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Princeton University Athletics
Spaceman
January 08, 2002 | Men's Ice Hockey
Ryan Kraliz is a man of many talents. The Princeton Tigers forward makes the most of his opportunity to contribute on the ice, but his work off the ice is perhaps more challenging than facing an ECAC opponent. Kraliz is a mechanical and aerospace engineering major. It is a difficult yet rewarding field of study that offers a wide variety of opportunities after graduation.
"The best people in the field get to work for NASA or the U.S. military," says Kraliz. "That's where the exciting projects are, and that's where I'd like to work one day. I just always thought planes were cool and space was cool."
Kraliz is one of several athletes at Princeton that is able to balance his time between engineering and athletics.
"You'd be surprised how many engineers are not just engineers here," Kraliz says. "The misconception is that we're all buried in the library. In our class alone there are lacrosse, soccer and football players, along with track and field athletes." Kraliz had been a part of several interesting projects at Princeton and has built an electric generator with five other students. They made it by stripping down a motorcycle and weed whacker motor.
"It's a pure engineering exercise," says Kraliz. "Those projects are a ton of fun. Some of it seems very simple, but it just takes a lot of work. When you put in that work and get the finished project, it's very gratifying."
Before Kraliz can build flights for the future, he plans on contributing on the ice. A part-time player during his four years at Princeton, he is ready to play when called upon and proved it his sophomore year.
Inserted into the lineup during a pair of games at Bemidji State in 1999-00, Kraliz notched his only two career goals and was named to the weekly ECAC honor roll.
He has played in six of the Tigers' 13 games this winter. Kraliz doesn't always get a chance to contribute on the ice, but he isn't about to turn in his jersey while he continues to build his future away from hockey.
"I do have a great deal of confidence in my [hockey] ability," Kraliz says. "If I felt that I wasn't good enough to play college hockey on a consistent basis, I wouldn't be doing it."
Prior to attending Princeton, Kraliz was the 1997-98 Ontario junior B league player of the year after scoring 121 points (44 goals, 77 assists) in 60 games. The previous year he was the team's rookie of the year after recording 71 points (29g, 42a) in 54 games.
"I won't set anyone's house on fire, but I'm good enough to play at this level. If the call to play comes, I try to make the most of it."
The Welland, Ont., native was the E.L. Crossley High School MVP in hockey, basketball and golf and also played soccer and volleyball.
Kraliz serves as a leader for the Tigers even when he isn't on the ice. The senior helps keep his younger teammates focused in the weight room and the classroom. When the call comes to suit up for the Tigers, Ryan Kraliz will be ready. When the season comes to an end, Kraliz will hang up his skates and likely head to graduate school as he continues to look at the enormous amount of options that will await him.
- by Ed Benkin