North Stars trainer Matisz leaving team to further education
If there’s one thing Rachelle Matisz won’t miss about the Battlefords North Stars athletic therapist job, it’s doing laundry.
Often, after returning from a long road trip, she could be found at the rink in the wee hours of the morning, changing loads in the washing machine and working on what was probably no more than two hours of sleep. Now that Matisz is going back to school for a post-degree nursing program, North Stars head coach Brandon Heck said that kind of work ethic makes her irreplaceable.
“She went over and above her job. She made up schedules to keep us organized. Kept me sane,” Heck said at the team’s year-end banquet last week. “She truly doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. We’ve dealt with a lot of injuries this year, and her expertise and care helped get guys back playing sooner than others. It’s going to be impossible to replace her.”
Matisz said her job often didn’t feel like work.