Nov. 5, 2015
By Maria Canales, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" There will be an Olczyk family reunion of sorts on Friday night when the Penn State men's hockey team faces off at Niagara.
Senior Tommy Olczyk will see a familiar face on the Purple Eagle's bench as his older brother, Eddie, was recently hired as an assistant coach for the team.
"It's been great, over the summer I got a call from Niagara and went through the interview process," said Eddie Olczyk. "It seemed like the right fit. They have great players here, great coaching staff, and it's been awesome."
The brothers, just 16 months apart in age, have fond memories of growing up within the environment of a hockey family. Their father, Ed Olczyk, is a United States Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and current commentator for the NHL on NBC.
"I think growing up my brothers and I never really had to search too far to find advice on where we wanted to play hockey and how far we wanted to go with it," said Tommy Olczyk. "I couldn't have asked for a better mentor or father."
Having moved around a lot due to their father's success in the NHL, Tommy and Eddie were each other's best friends and biggest supporters. Growing up, the brothers pushed one another when it came to their individual hockey player development.
"I wouldn't say that it was competitive," said Eddie Olczyk. "I would say that we pushed each other. We both pushed each other to do better."
Tommy Olczyk talked about what he's learned from his older brother throughout the years.
"I've learned from him to just do what you enjoy to do," said Tommy Olczyk. "I definitely think he exudes that because he's transitioned into coaching and is doing what he wants to do."
As for the game Friday, both brothers agreed this game will be fun, but a competition.
Eddie, who has many connections to Penn State not only through his younger brother, but through friends as well, is looking forward to the competition.
"I have a lot of ties to Penn State," said Eddie Olczyk. "I know a lot of these guys that play for the team, I've gone on vacation with some of them. PJ Musico who just graduated last year is a good buddy of mine and I know some of the current seniors."
Eddie continued that this game isn't just brother vs. brother, but also friends vs. friends.
Tommy is equally eager to bring his A-game on Friday.
"I think the game is going to be fun," said Tommy Olczyk. "It's not very often where a college hockey player gets to face off against a team that his older brother is the assistant coach for."
Rarely do opportunities like this one present themselves and the Olczyk brothers are going to take in every minute of it.
"I don't know how many people can say they've coached against their brother, especially at the college level," said Eddie Olczyk. "Then with the fact that I'm only 16 months older than him, this is something pretty special and it's bragging rights for a long, long time."
After the game is concluded and a winner determined, no matter the outcome, both members of the Olczyk family will take time to just be brothers who share a common bond.
"We're probably going to talk about the game a little bit," said Tommy Olczyk. "But we usually put the hockey stuff aside. After the game, outside the rink, we like to limit our conversations about hockey as much possible."
In the end, bragging rights are one thing, but family is forever.
Penn State will face off at Niagara on Friday at 7 p.m.