Schmidt brings experience to Chatham Univeristy

Joshua Schmidt was hoping he’d get some college offers but didn’t think he’d luck out this much.

The 21-year-old Dauphin King is headed south of the border to play NCAA Division III with the Chatham University Cougars out of Pittsburgh, Pa., for the 2026-27 hockey season.

“Pittsburgh’s a great spot for a division three program so I was just to the moon excited when they reached out,” Schmidt said. “I knew eventually I would have some interest from coaches, but I just didn’t know it would be in such a nice city.

“It’s a new opportunity in a new country, new city, so it’s a little bit different, but I’m really pumped up and excited to make some new friends too.”

The Markham, Ont., native wasn’t sure exactly where he’d end up playing hockey next year, if at all, but didn’t need to think twice when Chatham head coach Michael Gershon approached his advisor after the Christmas break. Two days later Gershon, who’s been with the club since 2020, chatted with Schmidt over the phone and then he was given his official offer in early March.

Once all the financials worked themselves out, Schmidt was able to seal the deal and at the best of times, right before the Manitoba Junior Hockey League playoffs.

“It was nice not having to grip the stick too tight because I know my option going into next year,” he said. “It was a little bit of a stressful time not knowing if you’re going to be playing or where you’re going to be playing for the next season, but it was a great feeling knowing once I did.

“If I didn’t have the commitment, my mental side would have been taking a lot bigger of a toll, but during the playoffs and everything, you don’t really think about it. It’s just let’s win our next game, but once we lost out of playoffs, it was a good mood booster and gave me peace of mind, just made being done with junior hockey a lot easier.”

Schmidt, a six-foot, 190-pound left-shot centre, has spent the last three seasons in Dauphin, a team that slowly helped him grow year by year.

In his first season, Schmidt chalked up six goals and nine points in 38 games as a guy who was still trying to find his identity as a player and how that style could benefit his squad. He said he learned a lot about himself in the post-season, as he began focusing less about the offence, and instead, what would give his team the best chance to win.

He went back to the basics, focusing on forechecking, playing the body more, and eventually found himself as the one who was counted on to shut down the opposition’s top players. Schmidt tallied two goals before the Kings bowed out in triple overtime in Game 7 of their first-round series against the OCN Blizzard. Albeit a disappointing result, it provided invaluable experiences for Schmidt, who learned to play in big-time situations.

In his second year in Dauphin, he stuck to his shut-down checking role on the third line and reeled in seven goals and 18 points and then registered a goal and four points on his team’s way to the Turnbull Cup final, where they fell just a goal shy of a championship after falling to the Blizzard in another Game 7 triple overtime loss.

“It was in our fingertips and one bad break and it’s in the back of our net and we don’t move onto Centennial Cup,” said Schmidt. “It was pretty heartbreaking, but I learned a lot just from knowing how to play in big important games. Game 7 triple overtime, you don’t get bigger games than that, so that’s the biggest thing for me.”

Schmidt notched one more goal and an assist for eight goals and 20 points in 57 games with the Kings this season, but their playoff aspirations ended way sooner than anticipated after the lower-seeded Waywayseecappo Wolverines upset them in a 4-0 sweep.

While his team didn’t go on a run like last year, Schmidt is still bringing plenty of experience to a Cougars team that continues to improve each and every season. Chatham posted a 20-6-1 record this year and a 10-5-1 showing in their United Collegiate Hockey Conference, reaching the semifinals before losing 7-5 to the Geneseo Knights. They have yet to win a championship, but have still taken massive strides since their inception in the 2017-18 season.

The program recorded just three victories in 24 contests in 2019-20, five in 13 games during the COVID season, 10 in 2021, 14 in 2022, 11 in 2023, and then 10 in 2024. They doubled their win output this season, which was a big appeal to Schmidt.

“First off, they’re a winning hockey team, that was the main thing,” he said. “They’re consistently improving, so I’m excited to join their group.”

Schmidt is also excited to work with Gershon, who seems to have already made an impression with the newcomer.

“He seems like an amazing person, very down to earth and relaxed guy, but also seems like he runs a great ship over there,” Schmidt added. “He told me he plays who deserves to play, so if you work your bag off, you’ll be playing and the way you play determines your role and I really like that.

“He told me he likes my work ethic based on what he’s seen from me so if I just keep that up, it should be a somewhat positive outcome, but coming in as a freshman, it’s always a bit tough to consistently be in the lineup and everything, so I just got to keep working and things will settle itself.”

He doesn’t know anyone on the team except for his future roommate William Brown, who he met recently. Brown, a New Jersey product, played for the Seacoast Spartans of the National Collegiate Development Conference last season, so Schmidt is hoping he’ll have some pointers to give when the two begin in the fall.

Schmidt said he can’t wait to get started.

“I always wanted to play get my schooling and be able to continue hockey as well so college hockey has always been something I wanted to do and I’m just really looking forward to it.

“Going to battle with your best friends every day, it’s just the ultimate team sport and that’s what I love most about the game and am excited to see in Pittsburgh.”

» mdelucataronno@brandonsun.com