BARTKOWSKI FITS IDENTITY OF AMERKS TEAM
Jan 3, 2023By Suzie Cool
Last week the Rochester Americans inked veteran blue liner Matt Bartkowski to an American Hockey League contract for the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign.
“I think pretty well,” started Bartkowski when asked how he feels he settled into the city that embraced him in late Ocotber. “I love the city. There’s a lot of good places to eat. The team's great so that that helps a lot. They’re good guys and there’s camaraderie and everything like that and it helps a ton. So, I mean, I love it here.”
The team, and coaching staff, feel the same way about Bartkowski as he does the city and organization.
“We love him,” Amerks head coach Seth Appert explained when discussing the signing of Bartkowski last week. “He fits who we are as a team, the identity that we want to have, how we want to play. He's been a great presence for our younger guys.”
Bartkowski joined the Amerks on a professional tryout (PTO) on Oct. 29 and has since recorded five points on a goal and four assists while registering a plus-five on-ice rating in 20 games with Rochester. The veteran blueliner appeared in his 700th professional game on Dec. 7 against the Syracuse Crunch.
Prior to coming to Rochester, though, it was the first time in 13 seasons that Bartkowski wasn’t signed to a team to start the year, however, the veteran blue liner got through the uncertainty by keeping in the back of his mind that everything would eventually fall into place.
“They're going to creep in, but just you just focus on why you play this game and why you love this game.” Bartkowski then finished with, “Keep that in the back of your mind and just know that something is going to happen and to just be prepared for it, but it all goes back to just loving the game and having fun.”
For Bartkowski to love Rochester as much as he does is incredible considering the resume he’s put up over his 13 combined seasons in the AHL and National Hockey League.
As a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., Bartkowski has totaled 145 points on 25 goals and 120 assists in 451 career AHL games with the Providence Bruins, Iowa Wild, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Rochester while also adding 48 points on eight goals and 40 assists over 256 NHL contests with the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Minnesota Wild, winning his only Stanley Cup with Bruins in 2011.
Prior to turning pro, the defenseman played two years at Ohio State University from 2008-2010, where he totaled 38 points on 11 goals and 27 assists while racking up 145 penalty minutes in 80 games with the Buckeyes. Bartkowski was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team following his freshman season, when he totaled five goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 41 contests.
So, not only does Bartkowski bring a ton of knowledge and experience to the game, but he adds a presence unlike any other on a very young Amerks roster.
“Bart, like I said the first couple of days, he’s kind of like a cowboy,” laughed Appert when asked what he’s liked about getting to coach Bartkowski this season. “I love his presence. We don’t have an old team, we’re really young. So, to have an older guy that has that presence and that attitude around is very good. He’s (Bartkowski) embraced being here. He’s embraced being an Amerk. He’s embraced how young our team is.”
While Bartkowski faced a time of uncertainty at the beginning of the season, the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign is now clear. The 13-year pro is here to stay in the Flower City and he couldn’t have landed in a better spot.
“It's like an uncertain time and I've done it before and it's not very fun,” commented Bartkowski when asked how happy he was to land in Rochester of all places. “To be able to come to something like this where, you know, every everybody's a good guy, the team's very good and having that every day that I come to the rink, it's awesome.”