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Former professional hockey player Scott Matzka dies at 40


Former professional hockey player Scott Matzka dies at 40. (WWMT/File)
Former professional hockey player Scott Matzka dies at 40. (WWMT/File)
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The journey of a Kalamazoo man and professional hockey player with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, has ended.

Scott Matzka, 40, died Saturday, Dec. 16, at Rose Arbor Hospice.

Matzka started the My Turn Foundation, which helps raise money for ALS treatment and research.

In May, My Turn, a documentary about Matzka, debuted at the Portage Celebration Cinema. The goal of the film was to create a way for his family to look back at how he dealt with ALS.

Matzka played hockey for the University of Michigan, The K-Wings, the American Hockey League. He was even a prospect for the NHL and attended a training camp with the Nashville Predators before he was diagnosed with ALS in 2014. He was 36-years-old.

A memorial for Matzka was held on Wednesday and a service was held on Thursday.

The family is asking for memorial contributions to the My Turn Project Fund.

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