Colton Schell spent parts of five seasons playing hockey in the northeast for the Melfort Mustangs and Tisdale Trojans. (Facebook/Broad Leaf Media)

By Mat Barrett

Schell Commits

Schell commits to Portage College after long hockey career in northeast region

Mar 22, 2021 | 3:19 PM

Another graduating Melfort Mustangs has committed for post-secondary hockey.

Forward Colton Schell has committed to Portage College in Lac la Biche, Alta. for the 2021/2022 hockey season. The Voyageurs play in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. Schell said that with the limited opportunity to play this season, it’s nice to have some assurance as to his hockey future.

“It’s nice to have that closure,” he said. “And have a good idea of what I’m going to be doing next year for sure.”

Schell said that while Portage has had their recent struggles as a program, the coaching staff is on the right path and he likes the idea of getting an opportunity to play some good minutes right away with the team.

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A Lampman, Sask. product, Schell has a strong connection to the northeast region over the last few years. After one year of U18 AA hockey in Estevan, Schell was recruited by the Tisdale Trojans. Schell spent the next two seasons in Tisdale with the U18 AAA club. He was also a call-up to the Mustangs for three games in his final U18 season.

Schell decided to go to Alberta to begin his Junior A career, skating with the Camrose Kodiaks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). He had four assists in 19 games with the Kodiaks before being traded back to northeast Saskatchewan where he joined the Melfort Mustangs, a team he stuck with for the remainder of his Junior A career. Schell said the northeast region definitely feels like a second home with lots of familiar faces.

“I fell like if I walked into a store in Melfort or a store in Tisdale, for sure somebody would recognize me,” Schell said. “And I’d be able to have a good conversation with them.”

During his three seasons in Melfort, Schell said he really learned a lot about his game and got to play with some great players. He said head coach Trevor Blevins is a big reason for the development that took place.

“He really gave me a chance to develop my game,” Schell said. “And gave me that opportunity to play the minutes that some other coaches wouldn’t.”

Schell said what he’ll remember most is just the Junior A experience and being close to his teammates every year, and going on road trips. He said teams at this level are about as tight knit as it gets.

Two playoff runs were the highlights of his Junior career, he said, making the finals in 2019, and leading 3-1 against the Estevan Bruins in 2020 before the COVID-19 shutdown.

Schell played a total of 87 regular season games for the Mustangs, scoring 13 goals and adding 20 assists for 33 points. He added a goal and three assists in 14 playoff games as well. Schell’s two-year Trojan career included 88 regular season U18 AAA games where he scored 16 goals and notched 20 assists. He had 6 points in 13 playoff games as well.

Off the ice, Schell said he plans on taking Business at first, but moving to the electrical trade later on.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6