# Zac Bierk
**Zac Bierk** (full name Zachary Bierk, born 1976 in [Peterborough, Ontario](https://www.edgepedia.org/peterborough-ontario)) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 47 games in the NHL and later became a goaltending coach and development executive with the [Arizona Coyotes](https://www.edgepedia.org/arizona-coyotes) and the [Ottawa Senators](https://www.edgepedia.org/ottawa-senators).[1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/bierkza01.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1976, Peterborough, Ontario; 6 ft 5 in, 205 lb (196 cm, 92 kg); catches left[1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/bierkza01.html) |
| NHL draft | Tampa Bay Lightning, 9th round, 212th overall, 1995 NHL Entry Draft[2](https://www.quanthockey.com/hockey-stats-nhl/en/profile.php?player=433) |
| Expansion draft | Selected by the Minnesota Wild, 1st round, 49th overall, in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft[2](https://www.quanthockey.com/hockey-stats-nhl/en/profile.php?player=433) |
| NHL playing career | 47 games, 9 wins, 20 losses, 5 ties, 1 shutout, 3.18 goals-against average, .901 save percentage[1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/bierkza01.html) |
| Best NHL season | 2002-03 with the Phoenix Coyotes: 2.17 GAA and .932 save percentage[3](https://www.puckdex.com/player/zac-bierk) |
| Junior honors | OHL Goaltender of the Year and Canadian Hockey League Second All-Star Team with the Peterborough Petes[4](https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/yhvefei48pjoucthzf7j.pdf) |
| Coaching career | Coyotes goaltending development coach from 2018; Ottawa Senators goaltending coach from April 6, 2021, re-assigned to a scouting and development position on January 15, 2024[5](https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/senators-re-assign-zac-bierk-name-justin-peters-as-new-goaltending-coach) |
## Playing career
Bierk played his major junior hockey with his hometown Peterborough Petes, helping the team reach the 1996 [Memorial Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/memorial-cup) before being named OHL goaltender of the year and, the following season, being named to the [Canadian Hockey League](https://www.edgepedia.org/canadian-hockey-league)'s Second All-Star Team.[4](https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/yhvefei48pjoucthzf7j.pdf) The Tampa Bay Lightning selected him in the ninth round, 212th overall, of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.[2](https://www.quanthockey.com/hockey-stats-nhl/en/profile.php?player=433)
His NHL debut came with [Tampa Bay](https://www.edgepedia.org/tampa-bay) in 1997-98, when he appeared in 13 games and posted a 4.16 goals-against average and an .857 save percentage.[1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/bierkza01.html) He was later selected 49th overall by the [Minnesota Wild](https://www.edgepedia.org/minnesota-wild) in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft.[2](https://www.quanthockey.com/hockey-stats-nhl/en/profile.php?player=433)
**Best NHL season.** Bierk's strongest NHL work came with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2002-03, when he recorded a 2.17 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.[3](https://www.puckdex.com/player/zac-bierk)
Across his NHL regular-season career he appeared in 47 games, with 9 wins, 20 losses, 5 ties, 1 shutout, 2,135 minutes played, a 3.18 goals-against average, and a .901 save percentage.[1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/bierkza01.html) He also spent parts of seven professional seasons in the [American Hockey League](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-hockey-league), the ECHL, and the International Hockey League.[4](https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/yhvefei48pjoucthzf7j.pdf) His minor-league career record was 133 wins, 110 losses, and 30 ties with a 3.21 goals-against average for the Peterborough Petes, Adirondack Red Wings, Cleveland Lumberjacks, Detroit Vipers, Springfield Falcons, and [Augusta Lynx](https://www.edgepedia.org/augusta-lynx), and he played from the 1993 season through the 2003 campaign.[6](https://www.statscrew.com/minorhockey/stats/p-bierkzac001)
## Coaching and development career
The Ottawa Senators hired Bierk on April 6, 2021 as their goaltending coach, replacing Pierre Groulx, who was re-assigned to a scouting role.[5](https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/senators-re-assign-zac-bierk-name-justin-peters-as-new-goaltending-coach) On January 15, 2024, the team re-assigned Bierk to a scouting and development position and promoted Justin Peters, previously the goaltending coach of the AHL's Belleville Senators, to the Senators' goaltending coach role.[5](https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/senators-re-assign-zac-bierk-name-justin-peters-as-new-goaltending-coach) The Senators' 2024-25 media guide describes 2024-25 as his fourth full season with the team and his first full campaign as goaltending development advisor.[4](https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/yhvefei48pjoucthzf7j.pdf)
## References
1. [Zac Bierk Stats, Height, Weight, Position | Hockey-Reference.com](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/bierkza01.html)
2. [Zac Bierk - NHL Profile, QuantHockey](https://www.quanthockey.com/hockey-stats-nhl/en/profile.php?player=433)
3. [Zac Bierk Stats | Puckdex](https://www.puckdex.com/player/zac-bierk)
4. [Ottawa Senators 2024-25 Media Guide, Personnel](https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/yhvefei48pjoucthzf7j.pdf)
5. [Senators re-assign Zac Bierk; name Justin Peters as new goaltending coach | Ottawa Senators](https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/senators-re-assign-zac-bierk-name-justin-peters-as-new-goaltending-coach)
6. [Zac Bierk minor league hockey statistics, StatsCrew](https://www.statscrew.com/minorhockey/stats/p-bierkzac001)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Hockey and remaining team sports › Ice hockey players and personnel › Goaltenders*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license