Plum Student Cory Sakolsky Receives Awards, Appreciates Life

Cory Sakolsky doesn't take life for granted.

He's a Plum High School senior, but already he is learning to embrace a life lesson that many of us don't learn until later in life.

Cory was assistant captain of the Plum Mustangs ice hockey team this past season and attributes his success to living in the moment.

He recently received the Badger Bob Johnson Award after being selected by his teammates as best embodying the late Penguins head coach's catch phrase, "It's a Great Day for Hockey."

Players chosen must show character and dedication on and off the ice.

"I was very surprised and also honored because the team voted for me to win the award," Cory says.

Although the Mustangs didn't make it to the finals, he was honored at the earlier this month at Consol Energy Center.

Cory also was selected earlier this year to play in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League's all-star game in his position as defenseman.

He finished up his final regular season with one goal and 10 assists, having played all 20 games.

Cory has been playing hockey for Plum for the last seven years and, according to Coach Stu Rulnick, is one of the team's hardest workers.

Rulnick and assistant coach Jerry Bass are among Cory's inspirations for playing hard, he says.

"They mentioned that this may have been their last year at the end of last year, so I wanted to hopefully let them leave Plum with a bang," he said.

He lists others as his biggest influences.

"It was my dad and the rest of my family, but also it was the joy of playing for my hometown," he says.

Cory is the youngest of four and recently became an uncle to his sister's son, Colt.

"It is the first baby I have ever been around to be honest, so it is definitely different," he says. "He's taught me to just enjoy life."

Cory is active in Plum's Junior ROTC program in hopes of becoming a military officer after college.

He hasn't yet decided which college to attend — California University of Pennsylvania or Robert Morris University — but he plans to study either criminal justice or secondary education history, like his dad, Ron Sakolsky, a social studies teacher at Oblock Junior High.

Whichever he chooses, he plans to go into it with a strong sense of gratitude.

"The most important lesson I've learned is that you don't always get a second chance in hockey or in life," he says.

"You should always take advantage and appreciate every minute of everything you do."

Cory is the son of Ron and Barbara Sakolsky, of Plum.