{"id":140066,"date":"2023-03-18T09:45:32","date_gmt":"2023-03-18T14:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/?p=140066"},"modified":"2023-03-18T11:03:15","modified_gmt":"2023-03-18T16:03:15","slug":"spodniak-living-a-dream-as-a-hockey-player-at-adrian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/2023\/03\/18\/spodniak-living-a-dream-as-a-hockey-player-at-adrian\/","title":{"rendered":"Spodniak ‘living a dream’ as hockey player at Adrian"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Matus Spodniak (7) is the leading scorer in NCAA Division III hockey. (Adrian Athletics)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Matus Spodniak had a tough time in his first three years of college hockey. He played in a total of seven games during that stretch while at American International.<\/span><\/p>\n

Transferring to Adrian to last season provided him with a new outlook and an opportunity he did not hesitate to capitalize on.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only is Spodniak making an impact for the reigning national champion Bulldogs, he\u2019s the top scorer in the country in NCAA Division III.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a great season. It\u2019s like living a dream or something. I didn\u2019t expect it to happen this way,\u201d Spodniak.<\/span><\/p>\n

His own talent and skill has certainly played a big part in scoring 28 goals and dishing out 26 assists, but like most great players, the 2023 NCHA Player of the Year is quick to share the spotlight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have to say thank you to my teammates. Without them, I wouldn\u2019t have the success I\u2019ve had,\u201d Spodniak said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spodniak, who hails from Slovakia, started playing hockey when he was just 4 years old.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love hockey. When I was younger I played soccer, too, but hockey has always been my main sport,” Spodniak said. “I enjoy scoring goals and being around the team. I always knew hockey was something I wanted to do with my life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He also loves winning, and that\u2019s something Adrian, the third-ranked team in the USCHO NCAA Division III poll, has done quite a bit of this season. The Bulldogs are 23-4-2 and take on sixth-ranked UW-Stevens Point in a national quarterfinal tonight at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been an amazing season so far,\u201d Spodniak said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been taking it game by game and we feel we are ready.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Spodniak is part of an offense that has cranked out 167 goals. A dozen players have 20 or more points, and maybe one of the more impressive stats for the Bulldogs is the way they share the puck. They have 301 assists and six players have 20 or more assists.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jaden Sheilds is behind Spodniak in that category, tallying 24. Ty Enns and Alessio Luciani have 23 assists apiece.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are all working together,\u201d Spodniak said. \u201cEvery guy in the locker room shares the same goal, and that\u2019s to be a national champion. We\u2019re working hard to achieve that goal, taking it day by day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As for his personal success, it comes down to a renewed belief in himself that started taking shape a year ago when he first arrived at Adrian. He tallied 17 goals and 20 assists last year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t playing a lot at AIC and lost a lot of confidence,\u201d Spodniak said. \u201cI\u2019ve been able to come back and enjoy hockey again. It feels amazing. I\u2019m thankful for the opportunity coach (Adam) Krug gave to me. It\u2019s been a great experience so far.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He pointed to the little things as a difference maker for him as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel it\u2019s all about the details, skating and moving the puck at the right time, and taking good shots. I\u2019m out there doing what I\u2019m supposed to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Matus Spodniak had a tough time in his first three years of college hockey. He played in a total of seven games during that stretch while at American International. Transferring to Adrian to last season provided him with a new outlook and an opportunity he did not hesitate to capitalize on. Not only is Spodniak […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":140067,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[820],"coauthors":[821],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSpodniak 'living a dream' as hockey player at Adrian - College Hockey | USCHO.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Matus Spodniak had a tough time in his first three years of college hockey. 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