20 years of memories

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat "I'm a little crazy, It's a lot harder to get a hockey team going in the middle of virtually nowhere than it would be in Illinois or Michigan." Leo Golembiewski Icecats head coach

But the one moment in his life that truly stands out had nothing to do with hockey.

"It has to be when I got Paula," Golembiewski said, referring to his wife of many years. "She's been behind me all the time, 21 years to be exact. Lord knows how that happened."

Golembiewski, or Coach G, as he's referred to by his players, has been a part of Tucson for 20 years.

"Coach Golembiewski is Arizona hockey," Icecats junior goalie and Tucson native Mike Tesi said. "He's the founder of this incredible phenomenon of hockey in the desert."

Starting a hockey program so far from where the sport established itself has led Golembiewski to develop a bit of a skewed opinion of himself.

"I'm a little crazy," he said. "It's a lot harder to get a hockey team going in the middle of virtually nowhere than it would be in Illinois or Michigan."

But Golembiewski did manage to establish his program, and has seen it grow into one of the powers in the American Collegiate Hockey Association, with 17 consecutive trips to the postseason, nine final four appearances and a national title in 1985.

"We were down 3-0 to Penn State in the championship game at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.," Golembiewski said. "That year, we had eight or nine guys on the team from Illinois. I know it was especially important for them. And you know what? We scored five straight and won the sucker."

Golembiewski's successful career helped get him inducted into the Benedictine University Hall of Fame. The small college in Lisle, Ill., where Golembiewski was a goaltender many years ago, retired his No. 1 jersey in honor of the stocky goalie.

"Being one of the charter members of the Benedictine hall of fame was a highlight in my life," Golembiewski said. "To be honored by my own, that was just an unbelievable feeling."

Golembiewski has also been honored in his adopted home of Tucson, named to the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame. The former history teacher at Salpointe Catholic High School had his name inducted alongside former UA coaching legend John "Pop" McKale.

This year Golembiewski again has his Icecats poised for the postseason, ranked No. 4 in the country with a 20-3-2 record, a long way from where the Icecats program was back in 1979

"We didn't play a home game for over two years," he said. "There were seasons where the closest to home we could play was the Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe."

The drive from Tucson to Tempe has become a way for Golembiewski to see how much the state has changed in the time he has been coaching here.

"There was nothing from the Circle-K on Ina to Casa Grande," he said. "The growth of

Arizona, especially in the past 10 years, has been sublime."

The long years in Arizona have not always been kind, as Golembiewski said he and his wife have spent time doing everything from landscaping to painting houses just to make ends meet.

Golembiewski calls himself "old as dirt" from all the time and hard work he has put into the Icecats program.

The hard work hasn't come without rewards, though, as his mentor, Detroit Red Wings head coach Scotty Bowman came out to honor Golembiewski on the occasion of his 300th victory.

Though no celebrities were on hand for Golembiewski's 400th win at Marquette Jan. 31, he said he was honored to have Tesi in goal that night.

"Mike has been an integral part of this program for most of the decade," Golembiewski said. "When he was 11, he was a stickboy for the Icecats and a great kid. I was honored."

Tesi had similar feelings after the game.

"I was in awe," he said. "I was this kid hanging out with all these big college guys. I kinda felt the same way my first year with the Icecats, but coach really helped me develop."

Tesi is one of the few who was on hand for both the 300th and 400th wins.

"Win 300 was unbelievable," Tesi said. "Scotty Bowman was there, it was awesome. The look in his (Golembiewski's) eye was all I needed to see. It was such an accomplishment."

Icecats PA announcer John Dadante has also been with Golembiewski through the big wins.

"I was there for 300 and 400 was equally as impressive," Dadante said. "He's only 100 wins away from 500. If anyone's deserving of that great honor, it's Coach Golembiewski."

But as proud as everyone is about him, Golembiewski reserves his praise for the people in the stands.

"I'm most proud of the fans," he said. "Our fan base is spectacular. You see families with kids up there, you see college kids, high school kids, senior citizens... it's awesome."

20 years after coming to the desert, UA alum Golembiewski said he has no plans to leave anytime soon, or to stop cheering for the other Wildcat teams.

"My wife and I are died-in-the-wool Wildcats," he said. "We've had a fantastic love affair with the city of Tucson."

Ryan Finley can be reached at Ryan.Finley@wildcat.arizona.edu.