Coming into the season, we will need to be prepared to face the best from all our opponents. We know this and are looking forward to the challenge,” said Mike Szkodzinski newest addition to the NDA coaching staff.
Szkodzinski will be replacing Coach Cory McCracken, who is now coaching hockey at Sioux City.
“Coach McCracken and I have known each other for years. We have worked camps together and been in contact on a consistent basis for a long time,” shared the new hockey coach.
Szkodzinski grew up in the Detroit area and graduated from Brighton High School in Brighton, Michigan.
“I have played hockey since I was four years old where I was the goalie. I played junior ‘A’ hockey with the Detroit Freeze, two years at Division 1 Ferris State University, two years at St. Norbert College, and some professional as well,” he said.
At St. Norbert, Szkodzinski was an NCAA All-American Goaltender, two-time team Most Valuable Player, and All-NCHA First-Team Goaltender.
He was also a 2000 Kelly Cup Champion and professional player during that year for the Western Professional Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League.
At UW-Eau Claire, the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio, St. Norbert, and Team USA in Lake Placid, New York Szkodzinski was the assistant coach. He was the head coach at Lawrence University in Appleton.
He is the current Assistant Rink Manager at Cornerstone where he assists in the day-to-day operations of Cornerstone, schedules ice time on all three rinks, manages the events and tournaments several times each month, is responsible for creating revenue through fundraising and dasher-board advertisements, creates and manages the new programing for Green Bay Youth hockey, local high school hockey, and adult hockey, and coordinates the officials for all games in conjunction with the official’s coordinator.
Szkodzinski likes to coach in an “up-tempo” style of hockey.
“I like when our team can be aggressive on the forecheck and ‘hound’ the puck consistently. We will strive to be the hardest working team on the ice every night,” he said.
The boys’ hockey team will be coming off a remarkable season with a state championship..
“Coming off of such a remarkable season, it will be essential that we are not satisfied and continue to improve and develop. Coach McCracken has helped lay a foundation where championships are the expectation. We will strive to develop each player on and off the ice,” said the hockey coach.
“It is an absolute honor to be a part of Notre Dame Academy and our hockey program. Coach McCracken did a tremendous job, and we hope to build upon all that he accomplished while coaching at NDA. I am looking forward to challenging our players each and every day to improve and develop,” Szkodzinski added.
