Sit Down with Schutz: Payton Struck
Payton Struck is from Rogers, Minnesota, and as a member of the Rogers High School team, saw his age group start a new era of success for Rogers. After years of quarter-final losses, Struck’s team then jumped to competing in the section 5AA final. Struck said, “I think we were just a small step to, you know, building a big, successful program. I mean, you’ve got to start somewhere. Then I guess our success brought in a couple more guys.”
Struck joined the Shamrocks early this season, after being traded from the Minnesota Wilderness during training camp. In his final season of NAHL eligibility, Struck was excited to come to Watertown. Struck said, “I came here pretty early. I met a lot of the guys, seemed pretty good. I was excited, started a new season, new team. A fresh start, especially for my last year. Seeing the facility, the organization, and everything has been awesome. It’s been the best so far. I’m pretty excited to keep moving forward.”
The Shamrock’s team culture and identity have developed throughout the year, but the end goal has stayed the same: to win. Struck said, “It’s intense some days. I mean, you can’t have a lazy team. It’s not, but you’re not going to win games (that way). So we’re pretty, we go hard in practice, and try to translate that to our games and play a full 60 minutes and then 65 if we need to on other days.”
Struck has played in a variety of junior hockey leagues during his time, noticing the different styles, but his time in the NAHL has been the most valuable to him. Struck said, “NCDC was where I started, in Utah, that was a pretty nice area, just a little step in my junior career. Then I went to the BCHL, very different in speed and physicality-wise. But here (NAHL), I think it’s helped me a lot more. I’ve been here for two years now, the NAHL, I think it’s been one of the most important parts of my career so far.”
Each player here in Watertown has an individual experience on top of their team experience, with Struck also being a part of that. Each of those stops and his time as a Shamrock has shaped his experience. Struck said, “It helps you a lot. I mean, you get a different POV every time you talk with other guys, in their position, or even coaches. Everyone’s trying to help you, the team, so it’s pretty nice.”
This season marks Struck’s final year of junior hockey eligibility, and through these past three seasons, Struck considers himself lucky. Struck said, “Just waking up every day, going to hockey. I mean, just taking it in. It’s the last time you’ll be able to do this, so try to have fun with it.”
Like many players on this roster, Struck sees how valuable and accepting this community of Watertown truly is. Struck said, “I don’t want to sound basic and say like it’s everything but, I mean, they’re my family right now. They’re very important. They’re everything.”
Thank you, Payton, for sitting down with me!