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MATT BARTKOWSKI SEASON IN REVIEW

MATT BARTKOWSKI: SEASON IN REVIEW

Jun 16, 2023

The Rochester Americans originally signed defenseman Matt Bartkowski to a professional tryout on October 29, 2022. After his ten games of the PTO were up, he was signed to a one-year contract and appeared in 65 regular season games and 14 Calder Cup Playoff games for the Amerks.

When originally asked about Matt Bartkowski, Amerks head coach Seth Appert called him simply "a dude." And that dude became such an important part of the Rochester squad on the ice and in the locker room. 

"I couldn't be more proud of the group," he said in his end-of-season interview. "It's kind of something you that you don't get to see a lot, but you can feel it in the locker room: the way everybody cares and plays for each other and just loves each other. It shows on the ice."

"I hope that the young guys understand how special it was what we had this year. It's something you don't see very often."

And Bartkowski has been around for awhile. On December 7, 2022, he played in his 700th professional game. He has played with six different organizations throughout his career, both in the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League.

"I have no idea why," he continued, "but everybody wants to do better for each other. It's just something that clicks, and you can't really describe it."

Bartkowski was part of a strong defensive core that really clicked this season. "We had Larry and Prowser, Davo and Cheeks, and me with whatever righty," he laughed. But seriously: "We had a solid freakin' D core." He explained that they found so much chemistry by playing together for so long.

And while Bartkowski wasn't an offensive defenseman, he led the team with two short-handed goals during the regular season... both of which came in the final week of the season.

His first short-handed goal was in Utica, sealing a huge Amerks victory over the Comets on April 8. The way the bench reacted to his goal, which was barely on the penalty kill says everything about who Bartkowski is.

His second short-handed goal, also while time on the penalty kill was running out, came in Cleveland, during the final game of the regular season. It ended up being the game-winning goal, securing the Amerks a first-round bye.

Bartkowski was a steadying presence on the blue line and on the penalty kill, and was always ready to stand up for a teammate with a big hit or a fight. "It's an easy group to be a part of," he said. 

"I'm so proud of this group, it's unbelievable."

IN THE PLAYOFFS

Matt Bartkowski added two goals in 14 games of the Calder Cup Playoffs this season, and he scored them in back-to-back games. The first came with 24 seconds left in the Amerks' sweep over the Toronto Marlies, sealing the win for the rowdy home crowd.

He scored his second against the Bears, adding to the Amerks lead over the Bears in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He scored off assists from Jiri Kulich and Linus Weissbach, adding to a big win in Hershey.

OFF THE ICE

While Bart, as he was affectionately known, was an incredible presence on the ice, he might have added even more to the squad off of it. He was an engaged member of the community, and he was quick to speak up when the team needed words of advice.

He was a source of comic relief, when needed, too. He was a loud and boisterous presence during pregame soccer every night. He gave rookie Isak Rosen the same advice in the hallway before each game: "shoot the [redacted] puck." He took to calling for Lukas Rousek to take the ice. He was always the final fist bump.

And he might've been the guy most excited to celebrate the North Division Championship.

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