Matt Schmalz felt like a king after the NHL draft this weekend — that’s because he now is one.
The Los Angeles Kings selected the Sudbury Wolves forward in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft (134th overall).
“I stood up and said a curse word to my brother, I was that excited and me and my little brother hugged,” said Schmalz. "I was just extremely excited and so were my parents. That second after they called my name, it was exactly how I planned it out millions and millions of times in my head."
While many played the waiting game and let nerves creep in, Schmalz took the opportunity to spend some time with family instead of attending the first round of the draft.
“The Friday night, we didn’t go to the draft, we spent the day on the beach," he said. "I was pretty informed who was going in the first round and I wasn’t on the list, so it was pretty simple to know that I wasn’t going. So I went out for dinner with my parents and just went back to the hotel room.”
The Dunnville, Ont., native was passed over in the draft last year and says this year he played to have fun and let everything else take care of itself.
“I knew I didn’t have the season I wanted two years ago," Schmalz said. "I went to the draft last year to see Philadelphia, kind of went with my friends and had our own vacation, but enjoyed the draft and saw what it was like for the first time.
“Then, after the breakout season I had, I wasn’t too worried about it — that’s what my goal was for this season, to play and have fun and if anything happens it happens for a reason. That’s what I kind of went into the draft with, until it started, then I was freaking out and worrying where I was going to go,” said Schmalz.
The Kings jumped at the chance to take the 6-6 forward, but there were at least 10 teams in the mix for his talents and he was unsure where he would go with all the trades that were happening.
“In the second round, so many trades went down and then L.A. made that trade for (Milan) Lucic," Schmalz said. "I was running so many different scenarios through my head, I was just so worried who is going to take me and when is it going to happen.”
Now he is part of a Kings organization that has won two of the last four Stanley Cups.
“I think it’s a true honour," he said about being picked by the Kings. "I would have been glad to have been drafted by any team, but the L.A. Kings, is a confidence booster.
“Knowing that they want me to be a part of their organization and want me to help better their organization and win a championship in a couple of years, I really appreciate all that they have done for me.”
A cool moment for Schmalz was not just when his name was called, but who called it.
Director of NHL Central Scouting, Dan Marr, who is also a Dunnville native called him up and Schmalz said it was a great moment for himself, his family and the town.
Schmalz broke out this season and forced himself onto the draft radar after compiling 24 goals, which put him first in goals and second in points on the Wolves.
The Kings organization praised him for his size and his ability to use it.
Schmalz takes that size back to Sudbury next season where he will lead a younger Wolves team. It's just one more step along the road to one day donning the black, silver and white.
