Wisconsin Hockey Wall of Fame

Jim Rolbiecki

 

Rolbiecki began his hockey career at age five in Winona, Minnesota and played through high school. He started his teaching career in the mid 1960s when he moved to Chippewa Falls, where he also played senior hockey for the Eau Claire Rockets until 1972. That year, he started a team from the local technical school where he taught.

Rolbiecki was instrumental in the development of the Pinehurst hockey rink in Eau Claire and the Hallie hockey rink that he built in his garage. He coached a number of teams from squirts to juveniles during this period. He also operated the Hallie Hockey Shop in his basement to service the hockey needs of the Chippewa Valley.

In 1982, Jim opened the Riverside Bike and Skate Sporting Goods in Eau Claire that his son Pat operates to this day. As Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire added indoor artificial ice facilities to their communities, Rolbiecki was involved along the way. Rolbiecki loved the game of ice hockey and supported it as a player, coach, and business owner.

At age 63, in 2003, Rolbiecki passed away from heart and respiratory illness.