subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sat, Nov 21 2009 

Published: July 07, 2009 11:16 pm    print this story  

SABRES: Schutz still skating under radar

By Tim Schmitt
Niagara Gazette

LEWISTON Last year with the Portland Pirates, a smallish Sabre prospect had 42 points, using slick stick work to become one of the team’s better offensive forwards.

Tim Kennedy? Nope.

Nathan Gerbe? Nuh-uh.

Instead, it was lightly regarded Felix Schutz, who has slipped through the Sabres farm system the way he slipped through the ice at the team’s development camp at Niagara University’s Dwyer Arena on Tuesday. The camp continues today with a session open to the public from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Schutz finished with 25 assists in Portland, a marker that would probably put him on the radar with other teams.

But in Portland, with Kennedy and Gerbe garnering all the attention, Schutz was hardly noticed, perhaps because he’s included in what many Sabres fans hope is an up-and-coming class that can get the team back to the postseason. Schutz said the lack of notoriety hasn’t been a hinderance, but he isn’t thrilled with it either.

“I don’t have to be in the newspaper all the time,” Schutz said Tuesday. “I’m just trying to do my job on the ice and off it. I don’t think it’s a great thing that I’m not in the paper, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I guess I’ll just deal with it.”

Schutz, a native of Germany, was taken in the fourth round of the 2006 draft, and admits his first year in Portland didn’t get out of the gate quite the way he’d hoped. But when the season was done, he’d acquitted himself nicely, and had earned the trust of the coaching staff.

“It started off a little slow, but as we got going and I got a couple goals, I got a little confidence,” Schutz said. “Coach (Dineen) had a lot of confidence in me.”

That leads to this week’s camp, which offers another chance to impress the Sabres braintrust, most of whom roam the rinks during the drills and scrimmages. General manager Darcy Regier popped in and out of the Niagara facility on Tuesday and director of scouting Kevin Devine also was on hand. Chances are good he’ll start the season again in Portland, but if Schutz continues to produce, it’s a decent bet that his call will eventually come.

“There are so many prospects in Buffalo and everywhere else and they’re all good hockey players,” Schutz said. “There are only a couple spots every year and I think you put too much pressure on yourself if you think you can’t make it.

“There are still a lot of things I need to learn. You’re never perfect. I’m a center so I need to get better at draws. And if you can’t play in your defensive end, you can’t play at any level.”

Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.





print this story  

Photos


090707 Sabres Camp/sports DAN CAPPELLAZZO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPhER Lewiston - Buffalo Sabres rookie Felix Schutz works out during camp at Niagara? Dwyer Arena. DAN CAPPELLAZZO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPh/ (Click for larger image)



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Featured Jobs

DRIVER
Driver, light pick up & delivery, need own car, no WNY, valid NYS driver lic., good pay 694-1251...>MORE

Grill Cook
GRILL COOK & Waitresses, exp only, full time. Apply within 2021 Main St. Nia Falls ...>MORE

Driver
DRIVERS – CDL A
TEAM DRIVERS NEEDED FOR
DEDICATED RUNS
No touch freight............Good miles
...>MORE

Information Technology
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - Niagara County Community College is seeking a Director of User and Administrative Technology Se...>MORE

Private Investigator
Private Investigator
Proven ability and equipment to conduct surveillance, background inquires and searches. 1-5 ye
...>MORE

Coach, Women's Lacrosse
COACH, WOMEN’S LACROSSE - Niagara County Community College is seeking a head coach and an assistant head coach for the w...>MORE

Senior Citizen Program Coordinator
SENIOR CITIZEN PROGRAM COORDINATOR
City of Niagara Falls
Full-time position involves coord., developing & revi
...>MORE

Retail Manager
RETAIL Manager needed, exp needed, full time. Fax resumes to Hyde Park Laundry 285-8677....>MORE

Driver
DRIVERS – CDL A
TEAM DRIVERS NEEDED FOR
DEDICATED RUNS
No touch freight............Good miles
...>MORE

RN
JOB FAIR!!
Thurs., Nov 19, 2009, 11:00-5:00
RECRUITING FOR
FT Physical Therapist
RN’s
LPN’s
...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

1984 Cadillac Eldorado
CADILLAC Eldorado 1984, runs, inspected, $500. 283-3552....>MORE

Monte Carlo Z24 1998
MONTE CARLO Z24, 1998, runs good, average miles, excellent shape, $1800 , 990-2303...>MORE

Nissan 1993 4x4
NISSAN 1993 4x4, extended cab, bedliner cap, $1200 or best offer, 715-2450...>MORE

Dodge 1993 Dakota 4x4
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE

1999 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1999 Caravan, 33, V6, auto, A/C, 99k miles, good cond., runs great. $1950. 525-7796...>MORE

1996 Ford Escort
FORD 1996 Escort 4 cyl, 2 dr, exc cond in & out, no rust, 1 owner, only 61k orig mi, $2195. 523-7102...>MORE

VW 2001 Beetle
VW 2001 Beetle, loaded, GLX turbo, exc. cond, all service records, fun to drive, blue bk $5600, take best offer, 990-06...>MORE

Chevy 1995 Pickup
CHEVY 1995 Pickup truck, 4WD, 5 speed, must see, never had plow on it, $2800 bo, 804-5579...>MORE

Ford 2001 Taurus
Ford 2001 Taurus Station wagon, well maintained, 112,000 miles Siver ext. 4 dr, auto, asking $2800/BO. 716-772-2454....>MORE

Yamaha 1982, 750
YAMAHA 1982, 750, runs perfect,
low mileage, $895.
716-525-2889
...>MORE

See all ads





 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index