Sit Down with Schutz: Justin Bartley
Justin Bartley is from a suburb of Chicago, where the youth programs in the area provided young players like Bartley and others on the Shamrocks a path to success. Bartley said, “Illinois youth hockey is pretty good, so it kind of set us all up for success. We all played for Fury at some point, and then I went over to Mission when I was older. It’s a great place to be.”
Hockey culture was prominent in the area due to the Blackhawks’ accomplishments, including their Stanley Cup wins in 2010, 2013, and 2015. The impact of those wins and all-star players was felt across the Chicagoland area. Bartley said, “It was super inspirational. My favorite player was Patrick Kane. It definitely inspired a lot of kids like me to keep going and play hockey.”
Bartley is a returner to Watertown this year, after being a part of last year’s inaugural Shamrocks team. Being part of a first-year team brings numerous opportunities for players. Bartley said, “It was really cool. We got to build our own culture. It was fun to make a new team.” With that, Bartley was named an alternate captain to begin this season by his teammates. Bartley said, “It’s pretty cool to know that my teammates have my back and want me as one of their leaders. I try to set a good example and encourage them every day.”
As a defenseman, there are a variety of important traits that a player may carry in his game. For Bartley, he said, “Every game I try to bring a lot of good team spirit, and good passing.”
Last year, the Shamrocks started a series called The Bartley Show. This showcased Bartley asking other Shamrocks players a variety of questions every week, as well as offering a little behind-the-scenes look at the team. This year, the series continued with Bartley hosting again. Bartley said, “It’s fun, I think we sometimes ask questions we wouldn’t normally ask, or if we’re just talking. It brings out a different side of us.”
Watertown has given Bartley a place to continue his hockey career with lots of support. Bartley said, “I love Watertown. The coaches, the teammates, all the billets are great here. So it’s just a great place to play.”
Thank you, Justin, for sitting down with me!