Nick Schultz

For the Blue Heelers character, see Nick Schultz (t.v character)
Nick Schultz
Born August 25, 1982 (1982-08-25) (age 29)
Strasbourg, SK, CAN
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team Minnesota Wild
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 33rd overall, 2000
Minnesota Wild
Playing career 2001–present

Nick Schultz (born August 25, 1982 in Strasbourg, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Minnesota Wild of the NHL. The Wild drafted him in the second round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He played junior hockey for the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League. He has represented Canada in international competition at the junior and senior level.

Contents

Hockey career

Minor

As a child, Schultz played minor hockey in his hometown of Strasbourg for the Maroons.[1] He was selected by the Prince Albert Raiders in the third round (43rd overall) of the 1997 Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft.[2] Before joining the Raiders, Schultz played for Yorkton Mallers in the SMAAAHL.[3][4] During his only season in the SMAAAHL, Schultz was named Rookie of the Year for the Mallers club, as well as being named the Top Defenseman and Most Valuable Player of the league's All-Star Game.[2]

Junior

Schultz made his debut for the Raiders in the 1998-99 WHL season, playing in 58 games, scoring 5 goals and adding 18 assists.[4] In his sophomore season in the WHL, he played in 72 games, scoring 11 goals and adding 33 assists.[4] After the 1999-2000 season, Schultz was named the Raiders top defenseman and most improved player.[2] The Minnesota Wild selected Schultz in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.[2][4] Schultz served as team captain for the 2000-01 season,[2] playing 59 games, scoring 17 goals and adding 30 assists.[4]

Professional

After the Raiders 2000-01 WHL season was complete, Schultz made his professional debut with the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League, suiting up for four games, where he scored a goal and added an assist.[4] The next season, Schultz made his National Hockey League debut, after making the Wild out of training camp.[4] He made his NHL debut against the Edmonton Oilers. During his rookie season, Schultz played in 52 games, scoring 4 goals and adding 6 assists.[4] After the Wild's season was complete, Schultz joined the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League for the playoffs.[4]

International

Schultz represented Saskatchewan at the 1999 Canada Winter Games.[2]

Personal

Schultz grew up on his family's farm in Strasbourg, Saskatchewan. He has two older brothers one of whom, Kris, played professional hockey in the CHL and UHL. His other brother is named Terrance, and his parent's names are Robert and Carol. His cousin Jesse Schultz made his NHL debut in the 2006-07 season, playing for the Vancouver Canucks. Jesse is now in the Minnesota Wild system, but has yet to play a game for the big club in St. Paul. Nick is married, his wife's name is Jessica (née Dibb). They have a son, Jake Douglas, born in October 2007 and two daughters, Brooke Moran born in May 2009 and Sydney Marie born in March 2011.[5] They make their off-season home in Calgary. Jessica's sister is also married to an NHL player, Cory Sarich of the Calgary Flames.[6] He is friends with Jarret Stoll of the Los Angeles Kings and is often present at Stoll's yearly charity golf tournament.[7]

Awards

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1998–99 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 58 5 18 23 37 14 0 7 7 0
1999–2000 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 72 11 33 44 38 6 0 3 3 2
2000–01 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 59 17 30 47 120
2000–01 Cleveland Lumberjacks IHL 4 1 1 2 2 3 0 1 1 0
2001–02 Minnesota Wild NHL 52 4 6 10 14
2001–02 Houston Aeros AHL 14 1 5 6 2
2002–03 Minnesota Wild NHL 75 3 7 10 23 18 0 1 1 10
2003–04 Minnesota Wild NHL 79 6 10 16 16
2004–05 Kassel Huskies DEL 46 7 15 22 26
2005–06 Minnesota Wild NHL 79 2 12 14 43
2006–07 Minnesota Wild NHL 82 2 10 12 42 5 0 1 1 0
2007–08 Minnesota Wild NHL 81 2 13 15 42 1 0 0 0 0
2008–09 Minnesota Wild NHL 79 2 9 11 31
2009–10 Minnesota Wild NHL 80 1 19 20 43
2010–11 Minnesota Wild NHL 74 3 14 17 38
NHL totals 681 25 100 125 292 24 0 2 2 10

International

Medal record
Competitor for Canada
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
Gold 2007 Russia Ice hockey
Gold 2004 Czech Republic Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver 2002 Czech Republic Ice hockey
Bronze 2001 Sweden Ice hockey
Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2001 Canada WJC 7 0 0 0 2
2002 Canada WJC 7 0 2 2 4
2004 Canada WC 9 0 1 1 0
2006 Canada WC 9 0 2 2 6
2007 Canada WC 9 0 0 0 2
Senior int'l totals 27 0 3 3 8

References

External links

Preceded by
Mark Parrish
Minnesota Wild captain
January 2008
Succeeded by
Mikko Koivu