Mikesch, Schmaltz, and Olofsson Represent their Countries on the Ice

In hockey there are many different honors and rewards a player and/or coach can receive throughout his career, but there is nothing like the honor of being selected to represent your country.

Green Bay Gamblers Associate Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Pat Mikesch (USA) and second year forwards Nick Schmaltz (USA) and Fredrik Olofsson (Sweden) were chosen to represent their countries most recently this summer.

Pat Mikesch, who is in his third season of coaching with the Gamblers, has represented Team USA three years in a row (2011, 2012, and 2013) at the Five Nations Cup. In 2011 and 2012 Mikesch served as assistant coach before getting the honor to be the head coach in 2013. In all three tournaments that Mikesch was on the Team USA coaching staff they went on to win three gold medals while going 15-0 during their runs.

Mikesch also represented Team USA as a player in 1993 in the World Junior Championships and twice on the Senior National Team.

Through all of his experiences Mikesch takes great honor in representing his country.

“Any time you get to wear the colors it’s a privilege,” said Mikesch. “I was fortunate enough as a player to do it three times and now as a coach three times.”

Mikesch continued to say how much of an honor it was and being a part of winning teams made it that much better.

“It’s a great honor, it doesn’t matter where you’re coaching it’s always great to be there and be a part of something special. Anytime you get the opportunity to represent the US it’s that much more special,” said Mikesch.

While Mikesch has had great success while coaching Team USA he recognizes that it is different bringing 20 different players together from around the country to reach one common goal so he and his staff have let each player’s talent speak for itself.

“We’re not going to change the player’s style in a short amount of time so we have been successful because we have picked the most skilled players and we have been able to let them dictate the way we play,” said Mikesch.

Mikesch has been in USA hockey development camps for over 12 years and hopes to stay involved with USA hockey for years to come.

“I hope to be a part of the USA hockey development process for a very long time,” said Mikesch.

Nick Schmaltz, who starred in his first season with the Gamblers playing in 64 games while scoring 18 goals and adding 34 assists, is no stranger to USA hockey as he has been representing USA hockey since his youth days where he played in the Junior Olympics in Austria. Schmaltz has also participated in four USA select development camps from age 14-17.

Most recently Schmaltz was a member of the USA Hockey Under-18 select team that participated in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in Slovakia where they finished runner-up to Team Canada.

Through all of his USA hockey experiences Schmaltz always feels honored to represent his country and put on that USA jersey.

“It’s obviously an honor every time you get to represent your country, not many guys get the chance to do that so you have to take pride every time you throw on the sweater because you never know if you’ll have the chance to do it again,” said Schmaltz.

Playing for Team USA this past summer in the U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, Schmaltz said it was a little different to have to gel together as a team so quickly compared to a normal hockey season.

“It’s tough, other teams are practicing for months, or for example the Russian team has been playing together since they have been 14-years old,” said Schmaltz. “We put together a team, had 3 practices in Washington DC, a couple practices in Slovakia and then an exhibition game and then got into tournament play right away.”

It may have been difficult but Schmaltz said he and his teammates enjoyed playing together.

”I thought we did a good job of coming together, we had a great group of guys and a great coaching staff,” said Schmaltz. “That all helped.”

Schmaltz also talked about how his play fits well into the international game.

“I stuck to my game because my style of play fits right in with the international style, which is playmaking, whereas in the US it is more known for the up-and-down physical play,” said Schmaltz. “My game fit in well with the big ice surface being able to make plays and setup my teammates.”

Playing against all the top players from around the world that have the 1996 birth year has been a big eye opener for Schmaltz.

“It shows how many great players that are out there,” said Schmaltz. “It’s fun to see where you are at against all the top competition.”   

Having been involved with USA hockey since his youth hockey days Schmaltz has developed some strong relationships with guys he has seen at the camps over the years.

“Just growing up over the years I’ve gotten to know a lot of the guys in my birth year and keep in touch with them,” said Schmaltz. “I have a couple of friends that are also going to the University of North Dakota that I have played with on Team USA so I should see them down the road again.”

While Schmaltz has personally competed for Team USA; this winter he will be cheering on Team USA in the 2014 Winter Olympics as they try to capture gold in Sochi, Russia.

“I will be watching the Olympics this winter,” stated Schmaltz. “They should have a pretty good team and I hope they can bring home the gold this winter.”

Fredrik Olofsson, who will be in his first full-season with the Gamblers, also played in the U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup representing Team Sweden.

Olofsson also took great pride in being chosen to wear his country’s color. What made it even more special for Olofsson was the fact that he now lives in the United States and being invited back and making the team in Sweden was great.

“It was a big honor, being from Sweden then moving to the US it was harder to play myself onto the team but it was great to get the opportunity to go back and play for Team Sweden,” said Olofsson. “Definitely a lot of fun.”

Playing back in Sweden Olofsson was able to play with some old friends and teammates.

“There were a couple of guys that I used to go to school with that were on the team so it was fun to play with them again,” said Olofsson.

Olofsson hopes to be back with Team Sweden after enjoying his first experience so much.

“Getting that one shot at it, it makes you even hungrier to get that invite back and work even harder to get there,” stated Olofsson.