the 2018/19 USHL regular season on September 28^th during a neutral site game versus the Central Illinois Flying Aces.