Right-winger Cliff Schmautz split one NHL season between the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers. His brief NHL tenure came late in his pro career when he was an established scoring star in the Western league.
The older brother of Bobby Schmautz was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and played junior with the local Quakers. During his first pro season he scored 32 goals for the IHL's Omaha Knights and never looked back. He excelled with the EPHL's Soo Thunderbirds then spent several years tormenting goalies in the WHL. Overall Schmautz topped the 20-goal mark six times with the Portland Buckaroos and was the top scorer in WHL with 104 points in 1966. That year he was also named to the league's first all-star team.
In June, 1970 his hopes of playing in the NHL received a boost when he was claimed by the expansion Buffalo Sabres in the Intra-League Draft. Schmautz scored five goals in 26 games then joined the Flyers for 30 games after he was claimed on waivers. Following his dream season, the classy veteran returned to the WHL and retired in 1975.
