Goaltending Coach Brennan Poderzay

Brennan Poderzay was promoted to the role of assistant coach for Minnesota men’s hockey in September 2023 and serves as the goaltending coach. He joined the staff prior to the 2021-22 season in a volunteer capacity and worked for two seasons before earning the full-time position with the Gophers.

Poderzay was vital to the emergence of Justen Close as one of the program’s best netminders over the previous three years. Close recorded 13 shutouts and a .924 save percentage, the best in the 103-year history of Minnesota men’s hockey, while his 2.18 goals against average ranks second all-time. A three-time All-Big Ten honoree, Close backstopped the Gophers to back-to-back appearances to the NCAA Frozen Four under Poderzay’s guidance with consecutive Big Ten Conference regular season titles.

A native of Tower, Minn., Poderzay came to Minnesota after spending six seasons in the same role at Minnesota State. With the Mavericks, he coached Dryden McKay for three seasons as the three-time WCHA Goaltending Champion and two-time All-American was named a Hobey Baker Award Hat Trick finalist, a Mike Richter Award finalist and the WCHA Player of the Year in 2021. In his six-year tenure in Mankato, MSU won five WCHA regular-season titles and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time in program history.

Poderzay previously served as a Minnesota Regional Goalie Scout and as a mentor for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. He also worked as the goaltending coach for PWHL Minnesota during its inaugural season in 2023-24, helping the team claim The Walter Cup as league champions. Netmidner Nicole Hensley posted two shutouts in five games of the PWHL Finals to secure the title.

As a player, he spent three seasons at St. Scholastica before a six-year professional career. Poderzay earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from St. Scholastica in 2013.