NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Eddie Olczyk Jr. has been named an assistant coach for the Niagara University hockey program announced by head coach David Burkholder on Wednesday.
 
"I am extremely pleased to announce that Eddie Olczyk has agreed to join our staff and program at Niagara," Burkholder said. "It was an easy decision once we were able to meet during the interview process. He comes from a great hockey family and enjoyed a good playing career in Juniors and at UMass-Amherst. His experience most recently at Utica College as an assistant coach made him the perfect candidate and fit for us. He is going to be a huge asset and resource for our student-athletes."
 
Olczyk, who is the son of former National Hockey League (NHL) player and coach and current NHL on NBC analyst Ed Olczyk, comes to Niagara after coaching at Utica College, an NCAA Division III program, during the 2014-15 season.
 
Olczyk assisted the head coach with all facets of the program including daily practice plans, team strategy and player development. He served as the team's head scout and recruiting coordinator, oversaw defensemen and the power play which was ranked in the top 10 in the nation. He also dissected game film, created strength and conditioning workouts and organized team community service activities.
 
"I am extremely honored for the opportunity to join the Niagara University staff," said Olczyk. "David Burkholder and Tim Madsen are two excellent coaches who I am eager to learn from and work alongside. I look forward to building upon the great tradition here at Niagara, helping our student-athletes become better players and people, and bringing championships back to the city of Lewiston. Thank you Coach Heenan and Utica College for allowing me to begin my coaching career."
 
Prior to Utica, Olczyk played for the Bloomington Thunder of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) during the 2013-14 season where he played in 54 games. Olczyk was a four-year letter winner at UMass-Amherst from 2009-13. He saw action in 85 career games while helping the Minutemen to 46 victories. Olczyk earned Hockey East All-Academic Team recognition in 2010 and was named to the 2013 Ledyard National Bank Classic All-Tournament Team. 

He played in 81 games for the Waterloo Blackhawks of the United State Hockey League (USHL) from 2007-2009, recording nine goals and 20 assists.  He also played for the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) where he suited up in 71 games scoring 15 points (11 goals, 4 assists) from 2006-08. He was also a member of Team USA that won the silver medal during the 2006 Ivan Hlinka Under-18 Memorial Tournament in Breclav, Czech Republic.
 
His coaching experience includes spending the last seven years as a head instructor at the Chicago Blackhawks Youth Hockey Camps and he worked camps by Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings in July 2015 in Kazan and Yekaterinburg, Russia. He also spent three months as a production spotter for NBC Sports where he assisted with game day production operations during the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 
 
A native of Long Grove, Illinois, Olczyk earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from UMass-Amherst in 2013 and is pursuing a master's degree in education from Utica. 

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