Ryan Zapolski, Erie native and Mercyhurst University alumni, represented the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Zapolski was the goaltender for the 2018 men’s hockey team, which lost to the Czech Republic in a Quarterfinal match, leaving the United States with a seventh place finish in the Olympics. Zapolski may not have won a medal, but Zapolski achieved his dream by playing in the Olympics.

Zapolski said before his departure, “Anybody can make it. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you do.” He is also proud to be the face of hockey in Erie, and be an inspiration to kids in Erie who may be struggling to play hockey or follow their dreams. Zapolski grew up playing in the Erie ice rinks himself, and while playing in college at Mercyhurst from 2007 to 2011, he made the All-Atlantic Hockey team three straight years, making the second team twice and the third all-around team once. Mercyhurst also made the Atlantic Hockey Championships twice while Zapolski was there, losing to Air Force for two consecutive years in 2008 and 2009.

Zapolski, out of college, started playing in the East Coast Hockey League, which is one level below the AHL. He played for the Florida Everblades from 2011 to 2012, and in the 2012-2013 season, Zapolski moved to the South Carolina Stingrays, the affiliate of the Washington Capitals, where he won the Goaltender of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards. Zapolski then traveled overseas, where he played in the Finnish Liiga, and then moved to a different team in Finland, a member of the Kontinental Hockey League. He plays for Jokerit in Helsinki, Finland, and in the 2017-18 season, they are still in the playoffs. Additionally, at the time of this article, he is the fifth best goaltender in average goals against.

Zapolski hopes that when his current contract expires, he can make a transition to the NHL, much like Tim Thomas. Thomas played for Jokerit in the 2004-2005 season, and then transitioned to the Boston Bruins, where he won a Stanley Cup in the 2010-2011 season. Tim Thomas also currently holds the record for the most saves in a Stanley Cup Playoff season. He also has won the top goaltender award in the NHL twice, and made the all star team four times in his career. Zapolski hopes that he can be the caliber goaltender that Thomas was, and says he always looked up to him while he grew up and modeled his career after Thomas.