Q & A: Paxton Schulte

Graham Smyth
Aug 18, 2003

Paxton Schulte hails from Edmonton, Alberta and was drafted by the NHL's Quebec Nordiques (sixth round, 124th overall) in 1992. Schulte only played two games in the NHL, one with the Nordiques and one with the Calgary Flames but in his six seasons in the AHL (with the Cornwall Aces and St John's Flames) he proved that he could do more than drop the gloves, passing the 30 point mark on four occasions.

Schulte moved to Britain in 1998 to join the Bracknell Bees, and after two seasons he followed coach Dave Whistle to a brand new franchise in Belfast.

The big left winger has signed for a fourth season with the Belfast Giants, and is firmly established as a fan favorite. "Pax" scored the first ever goal at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast and has dropped gloves with almost every tough guy to play in the British Ice Hockey Superleague in the last five years.

Last season he had 13 goals and 11 assists in the regular season, and 7+9 in the playoffs.

We spoke before a game with the Sheffield Steelers.

Graham: Could you start by telling me how you got into the fighting side of the game?
Paxton: I started out in Juniors, I was fairly tough coming out of that and had some good tilts there. Then in my first year of pro, there was the difference between being tough and being "man-strong", so I was fighting guys that had that strength....so in my first three fights I took 36 stitches! They were lefties!! But I had scored 30 goals in my third season in the American League, and then in my fourth season all our tough guys were kinda hurt and I had a good fight with a guy called Gerry Fleming, about 6'5 or 6'6 and from there I had 30 fights that season! So there were 30 goals and 30 fights, but it's not something I'd like to do again, although if I don’t do it, someone else will! That's kinda how I fell into it, but now being over here I just try to be a well rounded player and score goals and fight if I have to. Like I've said in other interviews, there are two reasons to fight. Protect a team-mate and change the momentum of the game. You get the odd one or two after that, but it's not too bad.

Graham: Do you have a strategy at all?
Paxton: I learned a lot in my second year from a guy called Serge Roberge. He was a tough guy, although if he could have skated he could have been a real tough guy in the NHL. He said, if a guy's pushing you around, let him tire himself out, there's 200 feet of ice out there. Wait for your spots, it always helps knowing if the guy is right handed or left handed, and whether you need to keep him in or out. It's just a matter of being focused. You can't be afraid to get hit, that's when guys get hurt, but you don't wanna take too many punches either! You don't have to win every fight but you need to show up and make it a good one.

Graham: Do you think about it or talk about it with Kruser (Paul Kruse) before a game?
Paxton: I don't think we do it so much here, because there aren't a lot of fights in the ISL. In my first year, I didn't have anyone telling me who were the tough guys in the American League and got beat up a lot and took a lot of punches and stitches. My second year I had guys who would look out for me, so I would make a point of talking to the younger guys, letting them know who was lefty or righty or who to expect and when to expect them. Kruser and I kinda know the other guys, and don't talk about it as such, but it's always good if you know something extra about someone to let the other guys on your team know.

Graham: Do you have any memorable bouts from your time in North America?
Paxton: Well I fought lots of guys who are tough guys in the NHL now, like Oliwa, Baumgartner was, Simpson...haha, I dunno, there's a few. Went to camp with Kruser, and I was always glad he was on my team (laughs), but I ended up fighting him last year at home (in Belfast). I definitely respect Paul Kruse, he's done his job for a long time, and done it well, and he can play hockey. Even when you respect somebody, you gotta stand up and be counted. I always remember fighting Gerry Fleming too, just because it was the beginning of the end for me (laughs) as far as fighting and goals went. But yeh...Kruser and I pretty much beat the crap outta each other and it was over and done and that’s the way it should be. Any guy who says he's never been beat up is a liar, and isn't really a tough guy.

Graham: What made you decide to come to play in Britain?
Paxton: I got tired of the fighting, but in my first year here ended up fighting quite a bit. I just wanted to play hockey, and there are only three lines so you get lots of ice time. There are a few less games, and as you get older your bumps turn into bruises, and the bruises turn into injuries. It takes a little bit more to get into shape, and it hurts a little more, but everyone on our team still has the drive to win.

Graham: Do you enjoy all the ice time you get?
Paxton: Yeah, definitely. I don't want it handed to me either, I think if it's handed to you, you don't appreciate it as much, so I still feel like I earn what I get. For the most part, everybody works for what they get here, which is good too.

Graham: You've scored a lot of goals this season, and not had too many fights, what's the reason for that?
Paxton: The guys have been good this year, it's another successful season for the team. Any time a players penalty minutes go down his points production will go up, or at least his standard of play. With the new changes in the league you can't take too many fights, and you have to pick and choose. Part of being a good team player is knowing when you should and shouldn't. If you're up 2-1, why should you fight? If you're down 2-1, the other guy shouldn't want to fight you. If you can be smarter than the other team, and suck them into penalties or get under their skin then you're doing your job too. You don't always have to show the other team or the crowd that you're tough, so long as your team-mates know that you're there and are gonna stand up for them when the time comes.

Graham: Is that your attitude when you play Nottingham, cuz you seem to come in for a lot of abuse!?
Paxton: Yeah, I think part of it is trying to be a little more disciplined and a little smarter. You can't afford to take penalties when you're trying to win games. There are a lot of times when you can show you are tough. You can take a hit, and I think it takes more discipline to get the s**t beat outta you (laughs) than to hack somebody behind the knees, you know? I think my teammates see that and respect that, knowing that I can be tough when I need to be and disciplined when I need to be.

Graham: Looking back on this season, were there any low points?
Paxton: I think there are always little lulls, it's a little like a rollercoaster. Nothing really bad. We struggled a bit with injuries but guys stepped up. It was a little unfortunate when I hurt my knee, that might be my low point. The guys were good though, I tried to stay around the rink and they included me. Sometimes it's harder to be injured than it is to play the game, you just want to be part of the team, especially when it's such a good group of guys.

Graham: Is there any one guy in the league that you'd like to fight? Or that you don't respect?
Paxton: There's a lot of guys that I don't feel are true tough guys and use cheap shots. That's not what I would say is hockey orientated. Tough guys generally don't talk, and when you're down on the ice, that's it over but, I can't really pick one guy out, as much as I'd like to. There's times when, back home in the league, the linesmen step in and it's done, you just don't do stupid s**t and sucker punch guys. That's not tough. You don't go home and tell your kid that you sucker punched a guy in the back of the head, and that makes you tough. Just like in boxing, hitting a guy after the bell. That doesn't count for anything, or show you are tough. If anything, it's the opposite.

Graham: What is it like for your kids, knowing that you fight and could get hurt?
Paxton: Well, my kids are pretty young and live with their Mum. I haven't really exposed them to it too much. Riley has just learnt to skate, Maddison is just learning too, they're 6 and 3. When the time comes they'll see it, but I'll be older then and probably retired. They'll be old enough to understand it's place in the game. I know with Paul (Kruse) and his kids it's the same, you don't like to see it. It's like when you put on the WWE, I watched that thing with "Mankind" getting thrown off the cage and he got hurt. Now as much as that is for show, with the blood and all, no one really likes to see their parents get hurt. Even when I play hockey, I go out and try to hit guys hard in respect. Never would I go out to try and injure somebody by highsticking them in the face. It does happen when you accidentally clip a guy in a hit, but putting your shoulder into someone's chest you want to hurt him, but not so much that he's injured or anything. It's unfortunate when guys get hurt, but you can't get scared, or you'll get hurt yourself.

Graham: Do you think it's a comfort for your teammates, having Paul and yourself on the ice?
Paxton: I know for myself, there was a sigh of relief when Whis (then Belfast coach Dave Whistle) signed Paul, cuz for the first part of my four years it was myself doing all the fighting pretty much. I would go to London and they would have three tough guys, but with Paul, even if neither one of us fight, the other team know that the toughness is there if need be. It was great relief for me, and I know that if I'm on the ice and can't fight or am injured, Paul is there to look after myself or the team. That makes for a good team unity.

Graham: What will the next few seasons bring?
Paxton: We'll have to see, there are quite a few changes going on. We'll have a new coach in Belfast now and I think Stewy (Rob Stewart, new Belfast coach) will do a great job. Games change off and on the ice, and line-ups change so much. From season to season there can be 10 to 12 new guys, so we'll just wait and see.

Graham: What is the high point in your career?
Paxton: Well, being drafted in Montreal. My first NHL game, and my second and only other NHL game. Just all my experiences, meeting a lot of good people. Belfast, my first night on December 2nd, scoring the first goal in the Odyssey, the first ever professional goal in Northern Ireland. That was something that will stick out in my mind, and the people of Belfast and how they've made me feel the last three years. Like a real professional and almost a hero. In my eyes they're heroes too, because they've brought the sport in and made it something that it was never before. My heart goes out to the fans in Belfast, hopefully there will be hockey there for many years to come.

Paxton will play a pivotal role in the Giants team next year, helping to bring on the talents of young British players. The British Ice Hockey League has been replaced by the Elite Ice Hockey League, and will feature more home grown players alongside seasoned fan favorites like Schulte. I want to wish him luck for next season, and thank him for giving the time to do the interview. I'd also like to thank Peter Collins for helping to set up the interview.

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