See all posts in the Kirk’s Captain Corner series

(Kirk’s Captain Corner is a regular feature that will allow Carver County residents to get to know the student-leaders of the various teams in our high schools. Today, we feature senior captain Bridger Kolesar of the Chaska boys hockey team.)

How long have you been playing hockey? How were your CCHA years?

I have been playing hockey ever since I could walk. I loved playing association hockey and some of my best memories in the sport are from that. I made some of my lifelong friends. My dad was my coach all the way up until high school and he pushed me to be the best I could, and I am super grateful for that.

What has been your favorite memory of playing hockey with the Hawks?

I have so many great memories playing for Chaska, so it is very hard to pick one. A few good memories are getting the chance to play with my older brother when I was a freshman and he was a senior, getting asked to lead the team as a captain, all of the out-of-town tournaments and meeting so many new friends.

Your “music guy” absolutely crushes it at games.  What songs get you fired up on the ice?

I think we have one of the best announcers and “music guys” in the state for sure and they make the rink feel like home. I would say any song by Pearl Jam gets me really pumped up for a game.

Hey – I’m absolutely with you on Pearl Jam! Chaska has had a number of high profile players this decade, including two 2022 NHL first-round picks in Sam Rinzel and Jimmy Snuggerud.  Do any of the guys stay in touch with the program?  

I have seen both of them at some of our games, but I know they are super busy with their careers in the NHL right now. They are definitely players that most kids on the team look up to and are amazing hockey players. Another guy who likes to stay in touch with the program is Mike Koster who graduated from the University of Minnesota last year. He was a great captain and defenseman for the Gophers who graduated from Chaska. Koster has been to many games and likes to hype the boys up before a big game when he gets the chance.

Yeah, Mike was an awesome Hawk, and an awesome Gopher. You are a vice president of the Chaska DECA organization and organizer of the 2025 Powder Puff football game. How do those leadership experiences translate to the ice?

Being a DECA leader has correlated tremendously to being a captain on the ice. Being the vice president has taught me a lot about how to handle people and uplift a team. It also teaches me a lot about talking with our coach about things that are working and things that are not.

What are your plans for next year?  

Although I am not certain about my plans for next year, I am seriously thinking about going to college out west in Montana or Colorado because there’s so much opportunity out there.

What does it mean to you to be a team Captain?

Being a captain to me is leading a team by serving my team. I want to be someone that the young guys can come to about anything, and focus on making our program better for the next years to come.

Chaska Hawks Boys’ Hockey returns home for back-to-back games this week, starting Tuesday against Waconia, and Wednesday against St. Paul Academy, both games starting at 7p.m. at the Chaska Community Center.