Colin Schmidt

A player development fee the Melfort Mustangs paid to the Camrose Kodiaks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in September could turn out to be the best investment the team made this year.

The Mustangs acquired 19-year-old Colin Schmidt from the Kodiaks for the aforementioned fee and the 5-foot-11, 195-pound centre has responded by notching six goals and adding four assists in 18 games. Two of those goals, which included the game winner, came in his last outing when Schmidt helped the Mustangs edge the Estevan Bruins 4-3 and with that victory moved Melfort four points clear of the Nipawin Hawks for first place in the Sherwood Division standings.

The Spruce Grove product joined the Mustangs with a year of Junior “A” experience under his belt as last season with the Kodiaks he collected 10 goals and added six assists in 52 games.

Prior to making the jump to Camrose last year, Schmidt spent two seasons with the St. Albert Raiders of the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League where he netted 27 goals and set up 21 others in 68 regular-season games. He also got his first junior hockey experience during that time when he was held off the scoresheet in two games as a 17-year-old with the Kodiaks.

The Mustangs exploded out of the gate this year winning their first eight games and in that run Schmidt also got off to a hot start collecting half of his total output. Melfort then cooled off somewhat and likewise so did Schmidt, but after ending a five-game pointless streak with his production against Estevan on Wednesday it is hoped he has re-found his scoring touch as his success certainly looks to coincide with team success.