University of Minnesota Athletics
Ziemski Named Men's Hockey Goaltending Coach
11/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Nathan Ziemski, a former All-American and national champion collegiate goaltender, has been named the men’s hockey volunteer goaltending coach at the University of Minnesota.
Ziemski replaces former Gopher standout Robb Stauber, who resigned prior to the season after nine seasons with the program. Ziemski, a graduate of Duluth Central High School, works with Stauber as a goaltending instructor at Stauber’s Goalcrease in Blaine, Minn.
Ziemski played at the University of Wisconsin-Superior from 2000-03 and was an NCAA Division III first-team All-American goaltender in both 2000-01 and 2002-03. He also helped the Yellowjackets to the NCAA Division III championship in 2001-02, making 26 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory in the national title game against Norwich (Vt.).
Ziemski holds UW-Superior’s career records for wins, goals against average and save percentage. He compiled a 70-13-7 career record with a 2.23 goals against average and .910 save percentage. His 70 career wins is the third-highest total in Division III history. He was also named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s hockey scholar athlete in 2003 and played two seasons of minor pro hockey with the Jacksonville Barracudas.
“The majority of kids growing up in Minnesota dream of putting on that M’ someday,” said Ziemski, who played in the 1996 Minnesota state high school tournament. “While I didn’t have that chance, being able to give back to a program with such a storied history is an outstanding opportunity.”
“Nate’s got a great background and is able to give the time and energy our goaltenders need,” Minnesota coach Don Lucia said. “We’re excited to bring him into our program. We wanted someone who works with goaltenders full-time and he’s been working the past two years managing and coaching at the Blaine Goalcrease. Nate comes highly recommended from Robb Stauber.”
Ziemski will work closely with a young Gophers’ goaltending unit that features sophomore Alex Kangas, who was the team’s Most Valuable Player in 2007-08 as a freshman. He will also tutor freshmen Kent Patterson and Jake Kremer.
