When the name Justin Schultz comes up in conversation, it is usually in regards to the best players in college hockey today. The Wisconsin men's hockey junior defenseman had a year for the ages last season but, as he would tell you, he was far more concerned with the disappointing results of the Badgers 2010-'11 campaign.
Schultz returns this season for UW, and is ready to elevate his game to a new level, motivated by his desire to return Wisconsin hockey to its accustomed level of success.
The native of West Kelowna, British Colombia, would be hard pressed to replicate his numbers from a season ago. His 47 points not only made him the Badgers' leading scorer, but the nation's highest scoring defenseman as well. His 18 goals were the most by a collegiate blue liner since 2002-'03.
As a result, the awards and honors piled up for Schultz: First team All-American, First-team All-WCHA, WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, Inside College Hockey National Defenseman of the Year, College Hockey News First Team Defenseman, and he was one of the 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given annually to the nation's best collegiate hockey player.
This past offseason, Schultz watched as teammates Jake Gardiner (Toronto), Craig Smith (Nashville) and Jordy Murray (Rapperswil-Swiss League) left school early for the greener pastures of professional hockey. After the season he had—and as a 2008 second round pick of the Anaheim Ducks—Schultz surely had the same option but elected to remain at Wisconsin.
He made the decision almost immediately after the Badgers' first-round WCHA playoff loss to Colorado College and reiterated it throughout the summer.
Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves is happy to have Schultz back. Earlier this week he said there is a ""sense of peace"" in getting one of the nation's best college hockey players back on your blue line—specifically mentioning his role running the Badgers' power play. Schultz led the country with 27 points on the man advantage last year.
Schultz said his decision to come back was, in part, fueled by a desire to improve on his personal game, but was more about getting what he described as the ""sour taste"" left by Wisconsin's lackluster end to the 2010-'11 season out of his mouth.
""I wasn't at all happy with how the team did [last season],"" Schultz said. ""I want to have a better year than last year as a team; that's number one on my list of goals.""
According to Schultz, memories of his freshman year, when the Badgers reached the national title game only to fall to Boston College, still rings fresh in his mind and serves as his motivation to stick with college hockey.
""Going all the way and losing in the national championship game, that was a heartbreaker,"" Schultz said. ""I really want to win and hopefully we can do that this year.""
""The goal is always to win the last game of the season,"" he added. ""That's the reason you come to play every season.""
As one of the elder statesmen on a young and inexperienced Badgers team this year, Schultz—who is serving as an assistant captain this season—has found himself stepping up as a leader, working to improve his vocal presence as opposed to just leading by example.
""I've always been a guy that goes out there, does my thing and hopefully [my teammates] watch me and learn what I do,"" Schultz said. ""This year I'm trying to improve my vocal stuff; talking to the younger guys and being more of a vocal leader in the dressing room.""
The young members of Wisconsin's roster could do a lot worse than to emulate Schultz this season. He was a unanimous selection for the preseason All-WCHA team as a defenseman, and is being called a preseason favorite for the Hobey Baker.
""A lot of good players have won the award and have been up for it,"" Schultz said of the Hobey Baker. ""It's definitely an honor to be mentioned in that category of player.""
""I had a great year last year, I'm not expecting to have an even better year, it could be unrealistic,"" he said. ""I'm going to go out there and play the game like I always have and we'll see what happens.""
Schultz is the consummate team-first player, always putting team success ahead of personal accolades. He is fueled by a deep desire to win and comes into this season ready to lead his team's renaissance.
If he is successful in bringing Wisconsin men's hockey back to national prominience and if he puts up the numbers he is more than capable of, Schultz just might find that college hockey's ultimate personal honor will be waiting for him at the end of the year.
