Olie Kolzig blames love of game as his reason to return to Washington Capitals –NHL offseason Update
After his retirement in 2009, Olie Kolzig announced that he will be making a comeback as Washington Capitals' associate goalie coach.
Regarded as one of the best goaltenders of all time, Kolzig made a disturbing exit, but now wants to comebback, blaming it all on the love for the game.
Leaving the National Hockey League (NHL), Kolzig went on to the American Hockey League (AHL) and coached the Tri-City Americans, a team which he also co-owns.
“This is new for me, and it is going to be a learning experience, but having Dave Prior there guiding me -- I don’t know if there’s a better person to do that for me", Kolzig said. "It is real exciting. I took two years off from hockey, so to speak -- I worked with the junior kids back in Tri-Cities -- but just to be back with the organization at the NHL level and be with Dave Prior and watching the young kids and getting his take on things -- I’m really excited. I can’t wait for training camp and actually getting to be able to work with the kids on the ice and see the progress they make".
Kolzig played 17 seasons in the NHL, 16 of them with Washington Capitals and after a series of misunderstandings, he left and joined Tampa Bay Lightning, which led to his retirement before even finishing the season and playing only eight matchups with the team.
Without a doubt, Kolzig, now 41, was the most popular goaltender in Washington’s history for his articulate playing style which had fans adore him, match after match.
He led the Eastern Conference franchise to their only Stanley Cup Finals' appearance in 1998 and was awarded the Vezina Trophy for the best goalie during the season and playoffs.
Even if he is not going to be participating in the game of hockey by playing on the ice, fans are still likely to chant his name when they see him performing behind the benches.
With a record of playing 719 NHL games, Kolzig is more than enough qualified to handle new comers on a Stanley Cup desperate team.
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