Stanley Cup champ is skilled webmaster

Former New Jersey Devils enforcer Krzysztof Oliwa does it all for junior hockey franchise

Webmaster of the Week: July 27-August 2

Name:
Krzysztof Oliwa

Site:
Kalkaska Rhinos

Position:
Owner, general manager, coach, webmaster

Background:
Oliwa, a native of Tychy, Poland, was selected 65th overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. Nicknamed “The Polish Hammer”, Oliwa was a 6-foot-5, 245-pound left wing best known for his willingness to drop his gloves. He spent parts of 10 seasons in the NHL (playing in 410 games) and holds the distinction of being the only Polish-born player to have his name on the Stanley Cup (won with the Devils in 2000). He also played on the 2003-04 Calgary Flames team that lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2004 Stanley Cup Final, and he credits that experience for fueling his continuing desire to stay involved in hockey. Oliwa, who led the Polish Ice Hockey Federation’s national program in the mid-2000s, is in his second year leading the Kalkaska, Michigan-based Rhinos. The Rhinos are a Tier III junior ice hockey team that will play in the United States Premier Hockey League’s Mid-West Division this season.

What he does:
Oliwa has "five or six" video cameras at his disposal, and he uses all of them in creating hundreds (yes, hundreds) of videos. Player interviews, game highlights, off-ice workouts, summer “boot camp” and practice highlights are among the array of videos on the Rhinos’ site. "The first thing I do every morning is upload all the videos and pictures from the previous day," Oliwa said. Oliwa, who has a computer programming background, was involved in the creation of the site’s background design, and he has used most every Sitebuilder page element available in showcasing various forms of content. He has a Countdown Timer set for the Rhinos’ home opener in the upper right corner of the homepage, just above multiple photos and videos showcasing the accomplishments of past and current players.

Making his mark:
Oliwa is immensely proud of his players who have gone on to higher levels (five are headed to college next season), and he showcases them on a Commitments page that features the Media Slider page element. The Media Slider is loaded with custom graphics (created by Oliwa) showing the players and listing the college team they will be playing for next season.