Maddox Schultz came into the 2024-25 Circle K Classic as the phenom to watch.
Just like Calgary’s Landon DuPont last year …
And like now-Team Canada youngster Gavin McKenna the year before.
Schultz has earned that designation as the must-see kid of the under-18 AAA hockey event thanks to his young age — he’s just 14 years old — and his next-generation-type skill-set that has helped push the Regina Pat Canadians to an undefeated record so far in Calgary.
And that ability could also propel the top-shelf forward onto exceptional status designation in the Western Hockey League.
“We’ll see,” said Schultz, when the question arises as to whether he’ll apply for exceptional status to become a full-time WHL player as a 15-year-old — something only Connor Bedard and DuPont have been granted by the major-junior circuit.
“There’s a lot of people asking me if I’ll do that, but it’s up to me and my family and all my advisors, and we’re still kind of figuring that out,” continued Schultz. “But I think the WHL is where I want to end up.”
His track — and MVP-like effort in following the honours earned by DuPont and McKenna the last two years — is one of the biggest storylines of The Circle K heading into Tuesday’s penultimate day in Calgary …
What makes Schultz a special talent?
You name it, the Regina kid seems to have it as a hockey player, says Pat Canadians second-year head coach Ryan Hodgins.
Character, ability, maturity at such a young age …
“He’s a special player,” declared Hodgins. “His skill level’s through the roof — he’s top end. He does some things that are pretty impressive.
“He’s unique in that way, but at the same time, Maddox works for what he has. His work ethic is second to none. He puts the work in, and he’s always working.
“He does the right things to be worthy of his being called special.
“And if you talk to Maddox, he’s about team, too. Our dressing room is strong, and our leadership is strong — and he’s a big part of that.”
In his first full year with the Pat Canadians, his 52 points are tops in the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League’s U18 AAA loop. That’s eight better than the next highest point-getter in the circuit.
And at The Circle K, his 12 points through five games — including the overtime winner in Monday’s playoff victory — slot him among the scoring leaders of the tournament.
But he’s also got defensive awareness — more than you would expect from a 14-year-old and which has been evident to those watching him in the stands of Max Bell Centre and Seven Chiefs Complex.
“I think I’m a 200-foot player that plays both into the ice and can put the puck in the net when it’s needed for our team,” Schultz said. “And I think I’ve been doing a good job of that.
“I think it’s just my willingness to win and my compete. I think I just want what’s best for the team.
“But it’s my (WHL) draft year, obviously, so I’m trying to play the best I can, and I take pride in my d-zone, so I’m just making sure I’m doing a lot of the little things that make a hockey player a hockey player.”
Schultz is a special one, though, with a chance to follow in the footsteps of élite talent that’s come before him.
“There’s a lot of players I like watching — Nathan McKinnon, with his acceleration and his power and his stride,” Schultz said. “And obviously, I try to work on my shot as much as possible, and Bedard’s shot is unreal, unbelievable … Obviously, his story is a pretty cool story. I just remember he got drafted to the (WHL’s) Regina Pats, and I live in Regina, so it was cool to watch him. And, you know, the work he puts in is unreal.”
Schultz’s own story is just getting good, helped by what’s unfolding here at The Circle K, where he’s stepped up in the spotlight.
“First game, I was pretty nervous,” continued Schultz. “But as soon as I got going, I felt better. And obviously there’s been a lot of great players that played here. And McKenna and DuPont and all those players, they’re unreal. I’m looking forward to going on their path.”
“I think he’s ready for the WHL — there’s no doubt,” added Hodgins. “And as a program, that’s what we want. We want players moving on. That’s what our goal is as a team — it’s for these players to develop and get opportunities and move on.
“I know he’s ready to play in that league. I’d be behind it 100 per cent.”
What happened on Monday’s Day 4?
• Schultz and the Pat Canadians put on a show in an afternoon playoff game, clawing from three goals down late for a 7-6 OT win at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pens Elite. Schultz had a hand in six of the Regina team’s goals, including four goals — a first-period marker, a third-period beauty, the tying counter a half-second before the buzzer and the overtime end-to-end work of art.
• Three other A-side Round of 16 contests early in the day saw: the Phoenix Jr Coyotes drop Halifax MacDonalds 7-2; the Airdrie CFR Bisons knock off the Moose Jaw Warriors 6-3; and Calgary International Hockey Academy upend New York’s Bishop Kearney Selects 2-1 in OT on extra-time heroics from Lincoln Martin.
• Three A-side Round of 16 affairs in the late afternoon saw: the Edmonton Jr Oilers Blue challenge the Northern Alberta Xtreme; B.C.’s RHA Kelowna face off against the Sioux Falls POWER of South Dakota; B.C.’s Burnaby Winter Club Academy test Edge School; and the Cariboo Cougars try to dethrone defending champion Shattuck-St. Mary’s.
• The morning’s C-side quarterfinals saw: B.C.’s Valley West double up OHA Edmonton 6-3; Boston Academy edge Chicago Mission 6-5 in overtime; Detroit Victory Honda upend Team Hungary 5-3; and Edmonton Jr Oilers Orange oust the co-host Calgary Northstars 5-1.
• The evening’s B-side quarters featured: the Sherwood Park Kings versus the Okotoks Bowmark Oilers in a battle of Alberta Elite Hockey League rivals; B.C.’s OHA Penticton square off against the co-host Calgary NW Flames; B.C.’s Fraser Valley Thunderbirds meet the co-host Calgary Buffaloes; and the St. Louis AAA Blues tangle with the co-host Calgary Royals.
Playoff Schedule
Tuesday
A-side Quarterfinals — Teams TBD @ Max Bell Centre and Seven Chiefs Sportsplex: 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m.
A-side Semifinals — Teams TBD @ Max Bell Centre and Seven Chiefs Sportsplex: 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday
C Final — Teams TBD @ Max Bell Centre, 9 a.m.
B Final — Teams TBD @ Max Bell Centre, noon
A Final — Teams TBD @ Max Bell Centre, 3 p.m.
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