Naaman Hofer took a shot from the left point and Josh Schmidt was the hero.
The 19-year-old from Ontario got a stick on Hofer’s shot and re-directed it past Alex Reedy with just more than three minutes left in the third period and Rylan Gage scored into an empty net as Dauphin earned a 4-2 victory and two big points against their West Division rival Northern Manitoba Blizzard.
It was Josh’s team-leading third game-winning goal of the season.
“It felt great getting some revenge on the team that eliminated us last year,” said Schmidt. “We found a way to get the job done in a hostile arena; it was a big win for our group.”
These two teams met in one of the longest playoff series in Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) history last spring. The series went the distance with several dramatic finishes. Josh was the hero in game two as Dauphin outlasted the Blizzard in a 5-4 overtime victory. Game four needed double overtime; Cayden Glover was the hero in game six in one of the longest games in CJHL history as five overtimes were needed and in game seven, three overtimes were needed to decide the winner.
Riley See of the Blizzard scored the winner in game seven as the Kings season came to a heartbreaking end at the Roy H Johnston Arena.
Despite the series' defeat, it will always go down as something to remember for Josh.
“That was just a crazy series, it was so fun to be a part of,” said Schmidt. “It was unfortunate that we lost, but we left everything on the ice. I was proud of how the group battled, I will never forget that series.”
So it’s safe to say that Tuesday’s victory meant a lot personally to Josh.
“We came up short last year and now that we got over them, even though it was just a regular season game, it still feels great,” offered Schmidt.
Schmidt and the Kings will play the Blizzard two more times before Christmas, the first of which comes next Wednesday, December 11 and their final game before the Christmas break is on December 17 in The Pas.
Schmidt’s junior career opened in his home province with the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) where he played 46 games before playing 10 playoff games with the Uxbridge Bruins of the Provincial Junior Hockey League. Josh landed in Dauphin last year, played 45 games and is now 23 games into his second season with the Kings and he loves every moment.
“It feels great to be back in Dauphin. I love the team, our coaches and the entire staff,” said Schmidt. “It’s a very easy place to play hockey, we are treated great. I love my linemates; we’re sort of on the same wavelength.”
Schmidt has been playing alongside Sheldon Shyiak and Rylan Gage since last November. The tremendous trio have formed not only on the ice but as Schmidt says, off the ice as well.
“It’s a lifetime bond, we spend every moment at practice together and more time off the ice as well,” said Schmidt. “We have a dynamic bond, I love those guys, they’re incredible people and great hockey players.”
The Kings sit on top of the West Division with wins in 19 of their first 26 games. Paired with their win against the Blizzard on Tuesday, the Kings are now eight points ahead of them for first place in the West. They’re also in second place overall, just two points back of Steinbach. The Kings have scored 97 goals while giving up 60 and the team’s power play of 24.8% is second-best in the league while their 85.4% on the penalty kill is also second.
“All the guys know that we have a special group, we believe we can go all the way,” continued Schmidt. “Everyone is locked in and ready to compete. All the intensity makes the game more enjoyable for everyone.”
Josh is already enjoying a career year. After posting nine points last year in 38 games, Schmidt has four goals and 10 points this year. As mentioned above, he leads the team in game-winning goals with three and was the hero on Tuesday night.
Schmidt has caught fire as of late with six points in his last eight games. He also had one assist on Tuesday and he sits in a tie for 12th in team scoring alongside Captain Ethan Williment.
“I started the season very slow, I wasn’t making many players entering the offensive zone,” commented Schmidt. “If I continue playing how I have over the last six games, I think I could have a very good year.”
Josh also had some great things to say about the coaching staff.
Doug Hedley – “he’s very intense and he knows a lot. I trust everything he says. Everything that he tells me seems to work. He knows how to work systems, I love playing for Doug,” said Schmidt.
Rick Freese – “he brings a crazy bond to the team, he’s so passionate about us on and off the ice,” said Schmidt.
Chad Facey – ‘he always gives great advice and he is great at bringing the boys together, he’s a great guy and coach,” offered Schmidt.
Brad Dupasquier – ‘he analyzes all of our games amazingly, gives us great pre-scout and gets us ready for our games,” said Schmidt.
You can catch Josh and the rest of the Kings in action on Saturday at Credit Union Place when the top two teams in the MJHL go to battle as the Steinbach Pistons come to town. The two teams met earlier this season with the Pistons coming out on top in overtime. It’s also a rematch of the 2022 Turnbull Cup Final which the Kings won in seven games and finished in the top four at the Centennial Cup.
“That’s going to be a great matchup, we’ve been looking forward to getting a second chance at them after they beat us earlier this year,” said Schmidt. “They’re a great team and we are as well. It’s going to be a great game and we hope that our amazing fans pack the stands to cheer us on.”
You can also hear Josh’s full chat with Darnell Duff during the Dauphin Kings Power Play Show on Friday afternoon just after 4:00.
Get to know Schmidt:
Q: What’s your go-to meal for breakfast, dinner and lunch?
A: On a game day for dinner I would say some sort of pasta, like chicken fettuccine Alfredo and if we don't have a game, my favourite is chicken parmesan. I enjoy a soup and sandwich for lunch and a couple of pouches of oatmeal with blueberries to get my day going.
Q: What are some of your other hobbies?
A: I used to play a lot of baseball, so I enjoy throwing a baseball around when I can. I enjoy football as well as playing golf.
Q: Did you ever have to choose between baseball and golf?
A: It was hockey since about grade five. I quit baseball for a bit because I didn’t enjoy it as much as hockey. I started playing it again at the AA and AAA level, but I was never a great player, just played it because my friends were. Hockey has always been my passion.
Q: Have you thought about what your future could look like?
A: I would love to play hockey at the Division 3 level or USports, that’s been a big goal of mine. I plan on studying accounting, finance or kinesiology.
Josh had plans of going to school prior to coming to Dauphin last season but decided he wanted to continue playing the game he loves.
“I certainly made the right decision, being in Dauphin is incredible,” said Schmidt. “After I finish hockey, that’s what I plan on doing.”
Q: Do you have any siblings and what is your relationship with your parents?
A: I have an older brother that’s two years older than me and a younger sister that is four years younger than me. I have a tighter relationship with my dad when it comes to hockey and a tighter relationship in other aspects with my mom, it’s a great balance.
In a heartbreaking story, Josh’s brother used to play hockey but was forced to quit just as he was set to begin his junior career after breaking his leg and tearing his meniscus. In a feel-good story, his sister is a provincial-level soccer player.
“She’s outstanding at soccer and she works very hard at it,” said Schmidt. “My family means everything to me; they’re incredible and very special.”
Q: What is one of your favourite hockey memories?
A: I have to go with that five-overtime game last year in the playoffs against the Blizzard. You had to be at the rink to truly realize how crazy it was. I had never experienced anything even close to that before so it was wild to be a part of.
Q: If you could go on a 2-on-0 breakaway with any teammate, who would it be and why?
A: Sheldon Shyiak, for sure. If that puck goes in the net and he’s the one that scores, it would be the most exciting goal, it would be electric.
Josh Schmidt, a great man off the ice and a King on the ice.
