SMAAAHL players and alumni shine on international stage… What Maddox Schultz learned from the tournament… Putting Schultz and Liam Pue’s performacne in context… Legionnaires make a statement on the road.
BY Jonathan Huntington
REGINA – It was a banner week for Maddox Schultz, Liam Pue and several SMAAAHL alumni at the U17 World Challenge in Nova Scotia.
Schultz – the youngest member of Team Canada – finished the week-long tournament with six goals/nine points in five games while being named an all-star forward. “It was an unbelievable experience for me, especially growing up watching my heroes play for their country,” said Schultz on Sunday night. “The first game came with a bunch of nerves but it was a ton of fun.
“I learned how competitive and fast international hockey is. There is very little time and space and it will help me grow and build my game.”
Regina Pat Canadians teammate Pue finished seventh in tournament scoring with eight points, including one very memorable moment in overtime against the United States in the semi-final. “For him to score that overtime goal and send us to the gold medal game was a moment we will never forget,” continued Schultz.
SMAAAHL alumni Chase Surkan (Pat Cs), Blake Chorney (Saskatoon Blazers) and Boston Tait (Pat Cs) all finished in the top 20 in scoring in a tournament that featured the best U17 players from Canada (two teams – Team Red and Team White), United States, Sweden, Finland and Czechia. Calder Hamilton – a Warman Wildcats alumni – also played for Team White.
“To see six Saskatchewan boys in this tournament is a testament to Saskatchewan hockey,” added Schultz.
The tournament has featured a laundry list of NHL stars since it started in 1986, including current standouts Jack Hughes, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Brady Tkachuk.
It’s recognized as the first major international tournament for players under the age of 17 and a major identification source for future Hockey Canada national junior teams.
Prince Albert Mintos head coach Dion Antisin spent the previous two years coaching junior hockey in Sweden – which gives him a great lens to examine and provide context on the performances at the U17 World Challenge.
“For an underage player to be in the top five in points for this tournament is exceptional,” commented Antisin. “(Gavin) McKenna had eight points at this tournament (in 2023), so it shows the exceptional players that both Schultz and Pue are.
“And the fact that many of the players who finished in the top 15 in scoring come the SMAAAHL shows how strong this league is and how well our programs develop players.”
FINISH LINES: One weekend doesn’t make a season, but the Swift Current Legionnaires went on the road and made a statement this past weekend in Warman. The Legionnaires outscored Warman 14-4 in two games – including a 9-0 win Sunday to sweep the weekend set.
