Jesse Schultz

Jesse Schultz (born September 28, 1982) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey right winger, who most recently played under contract with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.

Playing career Junior Schultz spent four seasons of junior hockey in the Western Hockey League, starting in the 1999–2000 season with the Tri-City Americans. He would be dealt to the Prince Albert Raiders midway through the 2000–01 season, where he played well, scoring 32 points in 35 games for the Raiders. However, it wasn't enough to get him selected in the 2001 NHL entry draft, as he was passed over in his first year of eligibility.

Schultz was traded to the Kelowna Rockets for the 2001–02 season, and posted solid totals of 28 goals and 64 points. However, he was passed over again in the NHL draft as scouts deemed him too small and too slow for the pro game. However, a 53-goal, 104-point performance in 2002–03 would earn him a free-agent contract from the Vancouver Canucks on July 31, 2003.

Professional Schultz turned pro in 2003 but failed to make the Manitoba Moose, the Canucks' primary farm team. Instead, he suited up for the ECHL Columbia Inferno, scoring 27 goals in 52 games. In 2004–05, Schultz did manage to stick in Manitoba, posting 9 goals and 24 points in 70 AHL games.

The 2005–06 season was a turning point for Schultz. After a disappointing first two professional seasons and in the last year of his contract with the Canucks, his pro future looked uncertain. However, he would have a standout year, leading the Moose with 37 goals and 67 points, and re-established himself as a player with NHL potential.

Heading into the 2006–07 NHL season, Schultz was considered a favourite to crack the Canucks' roster following the departure of several veteran forwards. Adding to his chances, he was a favourite of head coach Alain Vigneault, who had been promoted to Vancouver after coaching the Moose the previous season. However, Schultz had an extremely disappointing training camp and was returned to the AHL. Schultz was recalled to the Canucks after a solid start in Manitoba and made his NHL debut on November 29, 2006 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

On July 23, 2007, Schultz was traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the Atlanta Thrashers for Jim Sharrow. He would not play a game with the Thrashers in the 2007–08 season, instead playing with their affiliate the Chicago Wolves, where he would help them win the Calder Cup.

On July 6, 2008, Schultz signed with the Minnesota Wild on a one-year contract and was later assigned to affiliate the Houston Aeros. During the following season in 2009–10, Schultz joined the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers on January 6, 2010 for the remainder of the year.

On June 23, 2015, Schultz returned to Europe in signing a one-year contract with German club, SC Riessersee of the DEL2. In the summer of 2016, Schultz moved to the UK to sign for the Sheffield Steelers but he left the club in late December 2016.

On September 29, 2017, after beginning his third successive season in Europe with HC Nové Zámky of the Slovak Extraliga, Schultz returned to North America after five games in signing an ECHL contract with the Cincinnati Cyclones. He played three seasons with the Cyclones, winning the ECHL Most Valuable Player and ECHL Leading Scorer Award in the 2018–19 season. In 2021, he signed with the ECHL's Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

With the Cyclones returning to play for the 2021–22 season, Schultz returned to the club agreeing to a one-year contract on July 14, 2021.

Personal life Schultz's cousin, Nick grew up in the same hometown and is also a professional ice hockey player.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1999–00 Tri-City Americans WHL 62 10 6 16 34 4 1 1 2 2 2000–01 Tri-City Americans WHL 30 5 8 13 16 — — — — — 2000–01 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 35 14 18 32 14 — — — — — 2001–02 Kelowna Rockets WHL 73 28 36 64 30 15 5 7 12 8 2002–03 Kelowna Rockets WHL 72 53 51 104 47 19 12 16 28 21 2003–04 Columbia Inferno ECHL 52 27 21 48 72 4 1 2 3 2 2003–04 Manitoba Moose AHL 2 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2004–05 Manitoba Moose AHL 70 9 15 24 33 14 3 2 5 2 2005–06 Manitoba Moose AHL 80 37 30 67 65 13 5 7 12 10 2006–07 Manitoba Moose AHL 67 18 21 39 35 7 0 0 0 2 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2007–08 Chicago Wolves AHL 80 26 40 66 43 24 8 5 13 18 2008–09 Houston Aeros AHL 76 22 33 55 51 8 1 1 2 2 2009–10 IF Björklöven Allsv 21 7 9 16 16 — — — — — 2009–10 Nürnberg Ice Tigers DEL 21 4 8 12 16 4 0 2 2 27 2010–11 SG Cortina ITL 33 16 33 49 30 — — — — — 2010–11 Rapid City Rush CHL 6 0 4 4 4 15 1 9 10 30 2011–12 Rapid City Rush CHL 49 24 40 64 58 6 5 4 9 4 2012–13 Hockey Milano Rossoblu ITL 8 2 2 4 4 — — — — — 2012–13 Rapid City Rush CHL 43 18 27 45 12 6 1 3 4 0 2013–14 Rapid City Rush CHL 66 23 62 85 26 7 2 2 4 4 2014–15 Rapid City Rush ECHL 70 34 43 77 65 13 2 4 6 2 2015–16 SC Riessersee DEL2 52 22 23 45 28 3 0 1 1 0 2016–17 Sheffield Steelers EIHL 22 8 11 19 12 — — — — — 2016–17 Debreceni HK MOL 7 4 7 11 2 12 8 8 16 45 2017–18 HC Nové Zámky Slovak 5 1 0 1 2 — — — — — 2017–18 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 72 18 57 75 43 5 2 2 4 4 2018–19 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 71 22 58 80 20 11 3 4 7 4 2019–20 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 62 25 39 64 41 — — — — — 2020–21 Greenville Swamp Rabbits ECHL 18 2 2 4 6 — — — — — 2021–22 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 71 23 48 71 65 7 0 4 4 0 AHL totals 375 112 140 252 227 66 17 15 32 34 NHL totals 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —

Awards and honours Award Year WHL West First All-Star Team 2003 Playoff MVP 2003 AHL Calder Cup (Chicago Wolves) 2008 ECHL Most Valuable Player 2018–19 All-ECHL First Team 2018–19 All-ECHL Second Team 2017–18, 2019–20 ECHL Leading Scorer Award 2018–19