University of Minnesota Athletics
All in the Family: Senior Forward Matt Koalska
10/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
As time passed, Matt out grew the patio. The Koalska brothers would lace up and put on their skate guards to cross the street and play in the larger rink at Sylvan Park. All day long they would skate, stopping only to refuel at the dinner table. The brothers would go over hockey drills they had participated in while playing for St. John's, teaching Matt the game and the skills necessary to play it well.
Athleticism can be seen in all six of the Koalska children. Oldest sibling Kathy played volleyball, basketball and softball. Dave, Greg and Mike grew up playing hockey, football and baseball. All three boys went on to play at St. John's, Dave and Greg playing hockey and Mike playing baseball. Youngest sister Sue also played volleyball and softball. Matt was going to be active in athletics; that was a no-brainer. He played baseball and hockey through high school. But ever since he put on skates, the family noticed at an early age that hockey was going to be his sport.
"Following him from grade school, he always had the skill level and talent," Mike said. "I think our only concern was when he would physically mature because we knew at every level he had to get stronger and stronger. But as time went on, I could see that things were progressing in that direction. As we watched him, every year he would improve. You knew something was going to happen."
"We were all decent players, but not at his level," Greg remembered. "At the time, it was more about having a good time. As he got older and I watched him, I began to see that he was going to be a good hockey player. He was advanced. Whatever team he played on, he did well."
"You never had to push him," Dave added. "He always wanted to play."
With all of the athletic talent in his family, Matt could have felt pressure to succeed with every sport he tried. Instead, he learned to appreciate the time spent with his family and teammates. "Growing up, I played several sports and I just kind of went with the flow and enjoyed what I was doing," Matt said. "I wasn't in a rush to grow up and see what the next level was going to bring."
By the time Matt was born, the next-youngest, Mike, was 12-years old. Kathy was 19, and Dave was a senior in high school. With the age difference, Matt "playing with" his siblings took on a different meaning. It was more of watching and learning. From the drives up to Collegeville, with his parents, Bernie and Marcia, to cheer for his brothers at the rink, to being the batboy for Mike and the St. John's baseball team. The four brothers weren't all learning the game together. Instead, Matt had three skilled athletes to observe and study.
Matt always admired his brothers growing up. They have been looked up to by him since they carried him across the street and tied on his skates at Sylvan Park. But as Matt has grown and progressed in the sport of hockey, they have a mutual admiration for their baby brother. "I've always enjoyed watching Matt play," Greg said. "To me ,he's such a good skater and it looks so natural when he's flying around the rink. And you know he's enjoying the game, having a good time. I just enjoy watching him."
"The hours he puts in all year round to get better every time he goes out on the rink takes so much determination," Dave agreed. "He has always had this drive to improve and get to the next level. That work ethic isn't something that all people or athletes have."
As Matt progressed through the levels of hockey, from the park and rec teams of Orchard/Shop Pond and Como, to making the varsity team as an eighth grader for St. Bernard's-St. Agnes, then transferring to Hill-Murray and playing for the USHL Twin Cities Vulcans and eventually the Golden Gophers, his family has been behind him. Through every game at every level, and even his struggles off the ice as well, brothers, sisters and parents have offered their undying support.
One of those times, Mike recalled, was after Matt's sophomore year of high school at St. Agnes. He was debating whether to continue playing there or transfer to Hill-Murray, a program that he believed would hone his skills and improve him as a player. "I remember I was here when Matt was making his decision to leave St. Agnes and go play for Hill-Murray," Mike said. "It was a very nerve racking time, deciding to leave St. Agnes and go play for a higher caliber school. There was a lot of pressure from the principal and coaching staff trying to convince him to stay. It was very stressful for Matt, but deep down he knew that in order to go to the next level, he had to test himself and see if he could play at a higher level and go to a school that would challenge him. The fact that he did that says a lot about his determination to excel at this level."
Eldest brother, Dave, also told of Matt's struggle after completing his high school career. With few scholarship offers rolling in immediately following graduation, Matt decided to spend a year playing junior hockey for the Twin Cities Vulcans before settling on a collegiate program. "It was a blessing because he then went on and matured as a player at that level, with all the weekend road trips and all the miles they put on."
With the backing of his family, Matt found success with the Vulcans and even went on to win the USHL championship title with his team that year. During the latter half of the season, Matt received a call from University of Minnesota head coach Don Lucia with an offer of a scholarship. His drive and perseverance, combined with the encouragement of his family, has led Matt to play for one of the elite Division I hockey programs and the Koalska's couldn't be more proud.
"I think every kid, Matt and thousands of kids, dream about being a Gopher and playing for Minnesota," Kathy remarked. "Just growing up here, kids dream of it and how many of them really get to?"
"It's like eight kids in the entire state, in the entire country, that can come in and play for the Gophers each year," Mike added.
With the scholarship offer from the Golden Gophers, Matt was able to continue his playing career in the state of Minnesota, where his parents and all of his brothers and sisters have continued to live. Bernie and Marcia have been in the crowd for every home game with at least one other sibling. The family has been there from the first drop of the puck at the Xcel Energy Center on October 7, 2000, when Matt scored his first goal on his first shot during his first shift while wearing the Maroon and Gold. They returned to the arena to see Matt even the score at 3-3 against Maine and then do the "Polish Leap" to the Minnesota bench on April 6, 2002, with 52.4 seconds remaining in the third period of the NCAA Championship title game.
The Koalska family has been there for their youngest, Matt, and he recognizes that he would not be where he is today without the continuous love and support from every member, brother, sister, nieces, nephews, and of course parents. "Having a strong, tight-knit family has helped me on and off the ice," he said. "It has made me a well-rounded person and given me a good foundation in life. It has made me the person I am today, and I am thankful for that."
Written by Media Relations Student Assistant Courtney Walerius. She welcomes comments at gophers@umn.edu.
It is the winter of 1984 and little Matty Koalska is excited. His dad has run the hose through the basement window and the patio is now covered with a slick sheet of ice. Christmas is coming and yes, that means presents, but it also means that his personal coaches will be back in town as well. He is ready to move on from boot hockey and lace up the skates with the big boys. Wearing his snowsuit, with his little hockey stick in one hand and a puck in the other, he greets his brothers Dave and Greg as they come home to St. Paul from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn. for winter break. On his personal rink, he is ready to learn the game of hockey from his coaches.
As time passed, Matt out grew the patio. The Koalska brothers would lace up and put on their skate guards to cross the street and play in the larger rink at Sylvan Park. All day long they would skate, stopping only to refuel at the dinner table. The brothers would go over hockey drills they had participated in while playing for St. John's, teaching Matt the game and the skills necessary to play it well.
Athleticism can be seen in all six of the Koalska children. Oldest sibling Kathy played volleyball, basketball and softball. Dave, Greg and Mike grew up playing hockey, football and baseball. All three boys went on to play at St. John's, Dave and Greg playing hockey and Mike playing baseball. Youngest sister Sue also played volleyball and softball. Matt was going to be active in athletics; that was a no-brainer. He played baseball and hockey through high school. But ever since he put on skates, the family noticed at an early age that hockey was going to be his sport.
"Following him from grade school, he always had the skill level and talent," Mike said. "I think our only concern was when he would physically mature because we knew at every level he had to get stronger and stronger. But as time went on, I could see that things were progressing in that direction. As we watched him, every year he would improve. You knew something was going to happen."
"We were all decent players, but not at his level," Greg remembered. "At the time, it was more about having a good time. As he got older and I watched him, I began to see that he was going to be a good hockey player. He was advanced. Whatever team he played on, he did well."
"You never had to push him," Dave added. "He always wanted to play."
With all of the athletic talent in his family, Matt could have felt pressure to succeed with every sport he tried. Instead, he learned to appreciate the time spent with his family and teammates. "Growing up, I played several sports and I just kind of went with the flow and enjoyed what I was doing," Matt said. "I wasn't in a rush to grow up and see what the next level was going to bring."
By the time Matt was born, the next-youngest, Mike, was 12-years old. Kathy was 19, and Dave was a senior in high school. With the age difference, Matt "playing with" his siblings took on a different meaning. It was more of watching and learning. From the drives up to Collegeville, with his parents, Bernie and Marcia, to cheer for his brothers at the rink, to being the batboy for Mike and the St. John's baseball team. The four brothers weren't all learning the game together. Instead, Matt had three skilled athletes to observe and study.
Matt always admired his brothers growing up. They have been looked up to by him since they carried him across the street and tied on his skates at Sylvan Park. But as Matt has grown and progressed in the sport of hockey, they have a mutual admiration for their baby brother. "I've always enjoyed watching Matt play," Greg said. "To me ,he's such a good skater and it looks so natural when he's flying around the rink. And you know he's enjoying the game, having a good time. I just enjoy watching him."
"The hours he puts in all year round to get better every time he goes out on the rink takes so much determination," Dave agreed. "He has always had this drive to improve and get to the next level. That work ethic isn't something that all people or athletes have."
As Matt progressed through the levels of hockey, from the park and rec teams of Orchard/Shop Pond and Como, to making the varsity team as an eighth grader for St. Bernard's-St. Agnes, then transferring to Hill-Murray and playing for the USHL Twin Cities Vulcans and eventually the Golden Gophers, his family has been behind him. Through every game at every level, and even his struggles off the ice as well, brothers, sisters and parents have offered their undying support.
One of those times, Mike recalled, was after Matt's sophomore year of high school at St. Agnes. He was debating whether to continue playing there or transfer to Hill-Murray, a program that he believed would hone his skills and improve him as a player. "I remember I was here when Matt was making his decision to leave St. Agnes and go play for Hill-Murray," Mike said. "It was a very nerve racking time, deciding to leave St. Agnes and go play for a higher caliber school. There was a lot of pressure from the principal and coaching staff trying to convince him to stay. It was very stressful for Matt, but deep down he knew that in order to go to the next level, he had to test himself and see if he could play at a higher level and go to a school that would challenge him. The fact that he did that says a lot about his determination to excel at this level."
Eldest brother, Dave, also told of Matt's struggle after completing his high school career. With few scholarship offers rolling in immediately following graduation, Matt decided to spend a year playing junior hockey for the Twin Cities Vulcans before settling on a collegiate program. "It was a blessing because he then went on and matured as a player at that level, with all the weekend road trips and all the miles they put on."
With the backing of his family, Matt found success with the Vulcans and even went on to win the USHL championship title with his team that year. During the latter half of the season, Matt received a call from University of Minnesota head coach Don Lucia with an offer of a scholarship. His drive and perseverance, combined with the encouragement of his family, has led Matt to play for one of the elite Division I hockey programs and the Koalska's couldn't be more proud.
"I think every kid, Matt and thousands of kids, dream about being a Gopher and playing for Minnesota," Kathy remarked. "Just growing up here, kids dream of it and how many of them really get to?"
"It's like eight kids in the entire state, in the entire country, that can come in and play for the Gophers each year," Mike added.
With the scholarship offer from the Golden Gophers, Matt was able to continue his playing career in the state of Minnesota, where his parents and all of his brothers and sisters have continued to live. Bernie and Marcia have been in the crowd for every home game with at least one other sibling. The family has been there from the first drop of the puck at the Xcel Energy Center on October 7, 2000, when Matt scored his first goal on his first shot during his first shift while wearing the Maroon and Gold. They returned to the arena to see Matt even the score at 3-3 against Maine and then do the "Polish Leap" to the Minnesota bench on April 6, 2002, with 52.4 seconds remaining in the third period of the NCAA Championship title game.
The Koalska family has been there for their youngest, Matt, and he recognizes that he would not be where he is today without the continuous love and support from every member, brother, sister, nieces, nephews, and of course parents. "Having a strong, tight-knit family has helped me on and off the ice," he said. "It has made me a well-rounded person and given me a good foundation in life. It has made me the person I am today, and I am thankful for that."
Written by Media Relations Student Assistant Courtney Walerius. She welcomes comments at gophers@umn.edu.
