Ryan Zapolski
| Ryan Zapolski | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Born |
November 11, 1986 Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| EBEL team Former teams |
Vienna Capitals Kalamazoo Wings Toledo Walleye Gwinnett Gladiators South Carolina Stingrays Lukko Jokerit | ||
| National team |
 United States | ||
| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2011–2021 | ||
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Volunteer assistant coach |
| Team | Mercyhurst |
| Conference | Atlantic Hockey |
| Biographical details | |
| Alma mater | Mercyhurst University |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2021–Present | Mercyhurst (assistant) |
Ryan Zapolski (born November 11, 1986) is an American ice hockey coach and former professional goaltender.
Early life[]
Zapolski was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania. He attended Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Playing career[]
Zapolski attended the Mercyhurst College from 2007 to 2011 where he played NCAA Division I college hockey for the Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey team. His best college season was 2008–09, with a record of 18–5–3, a save percentage of .934, and a goals-against average of 2.22.[1]
Zapolski began his professional career in the ECHL by joining the Florida Everblades where he appeared in net for one playoff game near the end of the 2010–11 season. The 2012–13 season was his breakout year, and he was recognized for his outstanding play with the South Carolina Stingrays by being named the ECHL's Rookie of the Year, Goaltender of the Year, and the league's Most Valuable Player.[2]
In 2013, Zapolski opted to continue his career overseas, signing with Lukko of the Finnish Liiga. He spent three years with the club, before signing a two-year deal with Helsinki-based Jokerit, a member of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in April 2016.[3]
After three seasons in the KHL with Jokerit, Zapolski left as a free agent and continued his European career in Austria, agreeing to a one-year contract with the Vienna Capitals of the EBEL on July 9, 2019.[4]
Awards and honors[]
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| All-Atlantic Hockey Second Team | 2008–09 | |
| All-Atlantic Hockey Third Team | 2009–10 | |
| All-Atlantic Hockey Second Team | 2010–11 | |
| ECHL | ||
| First All-Star Team | 2012–13 | [5] |
| Rookie of the Year | 2012–13 | [6] |
| Goaltender of the Year | 2012–13 | [7] |
| Most Valuable Player | 2012–13 | [8] |
References[]
- ^ Florida Everblades sign Mercyhurst College goalie Ryan Zapolski, will get Bobby Goepfert back temporarily – Blades' Blog
- ^ "Stingrays goalie Ryan Zapolski named ECHL MVP". Post and Courier.
- ^ "Helsingin Jokerit on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
- ^ "U.S. Olympic goalie Ryan Zapolski to the Capitals". Vienna Capitals (in German). July 9, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- ^ "The ECHL". echl.com.
- ^ "Zapolski named ECHL Rookie of the Year". Post and Courier.
- ^ "Zapolski receives ECHL Goaltender of the Year Honors". abcnews4.com. April 4, 2013.
- ^ "Zapolski Named ECHL Most Valuable Player". live5news.com. April 5, 2013.
External links[]
- Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
 | This biographical article relating to an American ice hockey goaltender is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by . |
- 1986 births
- Living people
- American expatriate ice hockey people in Finland
- American men's ice hockey goaltenders
- Florida Everblades players
- Gwinnett Gladiators players
- Ice hockey players at the 2018 Winter Olympics
- Jokerit players
- Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) players
- Lukko players
- Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey players
- Olympic ice hockey players of the United States
- South Carolina Stingrays players
- Toledo Walleye players
- Sportspeople from Erie, Pennsylvania
- Ice hockey coaches from Pennsylvania
- Ice hockey players from Pennsylvania
- American ice hockey goaltender stubs