Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Musketeer Veteran Tommy Olczyk Commits to Penn State

Press Release

The Sioux City Musketeers are pleased to announce that four year veteran player Tommy Olczyk has committed to Penn State University. Olczyk will play a year of club hockey next year before Penn State begins its inaugural year as a Division I hockey program in 2012-13. Penn State, under new Head Coach Guy Gadowski, will then move into the newly formed Big 10 Conference in 2013-14.

"It's the best feeling in the world," said Olczyk. "I've waited four years for the right thing and I've finally found it. It's a great opportunity and it's going to be a great experience."

The fan favorite Olczyk finished his four year Musketeer career with 25 goals, 35 assists, 60 points, and 116 penalty minutes in 205 games played. In 2010-11, he set new career highs in goals (10) and points (19). He had three of those ten goals in the final two weeks of the regular season, helping the Musketeers earn their first trip to the Clark Cup Playoffs since Olczyk's first year as a Musketeer in 2007-08. In the playoffs, he was one of only four players to finish with two or more points in the three game series against Sioux Falls.

More than statistics, it was Olczyk's work away from the puck that won him the respect of fans, his coaches and his teammates. One of the teams' most responsible defensive forwards and best penalty killers, Olczyk was a veteran who set an example on how to do the little things right. Because of that, he wore a letter on his sweater for his final two years in Sioux City, becoming an instrumental leader in the locker room for a team that finished 2010-11 with 17 first year players.

Off the ice, he was a mainstay in the Siouxland community over his four year tenure as a Musketeer. He was the 2010-11 Musketeer nominee for the USHL's Curt Hammer Award, which acknowledges a player who distinguishes himself off the ice.

"We are absolutely thrilled for Tommy," said assistant coach Cam Ellsworth. "In his time here he has developed into an extremely consistent player and a great leader. Penn State is getting an extremely hard worker who I am sure will help set a high standard as they move into Division 1 hockey and then into the Big Ten Conference."

Olczyk says the April 24th hiring of Gadowsky is what started the ball rolling towards him landing in University Park.

"I didn't hear from them until Gadowsky was hired," said the Long Grove, IL native. "I was contacted by one of their recruiters. He was a Penn State alum who I think played club hockey for the team. He was the one who kind of opened up my eyes and ears to the great thing that is starting there. And then a few weeks ago I spoke with Coach Gadowsky and he let me know they were really interested. My dad and I both went on a visit and we loved everything we saw. They are building something special there and something the whole Penn State community will be proud of."

As it relates to Sioux City, the junior hockey veteran knows his four years developing with the Musketeers is what shaped his path to college hockey.

"It's hard to believe four years ago today I was training and getting ready for my first Musketeers tryout camp," said Olczyk, who played in his 200th game as a Musketeer on March 29th. "It's amazing how fast time flies and amazing how much I've grown since then as a person living away from home. There's nothing like junior hockey. For those kids who think you can take junior hockey for granted, you just can't. You learn what kind of person you are...what you can handle mentally and physically and that's why I feel I'm going to be successful at Penn State."

More than anything, Olczyk feels prepared and ready to start the next chapter of his hockey life.

"Playing for the Sioux City Musketeers and playing junior hockey prepared me for college and will help make my transition a lot easier that it would have otherwise been. I've been out of high school for three years and I'm ready and excited for the next challenge."

Olczyk becomes the 14th Musketeer player from the 2010-11 roster to commit to a Division 1 college hockey program.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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