UConn Alumnus Krygier fashioned 10-year NHL career

This story first appeared on the USA Hockey website.  To view the orginal story by Roman Uschak click here.

By Roman J. Uschak
Special to usahockey.com

Todd Krygier played almost an entire decade in the National Hockey League after starring in college, so you have to figure he came from a big-name school.

Krygier did indeed play for a big-time school; but the University of Connecticut is known more for basketball and football than hockey, even though the Huskies have been skating since the 1960s. UConn wasn't even an NCAA Division I program when Krygier did most of his damage against Division II and III opponents such as Bowdoin, Colby and Salem State en route to collecting 99 goals and 200 points from 1984 to 1988. He stills ranks second in school history in total points, and his scoring prowess combined with his great speed was enough to make the pros take notice.

"During my last year, the scouts were looking at me and coming to my games," he recalled. "I just wanted to keep playing."

An Illinois native who grew up in Michigan, Krygier was selected by the then-Hartford Whalers in the now-defunct NHL Supplemental Draft in 1988, and then spent a year-and-a-half in the minors before being called up.

"I made the Whalers in camp, but was sent back to work on a few things," said Krygier. "I didn't want to go down again, and the next time I was called up, I stayed nine years."

He also went on to play with Anaheim and Washington, and ultimately notched 100 goals and 243 points in 543 career NHL outings. He concluded his NHL career by helping the Capitals to the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals.

"That's still a career highlight," he said. "You dream as a kid of having that opportunity."

The Caps fell to eventual two-time champion Detroit, not far from Northville, Mich., where Krygier now resides with his wife, Kim, and their five children, and runs his own State Farm auto insurance agency.

"Hockey is something NHL players have done their whole life, and don't really understand life after hockey until it is over," he explained. "I have a far greater appreciation for the game and the accomplishments now than I ever did when I was living them."

Krygier skated two seasons with the old International Hockey League's Orlando Solar Bears before retiring, helping them to a Turner Cup Finals berth in his final campaign.

"That was a great experience," said Krygier of his tenure in Florida. "I became a better person. I learned a lot of life lessons, and met some great friends I still have now."

Krygier, who now coaches the Novi High School boys' hockey team and has also mentored his three sons in youth hockey, also played in three World Championships during his professional days, two in Finland and one in Prague.

"The best finish was in Finland in 1991, we finished fourth and helped set up the U.S. Olympic team in the top pool," he recollected of those days, when amateurs still represented the U.S. in Olympic hockey.

"I got to play with some great players who I always respected and admired," admitted Krygier. "It was a thrill and a privilege to represent the USA playing hockey, and I never dreamed of having that opportunity."

He also keeps tabs on his alma mater, and was in attendance last year at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor when UConn visited perennial national powerhouse Michigan. The Huskies dropped a tough 7-5 decision in a contest that ended on an empty-net goal by the host Wolverines.

"It was a dream when they played there," said Krygier. "I don't know if I've had a prouder moment."