QA with Adam Schmidt

In many regards, Sioux City Musketeers right-winger Adam Schmidt is what the USHL is all about. He started out his rookie season, 2008-09, as a fourth-liner receiving limited icetime and almost appearing overwhelmed by the caliber of play. However, by the end of the season he was a third-liner receiving fairly regular icetime and looking much more comfortable with the pace of the play. Then, the following preseason, it was apparent he had taken his game to the next level and looked like he'd be a first-liner for Sioux City in 2009-10, which is precisely what he's been so far this season.

The 6-foot-2, 184-pounder has followed a steady development curve and, after a five-game cold streak without a point to start the 2009-10 season, has since been averaging a point per game and could start averaging over a point per game when Sioux City's offense as a team picks up, which it appeared to be doing as November progressed. When a power forward like Schmidt averages over a point per game in the USHL, NHL teams take notice, and selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft isn't out of the question if the 19-year-old continues to steadily develop and brings his power game every shift, every night.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey was able to talk with Adam Schmidt after a mid-November game and discussed his expanded role with the Sioux City Musketeers, his development in the USHL, his commitment to Holy Cross, his midget and high school hockey in Pennsylvania, a couple impressive teammates, and some of his favorite Philadelphia Flyers.

McKeen's: Starting off on a positive note, going back to the Battle of Iowa in September, you guys won that. What were your thoughts about having that small tournament before the Fall Classic?

Schmidt: I thought it was really good, actually. I liked the two-game set, having the weekend like that, and having to play a couple different teams before the Classic. It was a lot more organized than last year and it was really good to have a couple more games.

McKeen's: You guys were previously on a six-game losing streak coming into tonight. What would you say had been the source of the struggles during some of those stretches already this season?

Schmidt: I'd say it's just been minor breakdowns here and there. As a team, we've really tried to grow from the things we've done wrong. We watch a lot of video and getting back to it. Luckily, we were able to get out of the funk today, and now just try to keep stepping the way we are and keep working hard.

McKeen's: You personally, you kind of came out of the gates, statistically, anyway, slow. So, what would you say was the source of the "cold streak," so to speak, and that when changed that because you're putting up points now.

Schmidt: Yeah. I started off the season a little slow. The whole team kind of did. We didn't have many chances here and there. We really tried to adjust to the system we started learning. We've gotten a lot better with it. As a team, we've been getting stuff to the net, more myself personally as well. Mostly, the puck's just been bouncing my way lately, and try to keep that going, you know?

McKeen's: As you touched upon, you guys have a new head coach this year (Luke Strand, as Todd Knott moved on to the Minnesota State University-Mankato). How are things different under coach Strand than they were under coach Knott?

Schmidt: Coach Strand is a really good coach. He knows a lot about the game. We focus on a lot of different things. It's tough to get used to things in the beginning. He's done a really good job so far. As for our team, we've really grown and have started to adjust to the system, and hopefully we keep going from here.

McKeen's: As a veteran, your role has changed a little bit. With that, what were your expectations heading into the season and what does the coaching staff expect out of you?

Schmidt: As a veteran, you've got to come in, you've got to just help the young guys out, first of all. You've experienced things, you've got to help them out with everything you're doing. With the coaching staff, they expect you to just work hard, show the rookies the way, and play the way you play. Play your game. At the beginning of the year, I didn't really play my game, I was too worried about being a vet. As a vet, you've just got to play your game, make sure you keep doing what you do to help the team.

McKeen's: Watching you last season, I was able watch you improve a lot, going from primarily a fourth-liner at the beginning of last season to being a lot more comfortable with the pace of the game by the end of the year. I was just waiting for you to break out this year…

Schmidt: Yeah, definitely.

McKeen's: … and you pretty much made the step I expected you to make over the summer. But, starting out, at the beginning of your USHL career, what were the biggest adjustments you faced starting out as the fourth-liner last year coming out of midgets with Valley Forge and high school with LaSalle?

Schmidt: Coming out of high school, and playing midgets coming to here, is a big jump. It was really hard for me at first. I knew I wasn't going to be playing much, kind of struggled at first and it really got to me. But, the team was really helpful with me and helped me along, and my coach helped me along. I knew I was going to develop, I knew I was fit for this game, so I really just worked hard over the summer time, and I knew coming back as a vet, it would going to be a lot easier, and I just keep working the way I have been. It's really helped a lot.

McKeen's: As I mentioned in that really long lead-up to my previous question, the summer. What were some of the things that you did over the summer that helped you make (pauses), because I saw you at the Fall Classic and you had taken that next step I had wanted to see out of you.

Schmidt: Yeah.

McKeen's: Maybe it didn't show up statistically, but you looked good in the preseason. So, what were the things that you did this past summer?

Schmidt: This summer, I worked out a lot. I wanted to gain weight, first of all. I'm a tall kid, but I'm a pretty skinny kid. I had to try and gain some weight and work on that. Then, I just skated over the summer with a lot of my friends and my coaching staff back and forth. I just really worked hard on getting better as a player.

McKeen's: With the weight, what were you at and what are you at now?

Schmidt: I started the season two years ago at 165. After the summer time, I was 194. So, I really gained a lot of weight over the year and over the summer time.

McKeen's: Obviously, it'll probably go down a little bit during the season.

Schmidt: Yeah. I've already gone down (smiles and chuckles). I've already gone down to 185. But, I've still got some of that weight.

McKeen's: We've touched upon the improvements in your game, what are some of the areas skill-wise that you felt improved over the course of last season and what are some of the things that helped you do that?

Schmidt: I thought my poise really improved. I used to just go after the puck and kind of throw it around. Coming back as a vet, I had a lot more confidence, first of all. This summer I worked on passing, on focusing on stickhandling and battling in the corners. I believe that poise will really help me a lot this season.

McKeen's: Similar track, what are some of the things you're focusing on this season to help you make that next step?

Schmidt: I'm focusing on just doing the things that I do. I'm a power forward. When I play that way, I play well. I've got to go to the net, I've got to get in the corners, and help my teammates out and get the puck for them. I've got to focus on doing that and going to the net, and obviously it paid off tonight. Hopefully it can keep going.

McKeen's: You've touched on my next question a bit, but for those who haven't seen you play, what would you say is the style you play, you said power forward, and the strengths of your game?

Schmidt: I'm definitely a power forward. I'm good down low. That's really my game. I'm really good at moving the puck down low, getting the forecheck in, getting in there, going to the net. Playing on a line with [Stephan] Vigier, as I was tonight, he's a really skilled player, and my job is pretty much just to go to the net, get him the puck, and just battle hard. So, that's what I've been doing this year.

McKeen's: Provide a little size to Vigier's line, pretty much the classic combo.

Schmidt: Yeah.

McKeen's: You committed to Holy Cross this past summer, a program not known for USHL recruits, although they have Rob Linsmeyer right now, so that's starting to change. When did Holy Cross start talking to you and what made you decide to go there?

Schmidt: Holy Cross started talking to me about halfway through the year last year. We kept in touch somewhat during the year, and toward the end of the year a lot. I was talking to some other schools, but they really wanted me a lot. It's on the East Coast, and I'm from Philadelphia, and it's close to my house, so I wanted to stay on the East Coast for school, and it's a great school. I went on a visit and loved it. After I went on the visit, I just felt it was the right place, so I just went with it.

McKeen's: Worcester (Massachusetts, where Holy Cross is located) isn't too far from Warrington (the city near Philadelphia that Schmidt is from), looking at the map.

Schmidt: Yeah, it's about five hours, not that far. It's a lot closer than 20 hours.

McKeen's: (Laughs) Definitely. If I might ask, you mentioned other schools, who were some of those other programs that were going after you?

Schmidt: I talked to Cornell. I talked to Miami-Ohio once or twice. I talked to Brown. I talked to Michigan Tech. I talked to Union. I talked to Mercyhurst, and there were a couple more, but I can't quite remember right now.

McKeen's: There should be a good chance that you should be an impact player for Holy Cross when it's all said and done.

Schmidt: That's what I'm hoping.

McKeen's: As we've mentioned, prior to playing in the USHL, you played midgets with Valley Forge and high school with LaSalle. So, how does the caliber of play with midgets compare to the high school hockey in Pennsylvania that you were playing, and what was your schedule like? Did one take priority over the other?

Schmidt: We had a really good setup, actually, because our head coach for high school was the same as our midget coach, and most of our team on midgets was the same as high school. So, we really practiced just as a high school and didn't have midget practices, we just had a couple extra guys in there. Then, go play the games on the weekends. We ended up going to nationals and had a great year.

McKeen's: That is a good setup, because a lot of the times the midget team has to take priority over the high school team, but it sounds like it worked out very well for you.

Schmidt: Yep, very well.

McKeen's: Coming back to the Musketeers, I'd be remiss if I didn't ask who some of your teammates over this season and last season who've impressed you the most and why.

Schmidt: Last year, Stephane DaCosta was our best player hands down. He's the most skilled player I've ever played with. He's an unbelievable player. Just, everything he did. Whenever he wanted to score, he scored. It was just unbelievable. I saw in his fourth college game he had five goals (a 6-3 win versus Army). So, he's pretty impressive. And Vigier, he's a wonderful player, too. He's really smart with the puck, really skilled, and just a very good player.

McKeen's: Yeah, Da Costa did not hesitate to take shots.

Schmidt: No.

McKeen's: He took a lot of shots every game, and he has a hard shot.

Schmidt: Oh, yeah. Without a doubt.

McKeen's: No two ways about that. Going back to yourself, when did you first start playing hockey and how did you get that start?

Schmidt: I started playing when I was about five years old. I used to just watch hockey, apparently, with my dad on TV, watch the Flyers play. Because I was a fan, I wanted to go play, so my dad finally signed me up to play when I was five years old, learned to skate, and went from there.

McKeen's: I could predict who some of these might be, but who were some of your favorite players growing up and why, and who are some players now you'd like to equate?

Schmidt: My favorite player growing up was Eric Lindros. I was obsessed with him, I loved him. As of now, I'm a Mike Richards fan. I'm still staying with the Flyers, they're all my favorite players. Mike Richards, Simon Gagne's been one of my favorites for a while, Jeff Carter.

McKeen's: You can't go too wrong with Mike Richards.

Schmidt: No.

McKeen's: He's definitely skilled, but has great character as well.

Schmidt: Yeah, yeah. Without a doubt.

McKeen's: It'll be interesting to see what happens with Eric Lindros and the Hall of Fame.

Schmidt: I hope so.

McKeen's: I saw a poll question about it the other day, and I think he deserves it.

Schmidt: I agree.

McKeen's: If you look at it, especially those first 10 years…

Schmidt: Without a doubt.

McKeen's: … he was reallygood.

Schmidt: He was unbelievable.

McKeen's: You're in your second year of draft eligibility, and there have been a number of guys in this league who have gone their second year. Former Musketeer Phil DeSimone went in his third year of eligibility, but you only have the two years with where your birthday falls. Do you ever think about the draft as a possibility, hold it out as a goal?

Schmidt: I really hope so. I've dreamed about it since I was young, obviously. I've been working hard for it. I think this league is the right place to do it, if it happens. I don't worry about it when I'm playing or during the season, obviously not. If it happens, it'd be a great opportunity and I would love it, but we've got to see how the season goes.

McKeen's: Sure. Shift at a time, game-by-game, and if you take care of that…

Schmidt: Exactly.

McKeen's: … it'll take care of the rest.

Schmidt: Exactly.

McKeen's: Even if you go undrafted, you have Pat Rissmiller from Holy Cross, back in the day, he went undrafted and away he went.

Schmidt: Yep.

McKeen's: With that, drafted or not, what are your long-term goals with hockey, and what are you planning on majoring in at Holy Cross?

Schmidt: My ultimate goal is, obviously, to play in the NHL, if it's a possibility. I hope it is. We'll see how that goes. But, otherwise, at Holy Cross, I'm going to major in something like business management. I'd really like some stuff like that. Hopefully go forward with that and play a couple years in Europe if I don't play in the NHL and go on with my life. We'll see how it goes.