TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Former University of Arizona club hockey coach Leo Golembiewski has died at age 73.
Golembiewski was head coach of the Icecats from 1979-2011, bringing the club team to national prominence. The team won a 1985 national title at the club level under his leadership.
Former Arizona IceCats coach Leo Golembiewski has passed away at the age of 73. Pictured below is the first Arizona hockey team in 1979-80. Leo was known as the first head coach (1979-2009) of the IceCats and one of the founding members of the program. pic.twitter.com/nRUj4pZNR3
— UA Wildcat Hockey (@UAWildcatHockey) January 9, 2023
UArizona took over the program in 2011 and changed the team name officially to the Wildcats.
He was still working as the head coach of the University of Arizona Icecat Men's Hockey Club when he was admitted into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame (PCSHF) with the class of 1996.
“Leo’s record as Icecats head coach was 634-217-23,” said President of the PCSHF Pat Darcy. “He turned Tucson into ‘Hockey Town.’”
Golembiewski excelled four years as an All-League and tournament All-Star goalie at St. Procopius, where he earned his undergraduate degree. His teams won 302 games, with 43 losses and 12 ties, giving him 640 lifetime wins.
He also taught history and coached hockey at Lyons Township High School in Illinois.
After moving to Tucson in 1977, "Mr. G." pleaded with the Athletic Department to let him start a hockey program while also teaching American government at Salpointe High School and pursuing his master's degree at the University of Arizona.
It was the third most popular college hockey event, bringing more than 108,000 fans to the Madhouse on Main Street (TCC) each year.
Golembiewski managed the annual Leo Golembiewski Celebrity Golf Classic for MDA while serving as president of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
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Phil Villarreal is the senior real-time editor for KGUN 9. He is also a digital producer and host of "Phil on Film" seen weekly on Good Morning Tucson, Phil moved to KGUN after 17 years with the Arizona Daily Star. He is married and has four children. Share your story ideas and important issues with Phil by emailing phil.villarreal@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
