Olympics

Erie native Ryan Zapolski's parents talk about how his hockey dreams started

Ryan Zapolski, of Erie, is in the goal and wants to keep his Olympic dreams alive.

His parents say not much has changed since he moved out 13 years ago.

“This is his first, his very first youth hockey jersey,” said Ray Zapolski, Ryan’s father.

That's was when he was 7.

The walls in his old bedroom in his parents’ home in Erie are covered with hockey medals, awards and jerseys.

The floor is likewise covered with old skates and pads.

“He had his sights on something higher a long time ago,” said

As a kid, Ryan Zapolski started out as a forward,but he wasn't getting selected for travel teams like his friends were.

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“There was another travel team tryout. I remember specifically being at work and getting the phone call from her, crying because Ryan insisted on going to travel tryouts as a goaltender,” said Ray Zapolski.

It worked.

He not only made that team, but many others, and played division 1 hockey at Mercyhurst University, then the East Coast Hockey League.

Now, he's the starting goalie on the Team USA men’s hockey team in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Ryan currently plays professional hockey in Finland, in the highly regarded Kontinental Hockey League, but in representing the U.S. and his hometown in the Olympics, his parents can think of no greater honor for an athlete.

“Erie will be behind that, for sure, and it's a hockey town, a working-class town that really appreciates someone that gets somewhere because of the work they put into it,” said Ray Zapolski.

“It's not even about winning or losing. He's still an Olympian in the end,” said Ryan’s mother, Susan Zapolski.

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