2004 Prospects: Q&A with Jeff Schultz

After watching defenseman Mike Egener go 34^th overall to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, the Hitmen organization is sure to see much of the same from three eligible defensemen this year, who consist of Andy Rogers, Brett Carson and Jeff Schultz.

All three defensemen are projected to go as high as the first three rounds. 6’6”, 210-pounder Jeff Schultz, is ranked highest of them all. After a preliminary ranking by Central Scouting of fourth among Western Hockey League defensemen, one position behind Medicine Hat Tiger Cam Barker, Schultz is currently ranked 11^th overall among North American skaters.

With already 29 points on the season, Schultz leads his team in scoring by a defenseman, and is merely six points out of a top ten finish among Western League defensemen. The Calgary, AB native is close to a top ten rank in plus/minus as well, sitting at +21 on the season.

Hockey’s Future managed to catch up to Schultz after a 3-0 drubbing of the Kelowna Rockets. Schultz was eager to talk about his season with the Calgary Hitmen, the playoffs, and the 2004 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

HF: The Calgary Hitmen selected you as a second rounder in the Bantam Draft in 2001. What did it mean to you to be selected by your hometown team?

JS: It was a big surprise. I had gotten phone calls from all the other teams in the league, and I didn’t receive one from Calgary. When they called me and drafted me, it was just a big shock. Being able to stay at home and playing in front of my parents and family every game, it’s great.

HF: Is there any added pressure at all, playing at home in the city you grew up in, in front of your friends and family every other night?

JS: I think a little bit. It’s nice to be able to show everyone I grew up playing with that I can play at this level.

HF: The Hitmen have three NHL draft eligible defensemen this year. What does it mean to you, going into the draft, with two other teammates on the back end with Brett Carson and Andy Rogers, and even forward Andrew Ladd?

JS: It’s great. It just shows that all of our hard work has paid off this year. We push each other, trying to get better out there, and having the guys last year get drafted that high [Ryan Getzlaf, selected in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Mike Egener, drafted in the second round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning], we can see what we have to do, with the hard work they put in to get drafted that high.

HF: Have you talked to either Getzlaf or Egener about the whole draft process, and their experiences?

JS: Not yet. I don’t really think about [the draft] that much. It’s still a little bit in the back of my mind. Once the day gets closer I’ll have to sit down with them and get the do’s and don’ts of what to do.

HF: Is there any rivalry between the three defensemen heading into the draft to see who will be selected first?

JS: I don’t think so. When the rankings came out we were all kind of confident with where we were and proud of each other. Everyone has worked hard to get where they’ve been ranked and the final year-end rankings will determine where we’ll go.

HF: Is there any comfort in knowing that you’ve got three teammates going through the exact same thing you are right now?

JS: Oh yeah. You know they’re nervous out there every game, just as much as you are. It’s not really that much added pressure, but it’s nice to know.

HF: In talking about the 2002-03 season a little bit, being your rookie season and all, was it everything you had hoped it would be?

JS: It was great. I played the majority of the games and I got a lot of experience out there, playing with bigger, stronger guys. I worked hard in practice to get that playing time and it paid off.

HF: Last season you registered three points (two goals, one assist in 50 games) and were a –6. This season, heading into tonight’s action, had 28 points and a +20 rating through 53 games. What adjustments have you made in your game to see such a growth from one season to the next?

JS: Just confidence with the puck. The coaching staff has put me in situations this year that I wasn’t in last year. Playing with a few of the elite players we have on this team have given me extra chances out there to bury the puck and get assists.

HF: Are there any areas in your game that even you yourself have seen in comparison to last season?

JS: I think my puck handling. I’ve got more confidence out there with the puck. I feel I’m stronger as a skater, and more physical all over the ice. Confidence is the big thing, though.

HF: You mentioned your puck control and physical play. Is this how you would describe yourself as a defenseman?

JS: I consider myself a two-way defenseman. I like to join the rush when the opportunity arises. Defense is kind of my main game. Strong in the corners and strong in front of the net and able to make a strong outlet pass to clear the puck from our zone.

HF: What would you say is your biggest asset out there on the ice?

JS: I think I’m a good passer, and I’m able to get lots of shots towards the net. I’m physical when I have to be, but I don’t go out of my way, put myself out of position, to make a big hit.

HF: What areas are you focusing improving on?

JS: My skating. Foot-speed and overall strength on my feet could use work. Also, my physical presence out there when guys come hit me, let them know next time they do it they’ll get a whack or a cross-check back.

HF: Off the ice, what kind of a guy are you?

JS: I’m kind of shy, quiet. I like to listen to what the other guys have to say. I’m not really kind of a leader out there, I lead more by example.

HF: What’s something that the average Calgary Hitmen fan doesn’t know about you?

JS: I play a 3 handicap in golf. When I was younger I had to decide whether to go the golf-scholarship way or play hockey. Hockey was my favorite.

HF: Did you give any consideration to taking the college route, and getting an education as well, as opposed to playing Major Junior?

JS: Yeah, I thought about it. I thought that playing that extra year in Junior A would be that much longer before the scouts would be able to see me and getting to the draft.

HF: In the game you played tonight, you were able to shut-down the Kelowna Rockets, the No. 2 ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League. What does a win like that do for the hockey club, especially a win in regulation, something that has been rare recently?

JS: The last couple of games we’ve let a couple of points slide by giving up third period leads. Tonight we just played hard, kept it simple, and buried our chances out there. It was nice not to have to go to overtime again.

HF: What does this Calgary Hitmen team have to do to go deep into the playoffs this year?

JS: I think we’re probably one of the top teams five-on-five, but our special teams, powerplay and penalty kill, we’ve got to get that going. That’s what will either help you or drop you from being one of those top teams in the end.

HF: How have the acquisitions General Manager Kelly Kisio made at the trade deadline helped this team? Has it been something positive that’s happened to the team, or has it affected this club’s chemistry at all?

JS: I think it’s been positive. With [Barry] Brust in net, he’s brought us a lot of confidence back there by knowing he can move the puck up there, and [Brett] O’Malley’s brought us a lot of speed up front. [Aaron] Roberge is just a big guy who likes to play physical out there. We’re a better team now than we were before the deadline.