15-Year-Old Canadian Hockey Prodigy Hailed as the Next Sidney Crosby
Photo credit: CBC
There's a new prodigy that will likely make a big impact in the NHL one day, and it's 15-year-old Maddox Schultz, who is being hailed as the next Sidney Crosby.
Postseason is already in full swing for both Maddox Schultz and his family members and the signs are already showing.
The most apparent? His appearance. Like so many of the playoff-bound hockey clubs, the Saskatchewan U-18 AAA's Regina Pat Canadians have gone blonde collectively. His concentration has also intensified.
Schultz turned 15 on March 15th, the high point in a banner season. At 14, Hockey Saskatchewan gave him special permission to play with the Pat Canadians, where the youngster paced the U-18 league in scoring, assists, and overall points.
He also led the top-level Circle K Classic to the MVP honor, joining the group that features Landon Dupont, Gavin McKenna, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Zach Parise.
Hockey is in his blood. His mom and dad, Vicki and David, both coach high-level figure skating and spent their youth at the rink with Maddox and his younger brother Sydney.
Playing against veterans is not new to him. He played for the Pat Canadians at the age of 13 last season, and his coach Ryan Hodgins thought it would not be a problem at all.
"It's definitely unique to have a player at that level at that age, but you could see it coming with Maddox, from when he was playing minor hockey, that he was a special player."
- Ryan Hodgins
- Ryan Hodgins
Now Canadian scouts are paying attention. The majority of people believe that the 2010-born skater is the best from his birth year.
"He's built like Crosby"
Even WHL old-timer Todd Ripplinger of the Moose Jaw Warriors has likened him to one of the all-time bests, Sidney Crosby.
"He's built like Crosby, he can score like Crosby, gets in tight around the net," Ripplinger said. "His shot is so, so hard and strong already for a 14-year-old, but his biggest attribute is his skating."
With the Pat Canadians at the top of the regular season standings currently, the coming weeks will decide it. They are aiming to win the league title and qualify for the Telus Cup.
There is also a rumor that Maddox will apply for exceptional status during the 2025-26 WHL season, following the path of superstars Landon Dupont and Connor Bedard.
| POLL | ||
MARS 17 | 248 ANSWERS 15-Year-Old Canadian Hockey Prodigy Hailed as the Next Sidney Crosby Will Maddox Schultz have a career similar to Sidney Crosby's? | ||
| Yes | 55 | 22.2 % |
| No | 193 | 77.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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