The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have hired Jimmy Waite as the team’s goaltending coach. Waite appeared in 58 games with the Blackhawks over parts of eight seasons from 1988 to 1997.

“We are pleased to welcome Jimmy back to our organization in his new role,” said Blackhawks Vice President and General Manager Stan Bowman. “He has over two decades of professional hockey experience and will be a great addition to our coaching staff.”

Waite, 45, has spent the last three seasons as the goaltending coach for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Prior to his coaching career, Waite enjoyed a 22-year professional playing career from 1988 to 2010.

“I’m very excited to come back to the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that drafted me in 1987” said Waite. “I look forward to working with Corey (Crawford) and Antti (Raanta), and to help contribute to the success of this organization.”

The Sherbrooke, Quebec, native was selected by the Blackhawks in the first round (eighth overall) of the 1987 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Waite appeared in 106 career NHL games with the Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks and Phoenix Coyotes from 1988 to 1999. He spent the last nine seasons of his playing career in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in Germany. Prior to his professional career, Waite played junior hockey with Chicoutimi of the QMJHL and helped lead Canada to a gold medal in the 1988 World Junior Championships.

He is the younger brother of former Blackhawks goaltending coach Stephane Waite.