Maco Balkovec - Ice Hockey Coach - Bowling Green State University Athletics

Robert Morris

Oct 4 (Sat)

6:07 p.m.

Maco Balkovec

Title:
Assistant Hockey Coach
Email:
mbalko@bgsu.edu
Phone:
419-372-7239

Maco Balkovec was named an Assistant Coach of the Bowling Green Falcon Hockey program prior to the fall of 2019. Balkovec came to Bowling Green after spending the previous five seasons as the Academy Director and Head Hockey Coach of Burnaby Winter Club in Vancouver, British Columbia.

"The Bowling Green Hockey family is thrilled to add Maco Balkovec and his family to our family," said Coach Eigner. "Maco is a proven recruiter and has done a great job building BWC into one of the elite prep programs in Western Canada."

"My family and I couldn't be more excited for this opportunity," said Coach Balkovec. "It's always been a goal of mine to coach college hockey. To be able to join high character people like Ty Eigner and Curtis Carr make this opportunity even better. The culture that Ty has helped build at Bowling Green is everything we believe in and we cannot wait to be a part of the community."

During the 2020-21 season, Balkovec aided the Falcons to capturing yet another 20-win season for the program with a 20-10-1 record, being the seventh consecutive 20-win season, the second longest streak in program history. The Falcons also broke the program record most consecutive road wins with 12 dating back to the 2019-20 season. The season also saw the Falcons ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation.

In his first season with the Falcons, Balkovec helped Bowling Green to a 21-13-4 record, marking the team's sixth consecutive 20-win season, tied for the second longest streak in program history. The Falcons advanced past the first round of the playoffs, marking the 10th consecutive sesaon the Orange and Brown won a best-of-three series, but the season was cut short there due to the coronavirus outbreak. At the time the season ended, the Falcons concluded the season as the hottest team in the nation, riding a 10-game unbeaten streak as well as a six-game win streak. The Falcons also led the nation in power play goals on the season, netting 45 scores with the man advantage.

As Director of Hockey at the premier minor hockey program in Canada, Balkovec helped redesign the focus of the BWC. He implemented a new development system based on small area games, focused on power skating, stick handling skills, and goalie specific training. He helped lead retainment and recruitment of all membership, building a culture of excellence and inclusion. His tireless work ethic, welcoming presence, constant availability, and unending passion to keep BWC moving forward was a driving force in the success of the BWC.

This past season was one of the most successful seasons at BWC with four Atom teams all qualifying for the PCAHA Final Fours, four PeeWee teams playing for Provincial titles, two Academy teams winning their respective regular season titles, and two Academy teams playing for championships. Balkovec mentored, led, and modeled best coaching practices for all teams.

At the BWC, Balkovec also oversaw operation of the Midget Prep, Elite 15, Bantam Prep, and Bantam Varsity programs. He helped build the Academy into one of the top programs in Canada. The focus at the Academy was the same as with the Minor Hockey Association: focus on building great people first, and hockey players second.

As a result of this the Academy saw tremendous success in the previous four years. Coach Balkovec twice led the program to the league championship in consecutive seasons. Under his guidance the BWC has 28 alumni currently playing for BCHL teams this season including 26 with full NCAA Division 1 offers, the Midget Prep team is top 10 in Canada becoming league champions in 2019, the Elite 15 team is top 10 in Canada also becoming league champions in 2019, its Bantam Prep team is top 10 in Canada, and its Bantam Varsity played for the league championship. The BWC Academy also has had the top student-athlete for four consecutive seasons and the inaugural winner of the Humanitarian of the Year award.

Prior to the BWC, Balkovec spent almost twenty years in the United States where he coached high school hockey programs at Whitefish Bay and Homestead in the Milwaukee area. He was voted Coach of the Year by the Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Associations in 2012-13, as well as Coach of the Year by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, after successfully rejuvenating the Whitefish Bay program, and taking the team to its first state appearance and sectional championship.

Balcovec was born in New Westminster, British Columbia and played his minor hockey in Port Moody and Burnaby Minor before moving on to the BCJHL with the Cowichan Warriors and the Merritt Centennials. He earned a full scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, where he played for four years.

Balkovec was selected in the fifth round of the 1991 NHL Entry draft, No. 110 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks, and played three years in the ECHL before finishing his pro playing career with Grefrath EG in Germany in 1996-97.

Balkovec is joined by his wife, Lori, their daughter Brennen and son Cole.