After nearly 20 years behind the bench, Guelph hockey coach hangs up the skates

After nearly two decades and countless hours behind the bench, Keith Schultz is moving on to the next stage of his life.

Schultz coached his final game for Guelph Minor Hockey on Sunday at the Sleeman Centre.

Sunday was understandably emotional for the 58-year-old, who has decided to step back just in time to become a first-time grandfather.

“(We) want to be around to help our daughter (Lindsay) any way we can,” he said.

“It was time, 17 years is a long time, and it was great. It was fantastic, actually.”

Those 17 years flew by in a hurry. The former goalie started as a goalie instructor, before moving on to a statistician role, then an assistant coach and finally a head coach.

Primarily, Schultz took care of the U14 to U16 age groups, taking on several development cycles and guiding players in their final three years before the OHL draft.

He has watched several players move up the ranks, including Connor Bunnaman, who would go on to captain the Kitchener Rangers, play 54 NHL regular season games with the Philadelphia Flyers and move to Europe to continue his pro career.

Schultz also raved about being able to coach four players from the 2003 age group who went on to win a Centennial Cup national title last season with the OJHL’s Collingwood Blues.

One of his proudest moments was in 2017, when the Guelph Jr. Gryphons minor bantams won the Ontario Minor Hockey Association championship, capped off by a double overtime win.

“It’s been great,” he said. “Honestly, I feel blessed that families have given myself the opportunities to be around their sons, and help develop them on and off the ice.”

The coaching staff has also been a constant in his life. Assistants Mark Dabello and Mike Pontes, and trainer Paul Dabello, have been along for the ride for the vast majority of Schultz’s time.

“That (constant), and the fact that being around the players and building those relationships (is the main reason I coached),” Schultz said.

“I can be somewhere, whether it’s a mall or Canadian Tire or somewhere, a player I coached 10 years ago, I still get a ‘how you do, coach Keith, what’s new.’

Schultz’s hope is that every player takes something from the experience, whether it was a lesson on the ice, or off of it.

He has an open schedule now. Not only did he retire from the bench, he is also a recent retiree after working 36 years with the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

“I’m still reflecting like I do every year, but this year’s more,” Schultz said.

“Somebody asked me is it easier to retire from work after 36 years or 17 years of coaching minor hockey here in Guelph. It’s the latter. This one’s tougher.”

But could it be more of a see-you-later than a goodbye?

“I already said to my daughter, in three years, maybe I’ll be back on a bench coaching the little guy, who knows,” he said with a chuckle.