A player on the inaugural roster of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in 1997, John Wroblewski returned to the NTDP to serve as a head coach last season (2016-17) and will guide the U.S. National Under-17 Team in 2017-18.
In his first season, he led the NTDP Under-18 Team to a 43-20-3 record, which ended with a 13-game winning streak. From the New Year on, the U18's had a 27-3 (.900) record, which was the best second-half winning percentage of any team in NTDP history.
He also led the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team to a gold medal with a perfect 6-1-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record at the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Men's World Championship.
On October 22, he led the U18s to its first collegiate win of the season in a 2-1 victory against the University of Minnesota Duluth, the No. 2 team in the country at the time, who eventually appeared in the NCAA Championship Game.
Prior to being named a head coach at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, Wroblewski served as head coach of the United States Hockey League’s Youngstown Phantoms (2015-16).
Before his time with Youngstown, Wroblewski was an assistant coach with the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans for two seasons (2013-15) and head coach of the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators for two seasons (2011-13). During his stint with the Gladiators, Wroblewski helped lead the team to two Southeast Division titles, recorded the Eastern Division’s best winning percentage over two years and was co-recipient of the 2011-12 Coach of the Year Award.
Prior to his success with Gwinnett, Wroblewski spent one season as an assistant coach for the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers (2010-11). There, he helped take the team to the Eastern Conference Finals; the squad’s best postseason finish in 12 years.
The Neenah, Wisconsin, native began his coaching career as an intern assistant coach for the U.S. National Under-18 Team (2007-08) as part of the NTDP. The following year, Wroblewski was promoted to a full-time assistant coach, a position he would hold for two seasons (2008-10). In 2010, Wroblewski earned a gold medal as Team USA claimed first place at the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Men’s World Championship in Minsk, Belarus.
Wroblewski skated with the NTDP for two seasons (1997-99) before suiting up for the University of Notre Dame. A four-year letterwinner with the Fighting Irish (1999-2003), Wroblewski, served as alternate captain during his senior year and was the winner of the Notre Dame Monogram Club’s Most Valuable Player Award. He was also recognized as the Irish nominee for the college hockey Humanitarian Award and the CCHA’s Mike and Marian Ilitch Community Service Award. Wroblewski graduated with a degree in finance from Notre Dame.
Wroblewski also skated four years professionally, spending time with the ECHL’s Fresno Falcons from 2003-07. The forward served as assistant captain of the team twice (2004-05 and 2006-07) and recorded 125 points (65-60) in 273 career games.