Atlantic Goes Primetime: Former Mercyhurst Goaltender may Find Himself on Olympic Squad

Credit Elite Prospects

With the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea less than a year away and NHL still not having any set plans in place for their sending their players to these games, it is looking as if the biggest hockey league in North America will not be participating. This does not come as a huge shock to any around the game as for the past couple Winter Olympics there has been complaints from fans and owners alike that stopping the NHL season right near the end to go and play in international competition was too disruptive to the league and its players. Although this closes the door for any player under NHL contract from playing for any nation in these games, it opens the door for players who might not otherwise get this opportunity. Enter Ryan Zapolski...

Credit Getty Images

An Erie, PA native and four year goaltender at Mercyhurst University Zapolski never really found any traction in North American Professional leagues after his graduation. Following his final year at Mercyhurst Zapolski bounced around in the ECHL from 2011 to 2013 only playing in 45 games split between 8 different teams during that time. Following the 2012-2013 season Zapolski moved to the Swedish leagues where he found much more success, posting a goals against average of around 2.00 and a .920 save %. In the past two years Zapolski has moved to the KHL (Russia's highest league) where he has played with Jokerit Helsinki, posting a goals against average of 2.20 and a save % of .925 over 95 games with the team.

The absence of NHL players in this upcoming Olympics would offer players like Zapolski who were never drafted by an NHL team, or players who have been drafted but not yet signed, a unique opportunity to play for their country against some of the toughest competition there is to offer. In an article written by ESPN senior writer Scott Burnside in December of 2016 Zapolski was one of the three goaltenders projected to make Team USA's roster for the upcoming Olympic Games. This would be an incredible honor for Zapolski and I am sure that he is doing everything in his power to get his name onto that list.

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