Viper Alumni Zaba Retires-Named Rampage Goalie Coach:

Former Vernon Vipers goaltender Matt Zaba has retired from professional hockey has been named the new goalie coach for the U18 Colorado Rampage. 

Zaba spent past three the seasons with the Erste Bank Hockey League (EBHL) Vienna Capitals.  The Capitals are an Austrian professional ice hockey club that play in Vienna, Austria.  Zaba left the Capitals last season, retired after rehabbing an injury last season that he didn't think he'd be healthy to start the 2015-16 season, so left the team at the end of the season.

Zaba spent past three the seasons with the Capitals.  After four years at Colorado College Zaba went on to play three seasons in the American Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League & National Hockey League playing with four different teams (Charlotte, Idaho, Hartford & New York Rangers).  Zaba has spent the past five years playing in Austria & Italy with (Vienna & Bolzano HC).  

Zaba played one season in Vernon (2002-03) after coming over in a trade with the Penticton Panthers.  On September 6th 2002 the Panthers traded Zaba to the Vipers for Thomas Veilleux & Nick Binder.  Zaba went 34-9 during the regular season picking up two shutouts and a 2.21 GAA.  Zaba was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings In round 8, 231 overall at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Zaba made his NHL debut on January 23, 2010 with the New York Rangers vs the Montreal Canadiens, his only game played in the NHL.

Matt Zaba's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11801

This was in the Colorado Gazette Newspaper:

Former Tiger netminder will coach goalies for Colorado Rampage

By: Joe Paisley  

July 26, 2015 

Former Colorado College goalie Matt Zaba is the new goalie coach for the Colorado Rampage hockey club in Monument. 


The former 2003 Kings draft pick enjoyed an eight-year pro career that included an NHL game with the Rangers, and five years in Europe, most recently for the Vienna Capitals.