Competitors compete, and Justin Schmit certainly fits that bill.
From the hockey rink to the MMA cage, Schmit, 33, has consistently refused to back down from a challenge.
"I've never turned down a fight. I've fought at heavyweight, I've fought at light heavyweight, I've fought at middleweight, and I've fought at welterweight," said Schmit in an interview.
"I just like to be able to compete. My biggest fear is fear itself. I'm terrified of being scared. I love to be able to face that fear, and the only way I know how to do that is to get in there and compete."
Though he currently carries a 4-8 professional MMA record, Schmit wasn't too long ago exchanging strikes on the ice, professionally, as well.
Schmit noted that because speed and puck-handling weren't his strengths, he recognized early on that the enforcer position offered him a legitimate path in hockey—and he followed it for years.
"I knew from a young age that if I was going to have a career in hockey, I'd have to do the things that others didn't want to do," said Schmit.
"Guys may say they like dropping the gloves, but I don't think they liked doing it as often or consistently as I did."
Protector of The Pack
Brent Cullaton served as Schmit's former teammate and has remained a close friend since 2006. He described Schmit as unusual among hockey players for genuinely enjoying the fight game.
When Cullaton learned Schmit had picked up MMA, it surprised him not at all given what he had witnessed on the ice.
"There's guys in hockey that fight, but don't enjoy it. Then there's guys like Schmit who fight, but they enjoy getting hit. It kind of wakes them up," said Cullaton in an interview.
"MMA is a perfect fit for him. It's just about learning the martial arts and the discipline to be a full-rounded fighter."
During their years together as teammates, Cullaton said Schmit fully committed to the enforcer role.
He described Schmit as protecting every member of the squad like family, constantly letting opponents know what they were walking into.
"He was always a team-first guy with a good attitude, and very positive towards his teammates," said Cullaton.
"He was like the father goose of the clan. He was very protective of his teammates and played the role very well. If anyone touched one of his boys, they were going to pay the price."
By 2008, Schmit had shifted his focus to trading punches inside the cage instead of on the ice.
However, even after years spent as an enforcer, Schmit emphasized that an MMA bout differs dramatically from a hockey scrap.
"I had to forget everything I knew about hockey fighting when I went to MMA because it's like apples and grapes. There's no parallels between the two," said Schmit.
"A hockey fight was more of a sprint whereas an MMA fight is more of a marathon."
Butterflies
With 12 professional MMA fights now under his belt, alongside countless hockey fights in front of large crowds, Schmit has accumulated ample experience performing in the spotlight.
Yet despite having thrown punches at another person more than 50 times throughout his life, Schmit admitted he still feels nervous before every cage appearance.
"For me, it's the fear of the unknown. You have all this build up, all this training, and completely alter your lifestyle for the fight, and you just don't know what's going to happen after the door closes," said Schmit.
"If you get in the cage and there's not a ball of nerves, you definitely got something wrong with you."
In 2014, he elevated his MMA involvement even further by launching his own gym, Apex MMA, in his hometown of Strathmore, Alta.
Beyond covering expenses, Schmit explained that running the facility gave him the freedom to train full-time and arrive better prepared for each outing, including his scheduled Unified MMA 35 matchup.
Given Strathmore's remote location—"out in the middle of nowhere," as he described it—Schmit viewed opening a gym as a way to give back to the community while building a sustainable career.
"I like seeing people be able to live out their passion, and me being able to facilitate it," said Schmit.
"I like seeing kids happy, and I like seeing adults, who maybe didn't make the healthiest choices earlier in life, changing their lifestyle."
Expertise Not Going Unnoticed
Regan RunningRabbit has been training with Schmit at Apex MMA for two years, compiling a 2-1 amateur MMA record during that span.
Because Schmit remains an active competitor himself, RunningRabbit noted it's particularly valuable for him and fellow athletes to study someone whose knowledge is still current.
"He has a lot of experience inside the cage and has fought a lot of the top talent here in Canada, so he's been there in situations I haven't been in yet," said RunningRabbit in an interview.
"For a game plan for a fight, he can definitely look at my opponent and tell me where I can excel."
The mentor-student dynamic matters greatly for a fighter's development, and RunningRabbit said Schmit demonstrates excellence across every coaching dimension.
The period preceding a contest can be intensely stressful and anxiety-inducing for any competitor, particularly those new to the sport. RunningRabbit credited Schmit's demeanor and outlook for helping to put everyone's minds at ease.
"Even though he pushes you to crazy limits, Schmit has really awesome humour. He can turn a bad situation into a funny situation," said RunningRabbit.
"He keeps the humour in the gym very energetic and keeps everyone moving, making sure everyone's on top of their game."
