WHL Bantam Draft
On April 22, 2020, the 15th overall pick in the annual WHL Bantam Draft was held by Prince Albert Raiders who then selected Terrell Goldsmith from Fort St. James, BC. He was listed at 6-foot-3 199 pounds, at only 14 years of age. Goldsmith played for the Delta Hockey Academy Bantam Prep Green of the CSSBHL and, in 23 games, had four goals and 15 assists the prior season.
Glimpse into the Future
Zack Hodder (former Prince Albert Raider and now WHL manager of player development) compared Goldsmith to Raider legend and NHL All-Star Dave Manson. Goldsmith will get some good coaching and mentoring in Prince Albert with Mark Habschied and Jeff Truitt behind the bench. Both coaches have worked with former and current NHL All-Stars, Shea Weber, Robyn Regehr, Josh Gorges, and Josh Morrissey, to name a few, and will be able to add another solid player to develop in Goldsmith. With the comparison being made between Dave Manson and Shea Weber, you can take a closer look at these two players that Terrell can look forward to recreating and taking parts of their games.
WHL Debut
Terrell Goldsmith made his WHL debut against the Saskatoon Blades as a 15-year-old and scored his first career goal against the Blades on April 22, 2021. Terrell played massive minutes as a 15-year-old and didn’t shy away from any of the game’s physicality. This season the Raiders got a glimpse of what the future has in store for them and the style that will make him a fan favourite for years.
What a moment for the underaged Terrell Goldsmith, who scores his first WHL career goal here. That gives the Raiders a 2-0 advantage, 16:27 into the first https://t.co/9r84aqW1Pn pic.twitter.com/1XWXZ12reo
— Jeff D'Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) April 22, 2021
Rookie of the year
After a solid first year, Terrell took home the George Cowie Award as the Raiders Rookie of the Year.
Getting to know the Raiders Rookie
How do you feel your first season went, and what do you want to improve next season?
I feel my first season went pretty good. I was fortunate to get the chance to get to come to the bubble and play some games. For next season I want to work on my skating, getting stronger and quicker.
How did it feel to get your first career WHL goal and score it against one of PrinceAlbert’s arch-rivals in the Saskatoon Blades?
Getting my first WHL goal was super exciting, and it was awesome to score against Saskatoon as they are rivals, and we really wanted to beat them.
What player do you compare your game to, and do you have a favourite NHL player and team?
My favourite NHL player is Shea Weber. I like to play physical and work hard like he does every game. I like to watch all the Canadian teams, but Montreal Canadians is probably my favourite team.
When getting drafted to the Raiders, what did you know about the city and the team?
When I got drafted to the Raiders, I heard they had a really passionate fan base and very good organization. I also heard it was cold there, but being from Northern BC, I am used to it.
What did you do in your spare time in the Hub, and how was your experience?
It was an awesome experience being there in the bubble and getting to hang out with the boys. We played lots of ping pong, some video games, and a little bit of pool.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
I don’t really have any pre-game rituals. But I like to have a pre-game nap, though, if it’s a later game. Other than that I just like to get to the rink,do my warm up and get prepared for thegame.
Are you excited to finally play a home game at the Hauser Centre?
I am super excited and looking forward to being able to experience playing in front of the fans there
