Axemen Geoff Schemitsch named CIS Top-Eight Academic All-Canadian
By John DeCoste (’77)
Geoff Schemitsch, a fourth-year student-athlete and member of the Acadia hockey Axemen, has moved around a good deal during his career, but it’s unlikely his travels have included a trip to meet His Excellency the Governor-General of Canada David Johnston at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
That’s where Schemitsch will be November 8 after being named a CIS Top-Eight Academic All-Canadian. Academic All-Canadians are exceptional student-athletes who achieve an academic standing of 80 per cent or better while playing on one of their university’s varsity teams. Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male from each CIS regional association are selected annually. Schemitsch is this year’s AUS representative.
It’s the fourth year in a row that an Acadia student-athlete has earned CIS Top-Eight Academic All-Canadian status. Previous honorees include Katie Ross (in 2015), Michelle Pryde (2014), and Travis Gibbons (2013).
In pursuit of excellence
Growing up in Thornhill, Ontario, in the northeast sector of Toronto, Schemitsch tried a variety of sports as a youngster, but by about age 10 it was pretty much all hockey.
He became a AAA-level player in his final year in the novice division. He started his career as a forward, but shifted to defense in his second year of novice. “Our team had a few injuries on defense,” he says. “I started playing D in the playoffs that year, and made it permanent the following year.”
After completing his midget eligibility, he began his major junior career with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack in the fall of 2009. Midway through his third season in Owen Sound, he was dealt to the Oshawa Generals at the OHL trading deadline and spent the remainder of his junior career in Oshawa.
Drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fourth round of the 2010 NHL entry draft, by his final season in junior, he had decided to continue his education and play university hockey.
Set on coming east
Schemitsch says he was set on coming east for university. He considered Saint Mary’s and UNB, but had several nudges in the direction of Acadia, his ultimate choice.
“My overage season in Oshawa, our coach was Paul McFarland (’10),” a former multi-season Axemen captain. “We had a good talk about the school, the hockey program, and the town of Wolfville.”
As well, Liam Heelis (’15) was a teammate in Owen Sound, “and we won a championship in his final year.” In 2013, Heelis, by then at Acadia, could also put in a plug for the Wolfville campus and the Axemen.
Schemitsch’s first recruiting stop was Acadia, followed by Saint Mary’s. “I came here first and really loved it. The guys were awesome. It was a great experience, and I fell in love with the town.”
He found Wolfville “similar to the experience I’d had in Owen Sound, which was the smallest market in the OHL. We won a championship there, and I remember well how much it meant to the community. Wolfville had the same feeling, and the (Axemen) team was on the verge of winning.”
Acadia captured the AUS championship in 2014, Schemitsch’s first season, and qualified for CIS nationals again the following season after reaching the conference final. “Those were great experiences,” he says. “It was great to see how much it meant to both the school and the community.”
4.0 GPA
Schemitsch chose Acadia just as much for its academic reputation. He was an Academic All-Canadian each of his first three years, and has maintained a 4.0 Grade Point Average in his kinesiology studies.
On the ice, he considers himself “a two-way defenseman, capable of creating opportunities offensively while still being strong defensively and positionally strong.” At just over 6’2” and “a bit lankier than most, I’ve benefited from a little extra reach.”
His on-ice success was recognized with an AUS and CIS All-Rookie Team selection in 2014 and an AUS second-team all-star selection in 2016.
From his perspective as a fourth-year player, Schemitsch believes the Axemen “are definitely headed in the right direction. The guys are competing and working hard. Everyone is on the same page and committed to success.”
A 2-2 start to the regular season “wasn’t quite what we were looking for, but we played two strong games against St. F.X.” despite losing both contests. “As we come together more as a unit, we’ll be able to get better results in the close games. Right now, we’re focused on our next game.”
Enjoyed the Acadia experience
Schemitsch has completely enjoyed the Acadia experience. “I’m in my fourth year of kinesiology, and I’ve loved everything to do with the academic side. We’re fortunate here to be able to have small classes and form a great understanding with our professors.”
Outside the classroom, “one of the best decisions I made was to get involved with the athletic therapy program with Dr. Jim MacLeod. I’ve helped out with the hockey team as a therapist. It’s a bit difficult where I’m playing, but we’re a program that’s pretty much year-round these days.”
It has been challenging to balance everything, especially where “our season is now 30 games, not counting the playoffs and hopefully nationals as well.”
Schemitsch was a student leader with the Acadia S.M.I.L.E. (Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience) program in his first year and is doing S.M.I.L.E. again this academic year. He couldn’t take part last year due to a conflict with classes.
At present, he and teammate and classmate Taylor Makin “are paired with S.M.I.LE. buddies on a regular basis.” His first year, he ended up paired with another teammate, Michael Clarke.
“Our senior seminar team project is ‘Shoot-Score-Smile’, which will be running during intermissions in the second semester. We’re looking to help do our part to raise funds and awareness.”
Set to graduate in 2017
Schemitsch is on schedule to graduate in the spring of 2017. The busy academic schedule he has maintained “has been a little nerve-wracking,” and he will “have mixed emotions when my time here comes to an end.”
While he would never rule out returning for a fifth season with the Axemen, he says it is probably unlikely. He is looking forward to getting on with the next phase of his life and career, even though he is “unsure what life will be like afterward.”
He has “applied to a couple of graduate programs, but nothing is guaranteed. I’m not sure how things are going to play out. We’ll have to see what happens in terms of grad school.”
He is looking at medical school, to specialize in sport medicine, as well as “a couple of physiotherapy schools and thesis-based Masters programs.
“I’ve done research for two summers at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. I like the impact you can have doing research in areas like that. I like both the research and the clinical part. It’s very competitive getting into grad school these days and I’m keeping my options open.”
Schemitsch has no regrets at all over his decision to choose Acadia, which has been a great fit for him. “I’ve really enjoyed my time here. It’s a great atmosphere, and all the teams are in the mix, every year. You can see the culture within the athletic department continuing to grow. It’s great to see.”