After serving as a volunteer coach with the Boston University women's ice hockey program for two seasons, Bret Gilmour was elevated to a full-time goaltending coach position in October 2023.
In the 2024-25 season, Gilmore helped senior netminder Callie Shanahan to her best season between the posts with a GAA of 1.81 and a save percentage of .924. Shanahan had three shutouts and 18 wins in net, making 654 total saves. Her efforts in the Hockey East tournament saw her land a spot on the all-tournament team.
Gilmore also coached sophomore Mari Pietersen to the first two shutouts of her collegiate career. Pietersen’s shutouts against Holy Cross on Jan. 24 and 25 made her the first Terrier to record shutouts on back-to-back days.
In his first year, Gilmore helped Pietersen find her bearings as one of BU’s primary goaltenders. He also coached graduate transfer Alexa Matses between the posts.
“Bret has been with the group for the past couple of seasons as the volunteer goalie coach and we are excited to have him on board in a more official capacity this season,” said head coach Tara Watchorn. “Bret brings great expertise in working with our goalies, but also brings amazing care and passion in working with all of our athletes. We are lucky have him back with us this season.”
Gilmour also works at Stop It Goaltending as a director and is the chief science officer for The Greatness Lab, where he started as the director of sport psychology. He graduated from Canisius with a psychology degree before going on to receive a master’s from BU in counseling with a focus on sports psychology.
A former junior hockey goaltender in his native Ontario, Gilmour began his coaching career immediately after graduating from Canisius. He spent three years at Harvard (2018-21) as a hockey performance consultant and video coordinator and he has served as an evaluator for USA Hockey since 2017.
