Former Wolverine Scott Matzka Passes Away After Battle with ALS
12/16/2018 3:00:00 PM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team is saddened to hear the passing of Scott Matzka (1998-2001) after his courageous battle with ALS.
"Scott was a great player, tremendous teammate and true champion," says head coach Mel Pearson. "My thoughts and prayers are with the Matzka family during this difficult time."Â
Matzka was a four-year letterwinner at Michigan, where he amassed 91 points. His most productive season coming as a junior with 15 goals and 45 points in 1999-2000. He was a member of the 1998 NCAA national championship team and assisted on the game-winning goal in the national championship game.
Matzka went on to have a 12-year professional career including stints in the AHL, ECHL and in multiple European leagues.
Once learning of his diagnoses with ALS, Matzka made it his mission to raise awareness for ALS with his "My Turn" foundation.
"It is always hard to judge because awareness can't really be measured," said Matzka when speaking to MGoBlue.com's Steve Kornacki this past fall. "My Turn is an awareness campaign. We've raised money for several organizations and partnered with the Susan Mast ALS Foundation (in Grand Rapids, Michigan) to start the My Turn Project Fund to help others with ALS in western Michigan with construction projects. In my mind, we've been very successful educating and informing people about ALS and raised significant funds to help with my care."
Matzka is survived by wife Catie, daughter Reese (9) and son Owen (6).
