Chiefs Staff Lead and Advance

Published on August 30, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


Johnstown, PA (August 30, 2005) - The Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL are proud to announce several achievements and promotions of their staff and coaches.

Chiefs Executive Vice President and General Manager (Former Head Coach), Toby O'Brien served as an Assistant Coach on staff of the USA National Under 17 Team at the 5 Nations Cup, held in Hutwill, Switzerland from August 13th - August 18th.

The USA National Team completed international competition with an overall record 4-0-1. The USA Team edged the Czech Republic to win the Gold Medal in the Tournament. The remaining order of finish was Slovakia (Bronze), Switzerland (4th) and Germany (5th).

"The chance to represent my country and to do it successfully was an experience I will never forget", O'Brien said. " The players and staff were an outstanding group of people and to hear our national anthem and see our players carrying their cup was something that will stay with me a lifetime. I thank USA Hockey for offering me the opportunity to be part of something so special and for Jim Weber, the Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Lightning for allowing me to take the time to represent our country."

O'Brien is a USA Hockey Master Level Coach, has worked for over 15 years with USA Hockey, both as a coach and instructor. This was his first endeavor into international competition representing the United States.

Matt Bertani, who began as a coach with the Johnstown Jr. "B" Chiefs and later served two years as a volunteer assistant to O'Brien with the ECHL Chiefs, has been named full-time Assistant Coach at Penn State University. He will work directly with the ACHA Division I program under Head Coach Joe Battista, who has led PSU to multiple national championships at the ACHA level. Bertani will also serve as skating instructor at Penn State and Assistant Director of the Penn State Summer Hockey Camp.

Shane Clifford, who began working with the Chiefs through their Junior Chiefs "Select" Program and later as their ECHL Goalie Coach, has been named Goalie Coach of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. Clifford has served as the Chiefs goaltending consultant for the past six years. He has also worked with Everett Sivertips of the Western Hockey League, Union College and Robert Morris College. He is the owner of The Crease and the Shane Clifford Summer Goalie School.

"As for Shane Clifford and Matt Bertani, you always good people to succeed and move ahead. The Chiefs have always prided ourselves on promotion of players and of staff. To see two individuals who gave so much of themselves to our organization over the years and get their start here, move on is simply something that I feel very proud of. Both Shane and Matt will be extremely successful in their new positions and hopefully it will be the continuation of long and prosperous careers in the game of hockey for them. I only can thank them for their contributions to the success of Chiefs hockey", Chiefs Executive Vice President and General Manager said.

Season ticket and corporate sponsor packages for the 2005-2006 season are now available by calling (814) 539-1799 or 1-800-CHF-TIXX.

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