Porcupline Plain’s Smith commits to University of Minnesota

“Obviously I loved hockey from day one and it’s the dream to play it at a high level, but no one ever knows if stuff like that will come true. As soon as I laced up the skates, I knew all of this was something I wanted to do, and it was what I was going to put all my time and effort into. To live through it and get to experience it is just so cool and awesome.”

A 2006-born defenceman, Smith has done everything and more in his time with the SIlvertips, setting their franchise record for points by a defenceman, being named a defenceman of the year finalist, and now captaining the squad which is currently competing for a WHL Championship.

Unfortunately for the 2024 Anaheim Ducks draft pick, he’s had to miss a majority of this year’s postseason, after a late first-round injury. But that hasn’t deterred his leadership and team-first mindset.

“The goals are to win, whether that be a league title and/or Memorial Cup, but I think we do a good job of just taking it day by day. We do a good job of focusing on the next and staying in the now and not looking into the future too much, but at the same time, that is the ultimate goal,” Smith added.

“The way we’ve been playing all year, both as individuals and as a team, I think that’s almost become the norm for us, just because we kind of expect that out of each other. Every day we come into and push each other to the max, and that’s just kind of the mentality that we’ve had over the last couple of years.”

For now, the hope is Smith can get back soon, his team can continue to find a way, and that the northeast local can end off his great Silvertip career before joining a Gophers club that will be chasing their sixth NCAA National Championionship.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8

by Ben Tompkins

Porcupline Plain’s Smith commits to University of Minnesota

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