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Former AFA, CC hockey coach Matchefts honored
Comments 0 | Recommend 0Former Air Force and Colorado College ice hockey coach John Matchefts received the prestigious John “Snooks” Kelley Founders Award on Wednesday during a ceremony at Falcon Stadium on the academy campus.
The award honors coaches who have contributed to the overall growth and development of the sport of ice hockey in the United States.
Matchefts, 75, headed Colorado College from 1966 to 1971, was an assistant at Air Force from 1972 to 1974 and the Falcons’ coach from 1974 to 1985.
As a player, Matchefts won a silver medal with the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team in 1956, three national championships with the University of Michigan and three state championships at Eveleth High in Minnesota.
“Johnny is a legend, to say the least,” said Jim Bowman, Air Force associate athletic director for recruiting support, who was Matchefts’ fraternity brother at Michigan.
“We were very lucky to have him at the Air Force Academy.”
Matchefts was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.
