Bemidji State has announced the hiring of Eddie Olczyk as the team’s new assistant coach.
The former NCAA Division I player joins the BSU coaching staff after coaching stops at Division I and Division III programs, including last year at Niagara.
“Eddie has great presence and a great demeanor about him, qualities that have earned him a lot of respect in college hockey as an up-and-coming recruiter,” said BSU coach Tom Serratore in a statement. “He also has a tremendous work ethic. Eddie has spent the last two years as a recruiting coordinator and has developed relationships with coaches all over the United States. He understands the game and what it takes to recruit players who can have an impact and develop in our program.
“Eddie comes to Bemidji State with high praise from his peers and mentors. We’re excited to have him be part of Beaver hockey.”
Olczyk replaces Ted Belisle, who left the Beavers after 13 years to take a role on the Los Angeles Kings’ scouting staff.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Bemidji State University family,” added Olczyk. “This is an amazing opportunity to work for a fantastic hockey program and University. Bemidji is a special place and I am eager to roll up my sleeves and get to work.
“I want to thank Tom Serratore and Travis Winter for their support during this process. A special thank you also goes out to David Burkholder, Tim Madsen and Niagara University for giving me an opportunity to grow and develop as a coach and individual.”
Prior to his time at Niagara, Olczyk spent one season (2014-15) as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Utica.
As a player, Olczyk was a four-year letter-winner (2009-2013) at Massachusetts and graduated from UMass in the spring of 2013 with a degree in psychology. Olczyk played for the Bloomington Thunder of the Southern Professional Hockey League, where he logged 54 games during the 2014-15 season.
Playing professionally, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Ed, who played 16 NHL seasons with Chicago, Toronto, Winnipeg, New York Rangers, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, won a Stanley Cup, and later served as head coach of the Penguins.
