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07/21/2016 12:00 AMThis November, 1982 East Haven graduate Ed Muzyka will receive his long-awaited induction into the East Haven High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame based on his career with the Yellowjackets’ soccer, ice hockey, and baseball squads. Ed competed for East Haven’s inaugural boys’ soccer team in 1978 and also played four years of hockey and baseball.
Ed shined brightest on the ice for the Easties as he made All-Housatonic Honorable Mention in his junior season and then captained the team to a state final as a senior. Ed was named to the All-Tournament Team that year and became the first defenseman in Yellowjackets’ hockey history to collect First Team All-Housatonic accolades. He was also a Second Team All-State selection.
“I was a pretty good athlete and it was all due to hard work. I worked hard at it and practiced a lot not only with the team, but at home, as well. Hockey was always my No. 1 sport and, for the most part, we had great camaraderie in East Haven, having grown up and played youth hockey together. It was like a family atmosphere when we played and we were fortunate to be very successful,” says Ed, who lives in Cheshire. “One of my strongest goals was to be a good teammate. I wanted to be a leader and was considered a good teammate.”
Ed has seen many of his friends get enshrined into the East Haven Hall of Fame throughout the years and so he feels excited to earn that distinction himself.
“It’s a great honor. I have in-laws that are inducted, I have a bunch of friends, and have attended a number of the dinners,” says Ed. “I feel very humbled and fortunate that they elected me to be in the Hall of Fame this year.”
East Haven boys’ ice hockey Head Coach Lou Pane played alongside Ed both with the Yellowjackets and at Quinnipiac University. Pane says that Ed constantly got better throughout his hockey career and was thrilled to see him finally get the call to the hall.
“It’s long overdue that he was inducted into the East Haven Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Quinnipiac Hall of Fame years ago, so it’s fitting, and he deserves it,” says Pane. “At East Haven, he was more of a stay-at-home defenseman with a big slap shot. He did a great job in our own zone, but at Quinnipiac, he became more offensive. Ed always had a great slap shot and size, but he became more offensive minded and a power play guy there because of the shot he had.”
Ed set some records at Quinnipiac for his achievements on defense. He’s still the program leader in goals by a defenseman with 38 and finished his career with 66 assists for a total of 104 points.
“I still have one record, but all the others [2007 graduate Reid Cashman] beat me at. I guess it’s a good player to be beaten by,” says Ed. “Coming from East Haven, we were more hard-nosed hockey players. We played a tough, physical game. We took that attitude to Quinnipiac and were successful. We were on teams to make the NCAA Tournament, so in my mind, one of our legacies was that we took that work ethic to Quinnipiac with us and were fortunate to have success.”
Coach Pane adds that family has always been important to Ed and says he’s happy that Ed’s parents will be present at the induction ceremony, as will Ed’s wife Michelle and their children Brittany, Amanda, Matthew, and Brooke.
“I couldn’t ask for a better teammate and friend. He comes from a great family,” says Pane. “I can remember his parents were at every game and they were so supportive of him, so it’s nice to see that his mom and dad will see him get inducted into Hall of Fame, as well.”
For all of his accomplishments in hockey, Ed feels the most proud about how he’s been able to give back to his community since he’s been away from the ice. An avid men’s softball player and umpire, Ed has done plenty of charity work with the East Haven Youth Hockey Association, the East Haven Umpire’s Association, the United Way, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Relay for Life.
“I think probably my best legacy is giving back to the school. Being an umpire and stuff, we set up a scholarship program, trying to help out student-athletes at East Haven,” says Ed, who works as an accountant for Sikorsky. “I’ve been in numerous hockey leagues, softball leagues, continue to still play today, and I still umpire in East Haven. We do a bunch of charitable events through the Umpire Association. We donate to the dog pound, as well as the food pantry. It’s a way we can give back.”