The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs are right around the corner, and for a number of 20-year-olds this is their last shot at winning a championship.
For Humboldt’s Logan Schatz, that means not only his last shot at a league title, but also his days as a Bronco are numbered.
The 20-year-old Allan native is wrapping up his second full season wearing the “C” for the green and gold, and his fourth overall, after being named captain in early 2016.
Schatz admits the transition to being captain was not an easy one, noting he was just 18 at the time and in just his second season of junior A hockey, but noted he was fortunate to have some veteran players on the team help him out.
“It’s taught me a lot with having to deal with everybody on the team and keep guys’ emotions in check and you just become so much closer with everybody trying to become better friends with them, making sure that everybody feels at home,” he noted.
“I’m definitely honoured to wear the “C” on my jersey for the past two and a half years and it’s definitely going to help me out in the long run with the leadership that I’ve learned.”
It is also his fourth full season wearing the Broncos uniform.
Schatz is also the final connection the current players on the ice have to Dean Brockman, after he made his debut as a 16-year-old with Brockman’s Broncos in the 2013-2014 season, registering three assists in his lone game.
Having gone through three amazing coaches in his four plus years as a Bronco, Schatz admits it has not been the easiest ride, but says he has enjoyed his time as a Bronco.
“Obviously it’s been some crazy experiences, a lot of different experiences with the different coaches and now that we’re on a winning team it’s a lot more fun to definitely play in front of a community and a crowd that really supports their players.”
Schatz first joined the Broncos full-time as a 17-year-old, and while he says moving away from home to play midget as young as 15 helped prepare him from being away from home, he had no idea what the next four years would hold.
“Everybody throughout the organization was so welcoming and with the billets that I had, they were great people and were like a second family to me. So I can’t say enough good things about the City of Humboldt.”
Looking back on his time, Schatz notes his favourite memories are of playing Family Day afternoon games against Nipawin, and most recently Melfort, and says last year’s playoff series with Nipawin was another memory he will not soon forget.
“Even though we lost, just to see the support and the rally behind our team towards the end of the year and in the playoffs, I think that was a really cool experience and hopefully we can make it last a little longer this year and have the city do the same thing again.”
Of course, while Schatz was making memories on the ice, off of it he had bumps in the road he needed to overcome.
While Schatz has been a member of the green and gold for four full seasons, he did spend parts of two of those on the sidelines recovering from a pair of injuries.
The first came in his first season when he crashed into the boards, causing back and neck injuries.
“I was out for a couple months and I just got back before playoffs but I wasn’t as big of a part of the team as I was last year when I got hurt at the start of the year.”
The second injury came in the early stages of his third season with the Broncos.
“Being hurt when I was 17 definitely helped when I got hurt last year. Obviously it was a tough injury and I was looking to have a really good year and so was the team and just the toughest part was just sitting in the stands and watching the guys on the ice every day when I just couldn’t do anything.”
Schatz noted he had some great physiotherapists help him recover, and noted while it was tough being out, the injury helped make him a stronger person and player.
“I’m happy with how things are now.”
Schatz was able to return last season for the second half, and helped push the Broncos into the playoffs, where they were swept by Nipawin.
Schatz returned this season focused and it showed as he piled up career highs in goals, assists, and points, and finished second in league scoring with 85 points.
“I think it’s been my most fun year as a part of the Bronco organization. We have a really good team this year obviously and I made some really great friends and I have brothers on the team. I’m definitely really excited to get things going in the playoffs.”
While injuries kept Schatz from reaching 200 regular season contests, they did not keep him from working his way amongst the Broncos elite.
Schatz wrapped up his career with 46 goals, and 145 assists for 191 points, making him the highest scoring Bronco since Devin Edgerton scored 256 points between 1989 and 1991.
Schatz admits that it is a “pretty cool feeling” to lead the team in points over the last 25 years, but says he has not had a lot of time to really process it, noting that it will really start to sink in once the season is over.
“There’s been so many great players come through this organization and for people to be able to put my name against them is awesome… It’s definitely a cool thing. Me and my dad were talking about it the other day and he just told me how proud he was so it was a pretty good feeling hearing that as well.”
Schatz credits his parents for helping along the way through minor hockey and his coaches for putting in the work to help make him a better player, noting Broncos head coach Darcy Haugan has been a huge help.
“I can’t say enough good things about him and thank him enough with everything he’s done for me.”
Of course, there is still work left to be done for Schatz, as well as his Broncos teammates as they begin their quest for a league title.
With everything he has accomplished in his career, a long playoff run is the one thing missing, and Schatz notes winning a title this season would be “everything.”
“If I can win a championship with my brothers in Humboldt, that’d be amazing. I definitely worked pretty hard these past four years to get to where I am and to be able to do that with all the guys in the room this year would be a pretty awesome feeling.”
The Broncos kick off their playoff series March 16 in Melfort.
