Colony grad signs pro hockey deal

July 29, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/Frontiersman

MAT-SU - Nathan Schwartzbauer will be the first to admit that during his days as a youth and prep hockey standout in the Mat-Su Valley, he liked to be in the limelight. He liked to score the goals. He liked to put up the points.

But now, after completing a stellar four-year career at the Division I level, Schwartzbauer is all about keeping the other guy from scoring.

The plus/minus rating is the priority. And that's a big reason why the former Colony High School and Bemidji State University blueliner has a chance to skate with the pros.

Schwartzbauer, a 2000 graduate of CHS, has signed a contract to play professional hockey for the Phoenix RoadRunners of the East Coast Hockey League.

Schwartzbauer, 25, also has the opportunity to try out for the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League.

Both the RoadRunners and the Rampage are affiliates of the National Hockey League's Phoenix Coyotes.

The RoadRunners are the ‘AA' affiliate of the Coyotes, and play in the same league as the Alaska Aces. San Antonio is the ‘AAA' affiliate, and one step below the NHL.

Schwartzbauer, a 6-foot-4 and 215-pound stay-at-home defenseman, will report to San Antonio's training camp in September. If San Antonio does not retain Schwartzbauer he will head to Phoenix and start his first pro season when the RoadRunners host the Utah Grizzlies on Oct. 19.

If Phoenix is his destination, Schwartzbauer said his new coaches have assured him he will be one of the team's top four defensmen. That translates to a ton of minutes on the ice for a blueliner who logged a mind-boggling +41 rating during his time at Bemidji State.

While Schwartzbauer may have been all about the goals in the past, now he's the big brute who sits in front of his own goal. And like a coach once told him, there are plenty of guys making millions of dollars in the pros doing just that - sitting in front of their own goal, passing pucks out of their own zone.

&#8220For some kids, they're focus is on the points. I'm not all about that,” Schwartzbauer said on Friday. &#8220I'm very happy with being the guy who goes up against the other team's top lines.

&#8220I'm really comfortable in that role.”

Schwartzbauer led Bemidji State in plus/minus in each of the last three years. He finished his senior year at +12, hit a career-high +14 as a junior and was a +13 as a sophomore.

Schwartzbauer said he's had the benefit of great coaching throughout his hockey career. Coaches that stressed, as a big, stay-at-home defenseman, he needs to be mean, tough, hit hard and handle the puck properly. He's ingrained that advice into his style of play. And Schwartzbauer said he now knows, instead of doing things with the puck himself, it's his job to get it to the forwards and let them score.

&#8220The shorter amount of time a defenseman has the puck, the better chance you have to score,” Schwartzbauer said, repeating what a coach has told him.

In the weeks immediately following the conclusion of his senior year of hockey, Schwartzbauer had several teams calling, eager to add the Wasilla native to the roster for a playoff push. But Schwartzbauer opted to postpone his pro career, and work on a full course load.

Schwartzbauer completed his requirements for a degree in sports management and business in the spring, and then started to think about hockey again.

He heard from several organizations, but ultimately, he felt Phoenix was the best fit.

&#8220It was the best deal,” Schwartzbauer said. &#8220That's who wanted me the most.”

Another plus for Schwartzbauer, the Valley athlete will have the opportunity to return to Alaska and play in his home state. The Alaska Aces host the RoadRunners on January 4-5.

&#8220I'm very excited to come back up,” Schwartzbauer said.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.