University of Minnesota Athletics
The Polish Prince: Junior Forward Matt Koalska
11/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The "Polish Prince" got his name from his father when he was born. The youngest of six kids, Matt Koalska was an unexpected but embraced addition to the family. Bernie Koalska, originally from Poland, said his fourth son has always been the most proud of his heritage. The Polish Prince nickname soon spread to the pick-up truck Matt got during his junior year of high school. On the back windows of the Chevy, it boldly states "Polish Pride" which can be seen from a block away.
The pride has even spread to his Gopher teammates. On Tuesday nights throughout the year, Matt and six to seven other hockey players head to the "Polish Headquarters" in St. Paul, Minn., where they feast on "Polish" tacos and "Polish" malts (the same tacos and malts you and I eat, just prepared by the Polish King himself, Bernie Koalska). And then there is the moment when the state of Minnesota found out about the Polish Prince. It was the evening of April 6, 2002. Just when the weight of 23 years without a national title for Minnesota's Pride on Ice was about to get heavier with yet another season added, who should step up in the Xcel Energy Center but St. Paul's own native son, Matt Koalska. With under a minute remaining in regulation, Koalska put the puck in the goal and gave Minnesota life in overtime. And how else would a Polish Prince celebrate than with a Polish Leap? As the Maroon and Gold capacity-crowd erupted with cheers, Koalska sprinted back to the Gopher bench and propelled himself to kneel on top of the boards as he was embraced by his teammates. The leap was a flashback to his playing days at Hill-Murray High School, where big goals were celebrated back at the bench.
The once-in-a-lifetime feeling experienced in that game still brings a big grin to Koalska's face. "It was pretty special. I was just in the right place at the right time. You know, sometimes it seems like the puck has eyes," Koalska remarked. "That whole game I was playing pretty well. I was having a lot of chances. It seemed like the puck just wasn't going in. And then you get a chance like that where the puck comes to you, you take a quick peek to see where you are, and you shoot it in. Just get it and shoot it. It kind of went through some legs and a stick and it seemed like the puck had eyes going five-hole to the goalie. At first, I didn't see if it went in or not. I peeked my head over and I saw Riddzy [Troy Riddle] jump up and then I knew. It was pretty special. I'm just thankful for being there at the right time."
The tying goal, along with the "Polish Leap," is something every fan will be telling tales about years from now, part of a key moment in Gopher hockey history.
The following day at Mariucci Arena, there was a rally for the team. And in the crowd of thousands, still coming down from their high the night before, was a flag waving in the crowd. The Polish flag. The flag had made appearances throughout the season, but the Koalska family was waving it a little more furiously that day. Bernie and Marcia Koalska, along with the rest of the their family, were glowing with pride for Matt that day, after all, he had scored the game-tying goal. But their pride in Matt goes beyond his hockey skills, to the man he has become. "Matt gets lots of recognition, and has throughout his career, but it has never gone to his head. He still wears a 7 3/8 cap," Bernie joked. "He gets along with everyone and respects people. He never forgets where he came from. I'll tell people 'You know, my son plays for the Gophers' and he'll say 'Don't do that, Dad.' He's humble about it."
"He's always been close to his family. He's always been good with people and kids," mother Marcia Koalska agreed. "He takes the time to talk to the fans that come up to him. He's patient, always has time to stop and talk."
Matt's time for the fans of Minnesota comes from his experience with Gopher hockey when he was little. Bernie recalled Matt and his fellow players signing autographs for kids after the post-championship pep rally was over. "I always liked it when players could do that for me. I'm just paying them back," Bernie remembered his son telling him later.
The humble kindness has continued into his third year as a Gopher, but the responsibilities for Koalska have increased. As head coach Don Lucia has stated, it is a new season. Some of the guys that played such a key role in the success of last year's championship team have departed, and the time has come for others to step up. Koalska feels that part of the responsibility to continue the winning tradition at Minnesota falls upon him. "I definitely felt some pressure coming into this season," Koalska said. "I'm an upperclassman now, and when I heard we were going to lose [forward Jeff] Taffe, I knew it was my time to step up. Generation after generation, you've got to have different guys step up. This is my turn. I'm glad to be in that position because I like to be that guy. I like to be out there making things happen and winning games for the team here."
Koalska definitely has experience on his side. The Nashville Predator draftee is the only Golden Gopher to play in every career game (please knock on wood now). In those contests, he has 23 goals and 45 assists, including three goals and eight assists this year. But here is the key with Matt Koalska: when he's on the ice, he makes things happen. Witness the Final Four Championship game. He's not flashy; he's not a scoring machine. Playing hard and playing smart is Koalska's focus on the ice. In seven out of the team's 11 games, including the last three series, Koalska has been on a line with freshman Thomas Vanek and junior Troy Riddle. The coaches have found a good mix. The three have combined for 34 points (15 goals, 19 assists) in those seven games.
Koalska helps the team, not only with his play-making ability, but keeping the locker room relaxed. His easy-going, positive personality is infectious to his teammates, helping to keep things light. "He's a very outgoing guy. He's very upbeat. I don't know if I've ever seen the kid mad. He's always happy, one of those kind of guys," fellow junior and roommate Troy Riddle said.
There is a lot of pride streaming out of the Polish Headquarters. The Koalska family is proud of their Polish Prince. And the Prince takes equal pride in his heritage and his Golden Gopher team. Matt Koalska may not be true royalty, but as a player, and more importantly as a person, he is someone every fan can take pride in. And that is no joke.
Written by Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant Courtney Walerius
I'm sure most people at one time or another have heard a dumb Polish joke - the one about how many Polacks it takes to screw in a light bulb? Or how about, why did the Polack cross the road? Oh, did you hear the one about the Polish Prince that scored the game-tying goal in the NCAA Championships to send the game into overtime where Minnesota would win its first national title in 23 years? It's a good one. It's not really a joke now that I think about it. It's more like a heartwarming story about a family-loving, hardworking Golden Gopher who is proud of two things: his Polish heritage and donning the Maroon and Gold.
The "Polish Prince" got his name from his father when he was born. The youngest of six kids, Matt Koalska was an unexpected but embraced addition to the family. Bernie Koalska, originally from Poland, said his fourth son has always been the most proud of his heritage. The Polish Prince nickname soon spread to the pick-up truck Matt got during his junior year of high school. On the back windows of the Chevy, it boldly states "Polish Pride" which can be seen from a block away.
The pride has even spread to his Gopher teammates. On Tuesday nights throughout the year, Matt and six to seven other hockey players head to the "Polish Headquarters" in St. Paul, Minn., where they feast on "Polish" tacos and "Polish" malts (the same tacos and malts you and I eat, just prepared by the Polish King himself, Bernie Koalska). And then there is the moment when the state of Minnesota found out about the Polish Prince. It was the evening of April 6, 2002. Just when the weight of 23 years without a national title for Minnesota's Pride on Ice was about to get heavier with yet another season added, who should step up in the Xcel Energy Center but St. Paul's own native son, Matt Koalska. With under a minute remaining in regulation, Koalska put the puck in the goal and gave Minnesota life in overtime. And how else would a Polish Prince celebrate than with a Polish Leap? As the Maroon and Gold capacity-crowd erupted with cheers, Koalska sprinted back to the Gopher bench and propelled himself to kneel on top of the boards as he was embraced by his teammates. The leap was a flashback to his playing days at Hill-Murray High School, where big goals were celebrated back at the bench.
The once-in-a-lifetime feeling experienced in that game still brings a big grin to Koalska's face. "It was pretty special. I was just in the right place at the right time. You know, sometimes it seems like the puck has eyes," Koalska remarked. "That whole game I was playing pretty well. I was having a lot of chances. It seemed like the puck just wasn't going in. And then you get a chance like that where the puck comes to you, you take a quick peek to see where you are, and you shoot it in. Just get it and shoot it. It kind of went through some legs and a stick and it seemed like the puck had eyes going five-hole to the goalie. At first, I didn't see if it went in or not. I peeked my head over and I saw Riddzy [Troy Riddle] jump up and then I knew. It was pretty special. I'm just thankful for being there at the right time."
The tying goal, along with the "Polish Leap," is something every fan will be telling tales about years from now, part of a key moment in Gopher hockey history.
The following day at Mariucci Arena, there was a rally for the team. And in the crowd of thousands, still coming down from their high the night before, was a flag waving in the crowd. The Polish flag. The flag had made appearances throughout the season, but the Koalska family was waving it a little more furiously that day. Bernie and Marcia Koalska, along with the rest of the their family, were glowing with pride for Matt that day, after all, he had scored the game-tying goal. But their pride in Matt goes beyond his hockey skills, to the man he has become. "Matt gets lots of recognition, and has throughout his career, but it has never gone to his head. He still wears a 7 3/8 cap," Bernie joked. "He gets along with everyone and respects people. He never forgets where he came from. I'll tell people 'You know, my son plays for the Gophers' and he'll say 'Don't do that, Dad.' He's humble about it."
"He's always been close to his family. He's always been good with people and kids," mother Marcia Koalska agreed. "He takes the time to talk to the fans that come up to him. He's patient, always has time to stop and talk."
Matt's time for the fans of Minnesota comes from his experience with Gopher hockey when he was little. Bernie recalled Matt and his fellow players signing autographs for kids after the post-championship pep rally was over. "I always liked it when players could do that for me. I'm just paying them back," Bernie remembered his son telling him later.
The humble kindness has continued into his third year as a Gopher, but the responsibilities for Koalska have increased. As head coach Don Lucia has stated, it is a new season. Some of the guys that played such a key role in the success of last year's championship team have departed, and the time has come for others to step up. Koalska feels that part of the responsibility to continue the winning tradition at Minnesota falls upon him. "I definitely felt some pressure coming into this season," Koalska said. "I'm an upperclassman now, and when I heard we were going to lose [forward Jeff] Taffe, I knew it was my time to step up. Generation after generation, you've got to have different guys step up. This is my turn. I'm glad to be in that position because I like to be that guy. I like to be out there making things happen and winning games for the team here."
Koalska definitely has experience on his side. The Nashville Predator draftee is the only Golden Gopher to play in every career game (please knock on wood now). In those contests, he has 23 goals and 45 assists, including three goals and eight assists this year. But here is the key with Matt Koalska: when he's on the ice, he makes things happen. Witness the Final Four Championship game. He's not flashy; he's not a scoring machine. Playing hard and playing smart is Koalska's focus on the ice. In seven out of the team's 11 games, including the last three series, Koalska has been on a line with freshman Thomas Vanek and junior Troy Riddle. The coaches have found a good mix. The three have combined for 34 points (15 goals, 19 assists) in those seven games.
Koalska helps the team, not only with his play-making ability, but keeping the locker room relaxed. His easy-going, positive personality is infectious to his teammates, helping to keep things light. "He's a very outgoing guy. He's very upbeat. I don't know if I've ever seen the kid mad. He's always happy, one of those kind of guys," fellow junior and roommate Troy Riddle said.
There is a lot of pride streaming out of the Polish Headquarters. The Koalska family is proud of their Polish Prince. And the Prince takes equal pride in his heritage and his Golden Gopher team. Matt Koalska may not be true royalty, but as a player, and more importantly as a person, he is someone every fan can take pride in. And that is no joke.
Written by Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant Courtney Walerius
