Regina Pat Canadians forward Maddox Schultz is a rising hockey phenom at only 14 years old. The player he studies most: Edmonton Oilers' superstar Connor McDavid.
"In the NHL, when I was little, I looked up to everyone -- especially Connor McDavid," Maddox told SportsCage host Barney Shynkaruk. "I have posters on my wall of McDavid, I remember watching him and things he could do out there were unbelievable."
Schultz grew up in Saskatchewan and had the privilege to see some Regina Pats legends during his childhood.
"Connor Bedard playing with the Pats, we went to a lot of the games with our team," Maddox said. "Even Sam Steel when he was here, Connor Hobbs and all those guys, they were fun to watch."
Schultz plays above his age in the Saskatchewan male under-18 AAA league. He is mature for his age, but recalls being nervous the first time he was called up to the Pat Canadians as a 13-year-old on December 2, 2023.
"Coach Ryan Hodgins called me that night before and asked me if I wanted to play a game," Schultz said. "I was super hyped up, ready to go and I probably couldn't fall asleep that night to be honest."
"Before warm-ups, I was probably the most nervous, the boys were chirping at me: 'Come on Schultz, don't miss the net on your rookie lap.' I actually missed the net on my rookie lap, which sucks. I went out there and I scored a goal, which is pretty cool."
According to his dad, David, who unfortunately missed the event due to a prior commitment, had a hard time getting details from his wife, Vicky, about the game.
"As much as I love my wife, I can't get a game update from her because she loves everybody," David Schultz said.
This year, Schultz currently leads the Saskatchewan male under-18 AAA league with 60 points. He has played 30 games, scoring 28 goals and 32 assists.
Schultz's hockey journey began when his dad started him skating at two-and-a-half years old. David and his wife, Vicky, used to work in Medicine Hat, Alberta where they taught a program called 'Kid Skate.'
"It was in the afternoon, he's out there, he's got his helmet on, he's walking and falls a couple of times," David Schultz said. "It was a half-hour session and I said to him: 'If you make it through, buddy, we're going to go for hot chocolate. It's going to be awesome.'"
Schultz has decided against applying to the WHL for exceptional status and play in the league when he turns 15-years-old. Only two players in WHL history have been granted exceptional status: Bedard, who played for the Regina Pats from 2020-2023, and defenceman Landon DuPont, who was selected by the Everett Silvertips in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.
