Friday, September 2, 2016

Michigan Alum Battles ALS

NHL.com profiles Scott Matzka, former NCAA champion fighting Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Michigan Alum Battles ALS
Scott Matzka assisted on the NCAA championship overtime goal as a freshman in 1998.

Less than two decades removed from winning the NCAA championship with Michigan in 1998, former Wolverine assistant captain Scott Matzka finds himself fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

NHL.com’s Nick Cotsonika took an in depth look at Matzka’s battle and his road ahead:

For a long time, Matzka hesitated to talk about any of this, if only because every time he did, he ruined someone’s day. But now, with a positive attitude, he’s sharing his story to raise money for his medical care, to raise awareness of the disease and money for research, and to help healthy people appreciate what they have.

“I wish I could just live my life in Kalamazoo and … not have to get out and do this,” he said Wednesday in a coffee shop not far from where he played in college. “But I feel like I’ve been given a real opportunity that if I didn’t grab it, I’d feel like, man, I would …

“I would regret …

“I would regret that forever.”

Matzka, 38 and a father of two, started “My Turn” to help raise money and awareness. He will drop the puck at Yost Ice Arena before Michigan’s game against Union on Oct. 8

To donate to the Matzka family and learn more about “My Turn,” visit scottmatzka.com. To donate to the ALS Association, visit alsa.org.