An Interview with Ray Schultz
by: Joe McDonald | Publisher and Editor-in-Chief | Friday, November 26, 2004
 ALBANY, NY - Ray Schultz is a name that hockey fans know, but really don’t. The defenseman is a two-way guy that has been playing between the AHL and the NHL for the past seven seasons, mainly for the New York Islanders. After captaining the Calder Cup champion Milwaukee Admirals last season, the 28 year-old signed a two-way contract with New Jersey and has taken his leadership to Albany. The veteran of 45 NHL games on Long Island sat down with MOFO Sports and he was kind of enough to answer a few questions for us.
MOFO Sports: After playing in the Islander organization for so many years, what is it now like to play for the rival Devils? Ray Schultz: I don’t really think of that as a factor at all; it is nice to have a home and somebody who wants you. It’s good to be playing hockey. MS: What was it like to win the Calder Cup with Milwaukee last season? RS: It was an unbelievable experience. It is pretty special when you get a group of guys like that together with talent and good coaching. I can’t ask for much more than that and I was happy to be a part of it. MS: What made you sign with New Jersey? RS: I was just kind of looking for a little security somewhere and the teams I was talking to only offered one year contracts. New Jersey gave a two-year contract and I jumped at that. New Jersey is a great organization; so it’s kind of a no-brainer. MS: Do you fully expect to be up in Jersey if there was no lockout or is this a two-way contract? RS: Definitely a two way contract. I have to earn my spot and they really don’t know what I am all about. I am just hoping to come in here and play well. Whatever happens, happens. MS: Being one of the older guys on the team, what kind of leadership are you offering to the younger players? RS: Well you just try to let them know what you see out there and give your past experiences if you see something. Sometimes guys are a little fresh and they don’t see it the way you see it. You just try to give little pats on the back and try to keep them working hard. MS: Who has been the biggest influence on your career? RS: I can’t really place it on anybody. I have seen lots of guys work hard and get to where they were by working hard. I don’t have anyone specific. MS: Let me give you a couple of names and you give your thoughts on them. Steve Stirling? RS: Does a good job with what he has. He gets the guys to work hard and he’s a pretty fair guy. MS: Mike Milbury? RS: He either loves you or hates you. You just need to stay on his good side. MS: Robbie Ftorek? RS: Still getting to know him. He seems like a pretty intense guy and has a different coaching style. Hopefully it will work here. MS: Lou Lamoriello? RS: Don’t know him that much either, but he seems to run a pretty tight ship. He has a specific way of doing things and he wants everybody on board. MS: So what is your take on the new AHL rules? RS: So far good; it has opened the game up a little bit and so far scoring is up. It’s working; keep it. MS: What team did you root for when you were growing up? RS: I grew up in Edmonton and the Oilers were winning their cups. It seemed like it was normal. MS: What has been the most memorable moment of your career? RS: There are a couple of them. To start getting drafted and being one of the guys that year in the whole world to get drafted was quite an honor. My first NHL game was pretty special; you just want to play that one game and after that you want to play more. And definitely winning the championship last year was biggest highlight of my career. To finally win something was pretty special. I just got that ring a couple of weeks ago and it’s a great feeling. Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Albany River Rats.
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