John Matchefts

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United StatesUnited States  John Matchefts Ice hockey player
Date of birth June 18, 1931
place of birth Eveleth , Minnesota , USA
date of death November 10, 2013
Place of death Colorado Springs
position center
Career stations
1951-1953 University of Michigan
1954-1956 USA hockey

John Peter "Johnny" Matchefts (born June 18, 1931 in Eveleth , Minnesota , † November 10, 2013 in Colorado Springs ) was an American ice hockey player and coach . He won the silver medal with the US national team at the 1956 Winter Olympics and is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame .

Matchefts played on the hockey team at Eveleth High School , where he was one of the outstanding players and won three state championships with his team in a row. At the age of 16, he was shortlisted for the US team for the 1948 Olympic Games . After graduating from high school, he went to the University of Michigan . There he won the NCAA championship three times with the Wolverines . In 1951 and 1953 he was elected to the All-American First Team at the final tournament (Frozen Four) , and in 1953 he was also the tournament's MVP . In his college career he scored a total of 57 goals and gave 74 assists. He then served in the Marines . Meanwhile, he took part with the US national team at the 1955 World Cup and the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo . In winning the silver medal, he scored two goals and three assists in seven games. He began working as a coach at various high schools in Minnesota. In 1966 he became the coach of the Colorado College ice hockey team . After disputes about his salary, he left the team and became an assistant coach at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in 1972 . Two years later he succeeded Vic Heyliger as the team's new head coach. Until his resignation in 1985, he had a record of 154-150-6 games in eleven seasons.

Matchefts was married and has a daughter.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ John P. Matchefts, Obituary , accessed November 24, 2013
personal data
SURNAME Matches, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Matches, John Peter
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American ice hockey player and coach
DATE OF BIRTH June 18, 1931
PLACE OF BIRTH Eveleth , Minnesota
DATE OF DEATH November 10, 2013
Place of death Colorado Springs , Colorado