Getting to Know: Logan Schmidt

Logan Schmidt’s first career goal came at a very opportune time for the Kitchener Rangers. As far as first goals go, it couldn’t have been scripted any better: with time ticking down in a Friday night meeting with the Saginaw Spirit and his team down by one on the power play, the homegrown defenceman corralled the puck at the point and wristed a shot through traffic, high glove-side and tied the game. And, just like in the movies, the Rangers went on to win the game with a last-minute tally, earning an appreciative roar from the crowd.

Naturally, Schmidt was all smiles after the game. Years of growing up in local hockey circles have made him acutely aware of the value placed on victories at The Aud. And scoring his first at home?

“It’s really special to have,” said the beaming blueliner, adding that his family was on hand to support him and witness the milestone moment. Most players will tell you that their first goal brings with it a huge sense of relief, but Logan was quick to shrug off the burden of waiting to score, focusing instead on the bigger mission.

“I know for some guys [there’s a lot of pressure], but I’ve just been trying to help the team. For sure, it’s nice to finally get the monkey off my back, but I haven’t felt any real pressure.”

He’s come a long way since he first started skating at the age of three, honing his skills on the rink the Schmidt family would build in the backyard each winter. The pursuit of hockey, it seems, was a family affair, with Logan finding his inspiration in an older sibling.

“My brother played hockey before me, so I just followed suit. I played Timbits in Kitchener, and skated around on the backyard rink and it just kind of evolved through that.”

Well-mannered and soft-spoken, the first-year defenceman says he also found inspiration in the familiar environs of the Dom Cardillo Arena, where he would watch the Rangers play and dream about the day he’d have a blue jersey of his own.

“Always came to Rangers games, that was always the fun thing to do on a Friday night. So obviously it’s nice to play for them now!,” he says fondly, his face lighting up as remembers favourite players of years gone by, including standout scorer Jeff Skinner and offensively-gifted blueliner Ryan Murphy, both now members of the NHL Carolina Hurricanes. Sitting in the stands in The Aud, it was Skinner’s landmark seasonthat he most longed to be a part of.

“I think it would have been cool to be a part of the team during the season when Jeff Skinner scored his 50 goals. That was certainly a great year for the team and I think that would have been great to be a part of.”

But even after years of working towards lacing up his skates with the Rangers, Schmidt never thought he’d get the call. He made his way up the local hockey ladder, earning himself a spot with the OJHL Kitchener Dutchmen for the 2012-13 season. Chasing hockey as a profession had crossed his mind, but it wasn’t until he got older than he realized his own potential.

“It’s always been my passion, for sure, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that the dream has really started to take strides forward in my midget year and my first Junior B year.”

He patrolled the Dutchmen blueline for 30 regular season games last season, catching the eye of the Rangers’ brass in the stands monitoring the team’s prospects. Logan’s performance was impressive enough to earn him an invitation to training camp in the fall and on the eve of the preseason, the call came from General Manager Murray Hiebert. With his family in tow, Schmidt arrived at The Aud to sign the paperwork, committing himself to the team for the 2013-14 season and beyond. Looking back, the quiet rearguard admits that he was shocked.

“It was awesome. I was not expecting it at all – I thought maybe I was just a Junior B player and then I get the call up, so that was nice,“ confesses Logan, modestly. When pressed, he reflects that his low expectations may have worked to his advantage at camp and earned him a spot.

“I think it was my composure. It’s certainly a big step from Junior B, but I think I’ve made the transition well and I think my speed has certainly helped with that.”

With Murphy as an idol, it may be no surprise that Schmidt self-identifies as an offensive defenceman, and his strong skating skills have enabled him to jump on the rush and set up 10 goals for the Rangers this year. But the 17-year-old shows wisdom beyond his years when asked what his ambition for the season is.

“Just improve – this has been a bit of a transition year and hopefully by the end of the year I can keep building on the successes I’ve found and get better each game.”

Scoring his first goal was another step forward for Logan, who finds himself living out a dream that thousands of kids in the Region share. He breaks into another earnest smile when asked what advice he’d give any Kitchener kid chasing a stall in the Rangers dressing room.

“Follow your dream and work hard. I’m proof that if you put the work in and dedicate your time to something you love, you can become what you want to be.”