Former Atlanta Gladiators hockey player Ryan Zapolski will likely be in front of the net when the U.S. men's hockey team makes its debut on Wednesday morning.
Zapolski spent less than one year with the Gladiators, who were known as the Gwinnett Gladiators at the time.
The Pennsylvania native was traded to Gwinnett in 2012. He played in 14 games with Gwinnett and went 8-2 in front of the net. He finished his ECHL career with South Carolina before signing to play for Lukko in the Finnish Liiga.
Zapolski is in Russia's KHL. He went into the pre-Olympic tournament leading the league in wins (16-1), save percentage, goals against average and shutouts.
The goalie told NBC Sports he almost retired after struggling professionally in the United States, but his time after Gwinnett helped him breakout and thrive.
“I was almost done,” Zapolski said. “Traveling to six different cities in a season, not really going anywhere. Then I got a chance in South Carolina and took off.”
He was the league's Rookie of the Year, Goaltender of the Year and MVP after his 2012-13 season with South Carolina.
The NHL pulled its athletes from participating in the Olympics. That paved the way for athletes like Zapolski to represent their home country and try and win the U.S. men's hockey team its first Olympic gold medal since 1980.
“Everybody dreams of playing in Olympics, winning the Stanley Cup,” he said. “I didn’t know if I’d be playing hockey at this age still. When you’re bouncing around the minors, your dream shakes a bit."
