Tom Osiecki plaque

Hi there,

My name is Pete Heunisch and we are trying to raise the funds to build and place a plaque at the Burnsville Ice Center of our Burnsville High School hockey coach Tom Osiecki.

Tom Osiecki, a St. Paul native, received his high school diploma from St. Agnes and his BS and MA degrees from the University of St. Thomas.

Since 1964, he has been involved with teaching and/or coaching some form of ice hockey. He coached at St. Agnes from 1964-1966 and at Burnsville high school where he founded the program in 1966 till 1990. Tom scouted for the Minnesota North Stars and Dallas Stars from 1990-1995. He returned to coaching, this time with the girl's program at Burnsville in 1996. He left to help start the University of Wsconsin-Madison's hockey program in 1999 and served as head coach of the St. Olaf women's hockey team following his stint in Wisconsin.

Osiecki's teams won championships in the Central Catholic, Missota, Southern Minnesota, and Lake Conferences. While at Burnsville, his teams won two State Championships in 1985 and 1986 and were runner-up in 1983 and 1987. They won 5 consecutive Section Championships from 1983-1987 and won again in 1990.

His team's successes have led to a number of coaching honors, such as 3-time Section Coach of the Year, 1985 Coach of the Year, and being inducted into the Coach's Hall of Fame in 1995. Tom also served as President of the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association in the late 1980's.

Besides coaching hockey, Tom has also coached football, baseball and girl's badminton to 4 State Championships.

Tom said it has been gratifying to have worked with a great group of athletes, assistant coaches, and played against a tremendous group of opposing coaches. He is especially proud of starting the hockey programs at Burnsville, Wisconsin-Madison (Women) and St. Olaf (Women).

In the state of hockey (Minnesota) our beloved Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament (Boys and Girls) is one of the largest high school events in the country. However hockey in the city of Burnsville is not what it used to be. We would like to remember Tom as the Father of Burnsville Hockey and we cannot think of a better way. There is a celebration this February marking the 50 year anniversary of the Burnsville Ice Arena and we are hoping to have the statue unveiled at that time.

Thanks for your support!!

Pete Heunisch and all of the other student athletes that were coached by Tom