Raising The Stanley Cup, Now Raising Men In Kalkaska

Krzysztof Oliwa Is Owner, GM, Coach, and Hockey Mentor

In a small office in Kalkaska, surrounded by hockey gear, the only Polish-born player to win a Stanley Cup works overtime to improve the games and lives of young hockey players.

Former National Hockey League player Krzysztof Oliwa keeps up a hectic schedule as the owner, general manager and head coach of the Kalkaska Rhinos of the U.S. Premier Hockey League. The team, made up of 16-20 year olds, just began its 2015– 16 season that runs through February. It’s the second season for the Rhinos and their coach, whose physical style of play as a left wing in the NHL earned him the nickname, “The Polish Hammer.”

A scout saw the 6-foot-5, 225-pound left wing playing junior B hockey and Oliwa was drafted 65th overall in the 1993 NHL draft by the New Jersey Devils. In 2000, he won the Stanley Cup playing with the Devils. Oliwa later played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames. He retired at the end of the 2005–06 season.

With the Rhinos, Oliwa is developing the talents and abilities of his young team, both on and off the ice. He uses sophisticated digital technology to analyze and evaluate players.

“We use the same platform as the NHL, Major Junior A, USHL, NCAA Division I and the AHL,” he explains. “Why? Because when the time comes for these kids to make it to the next step, they will be used to it and the transition will be easier.”

With his 14-year-old German Shepherd Max curled up next to his desk, Oliwa spends up to 20 hours a day working on team projects. He sat down recently with the Express to talk about his team.

NORTHERN EXPRESS: How does a former Stanley Cup winner land in northern Michigan?

OLIWA: After I retired, I took a few years off. I had a lot of concussions, more than 20, and I took time off. A friend asked me to help coach his son individually. I did for twoand-a-half years and after that experience I decided to start coaching. I looked for a coaching job, but organizations didn’t want me. I didn’t know why. But I decided to work harder and I knew somebody would give me a chance.

I had a team I was supposed to coach in Vancouver, but the league folded. I still had the team, but no arena. Then a friend told me about this arena in Kalkaska. I was living in New Jersey and said ‘Where’s Kalkaska?’ I saw on TV about Michigan in the winter two years ago and it was, like, minus 55 degrees. I thought, ‘Why would I ever want to be in Kalkaska or Traverse City?’ But we love it here and the people are great.

EXPRESS: Who are the Kalkaska Rhinos and what is the USPHL?

OLIWA: Our team is junior players ages 16 to 20 from across the country. They stay at host families and I have six players living with me. The USPHL operates in 19 states and is one of the nation’s largest and best of its kind junior hockey leagues. It’s comprised of 110 teams representing 55 organizations. Over the past two years, the league has sent more than 350 players to the collegiate level. USPHL is recognized as one of the top developmental leagues for midget and junior hockey.

EXPRESS: What are your team’s goals?

OLIWA: Our mission is to develop student athletes, both as hockey players and as individuals. We want to help them move to higher levels of hockey and build successful lives. Whether they are interested in junior hockey or NCAA, we help each player to move along on their individual path. Our approach is not simply designed around practice and games. We want to make each person a better athlete, a better person, through intense training and education. We give the players everything they need to be successful. The rest is up to them.

EXPRESS: Last year was your first season. What was that like?

OLIWA: The first year was very tough. Overall it was a great experience and the kids learned a lot. They learned that training is the most important thing. On the ice or off, you have to be properly trained. There are no shortcuts. Six players from last year’s team have commitments to play for NCAA teams.

EXPRESS: Has the Kalkaska community embraced junior hockey and the Rhinos?

OLIWA: It has. We’re active in the community with the Tiffany Ferguson College Scholarship fundraiser. Tiffany was a former president of the Kalkaska Area Hockey Association. And we have an annual golf tournament in September. Our players and coaches are available to make appearances at community events.

The Kalkaska Rhinos play their home games at the Kaliseum on M-72 in Kalkaska. To learn more, visit kalkaskarhinos.com.

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