John Matchefts facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 18, 1931 Eveleth, Minnesota |
| Died | November 10, 2013 (aged 82) Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Playing career | |
| 1950–1953 | Michigan |
| 1955–1956 | US National Team |
| Position(s) | Center |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1966–1971 | Colorado College |
| 1972–1974 | Air Force (assistant) |
| 1974–1985 | Air Force |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 208–238–9 (.467) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1951 NCAA National Champion 1952 NCAA national champion 1953 NCAA national champion |
|
| Awards | |
| 1953 Tournament Most Outstanding Player 1991 US Hockey Hall of Fame 2015 University of Michigan Hall of Fame |
|
John Peter Matchefts (born June 18, 1931 – died November 10, 2013) was an American ice hockey player and coach. He was known for his amazing skills on the ice and for leading teams as a coach. Matchefts even played for Team USA in the 1956 Winter Olympics.
Playing Ice Hockey
Johnny Matchefts grew up in Eveleth, Minnesota, where he became a star ice hockey player for his high school team. He was so good that he made the all-tournament team three times in a row! He helped Eveleth High School win state championships in his junior and senior years.
After high school, Matchefts went to the University of Michigan. He joined their powerful hockey team, which was coached by Vic Heyliger. After a year of practice, Matchefts joined the main team. They won the school's second national championship in 1951.
The next year, Michigan joined a new league called the MCHL. They kept winning, earning another 22 victories and their second national title in a row. For his final year, Matchefts was chosen as the team captain. Even though they won fewer games that season, Michigan still made it to the NCAA tournament. They won the championship for the third year in a row! This was the only time in the tournament's history that a team won three championships back-to-back. Matchefts became one of the very few players in any sport to win three NCAA championships.
After college, Matchefts played for the US National Team. He competed in the 1955 World Ice Hockey Championships and then the 1956 Olympics. At the Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, he helped Team USA win a silver medal before he stopped playing professionally.
Coaching Ice Hockey
After his playing career, Johnny Matchefts returned to Minnesota. He spent over ten years coaching high school hockey teams, including his old school in Eveleth and Thief River Falls High School.
Later, he got a big chance to coach at Colorado College, taking over from famous coach Bob Johnson. After a good first year, his team had some tough seasons. He left Colorado College after the 1970–71 season.
A year later, Matchefts joined his former college coach, Vic Heyliger, at The Air Force Academy as an assistant coach. In 1974–75, he became the head coach. For the next 11 years, Matchefts led the Air Force team. He helped them become a strong team in Division I hockey before he retired in 1984–85.
Johnny Matchefts passed away on November 10, 2013, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he had spent many years coaching.
Awards and Honors
Johnny Matchefts received many awards for his amazing career in ice hockey:
| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's Ice hockey | ||
Representing  United States |
||
| Silver | 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo | Ice hockey |
- In October 1991, he was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as a player.
- In September 2015, he was inducted into the University of Michigan Hall of Honor.
- He was named to the All-NCAA All-Tournament First Team in 1951 and 1953.
- He was also named to the All-MCHL Second Team in the 1952–53 season.
