JADEN SCHWARTZ:
Drafted by the Blues 14th overall in 2010, Jaden Schwartz has been a top scorer at every level where he's ever played. His sister Mandi's illness and tragic passing has been a source of inspiration for the Melfort, Saskatchewan native and his family for some time, and should continue to inspire him to new heights for years to come.
Schwartz signed an entry-level contract with the Blues in March, after the completion of his sophomore season at Colorado College. He scored his first NHL goal on his first NHL shot, but has seen more press box time than ice time since, despite recently being named the No. 8 prospect in the NHL by the Hockey's Future website.
Here's a LINK to a Schwartz feature at the USHL.com website ("Big NHL Debut for USHL Alum Schwartz"), including video of Schwartz' first NHL goal and an interview.
There's a good possibility that Schwartz will start the 2012-13 season as a first-line scoring threat for Peoria, biding his time for the seemingly inevitable mid-season rash of injuries to create an opening on a scoring line in St. Louis.
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Here's some more Schwartz video, also courtesy of the USHL website, as part of their "Alumni Voices" series:
Biographical information below taken from Schwartz' page at the Colorado College men's hockey website.
2010-11: Schwartz averaged 1.57 points per game, tops nationally among freshmen, and led Colorado College in scoring despite missing 15 outings due to a stint with Team Canada and an injury he sustained at the Junior World Championships...factored in on the game-winning goal in all four of CC's post-season victories, scoring a pair and assisting on two more while compiling 14 points (4g,10a) in seven playoff games overall...named to the all-tournament team at the NCAA West Regional, as well as national Rookie of the Year by Inside College Hockey and national Rookie of the Month for March/April by the Hockey Commisioners' Association...earlier was voted to the All-WCHA Third Team and Rookie Team...recipient of four major team awards, including MVP, and was involved in eight game winners altogether...recorded four assists in a game on two occasions, in victories over Denver (9-2) and Michigan Tech (7-3), while recording 14 multiple-point outings in only 30 appearances overall...collected five points in two games at both the WCHA Final Five and NCAA Regional.
HIGH SCHOOL/JUNIORS: Named Forward of the Year in the United States Hockey League in 2009-10 after winning the USHL scoring title with 83 points (33g,50a) in 60 games...an alternate captain for the Tri-City Storm, he helped lead the team to its first playoff berth since 2007 and added three goals during a first-round series against Omaha...a first-team All-USHL selection who earlier dished out an assist in the league’s 2010 all-star game...the youngest player since 1982-83 to lead the USHL in scoring, he also topped in the league with 16 power-play goals.
PERSONAL NOTES: Born Jaden Schwartz, son of Rick and Carol Schwartz of Wilcox, Saskatchewan, as well as younger brother of CC junior and Tiger teammate Rylan...first-round draft pick (14th overall) of the St. Louis Blues in June 2010...enjoys watching football and playing golf in his leisure time.