The Portland Winterhawks won their 20th game of the season over the weekend. A key to their success has been has been the play of their 17-year-old players.
Rookie defenseman Kurtis Smythe’s defense-first mentality is a welcome addition to Portland’s blue line.
“I’m a two-way player and try to be a player the coaches can trust in the defensive zone,” Smythe said, describing his game. “My first goal is to keep the puck out of my net, then if I can, jump up like Mike (Johnston) likes all the defensemen to do. I want to try to contribute and get some points and shoot the puck, but my main thing though is just defend and keep the puck out of my net.”
Mike Johnston, Winterhawks vice president, general manager, and head coach, mentioned how the organization “really liked Kurtis in his draft year. He is a mobile defenseman, headsy, and I just like his skating overall. It was a key thing that attracted us to him as a bantam player.”
Despite Portland’s initial interest in Smythe, the Saskatoon Blades selected him in the second round, 42nd overall, in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.
“I was at school going to Delta Hockey Academy and was there with all my buddies, and I think there were 14 or so guys drafted off our Bantam Prep team,” Smythe recalled. “I got drafted by Saskatoon, and I went to their camp but didn’t sign. It came to the next year at the draft and I wasn’t going to sign. I was thinking maybe going the college (NCAA) route. Then, I was traded to Portland, talked with Mike who came to my house.”
The 17-year-old blueliner only has positive comments about the Blades. “We went to Saskatoon and everyone there was really nice. They are good people there, and I have nothing bad to say about that organization. They have good players and management there. I just felt playing another year of Midget and developing and not committing to a team would be the best thing for me. I looked at all my different situations, could go college or WHL, and I looked into that. Saskatoon was asking if I was going to come, and it was back and forth. I just left it and they talked to Portland and set up the trade. It has been good for me so far with the trade. I’m happy here.”
On May 3, 2018, Portland traded a fourth-round draft pick to Saskatoon to acquire his rights.
Not long after — June 11 — the Cloverdale, British Columbia, native signed with Portland. “It was only a few months afterwards. Mike came to my house and did a presentation to my parents and me about Portland and the players who have come through there. I decided that this was a great organization to come to, so I signed. I thought it was a good fit and isn’t that far away from home either, about five hours.”
The five-foot-eleven, 178-pound defenseman spent four seasons with Delta Hockey Academy prior to joining the Winterhawks this season. His time with Delta helped prepare him for his rookie season in Portland. “Ian Gallagher runs Delta and they have had a lot of players go through there and moved on. From my bantam team, there was 14 guys drafted in the WHL. My last year there in Midget, I think just about everyone is playing juniors somewhere — either WHL or Junior A. They know how to get you ready for the next level and have been doing it for so long.”
Not only did Delta help prepare him for his hockey career, Kurtis made some lifelong connections. “Meeting all of the people there, I will be friends with them for the rest of my life. I’m going to graduate there when the season is done here. I really like that place and it has a special place in my heart.”
Now a full-time WHLer, Smythe has played in 13 games with the Winterhawks so far this season.
Unfortunately for him, his season got off to a slower start due to injury.
Johnston talked about Smythe’s rookie campaign to date. “He is a young defenseman in the league. Defense and goaltending are the two toughest positions to enter at 16- or 17-years old. I think the concussion hurt him early in the year and was out for a few weeks. He is looking really good lately and is coming along and really developing. It is a matter of getting him into more game action. I want him to get into more of a rhythm because that’s when you can see what he is really about.”
Smythe is getting the opportunity Johnston referenced with Nick Perna now in Medicine Hat and Jonas Brøndberg representing Team Denmark.
Smythe agreed the injury didn’t help him in his transition to the WHL. “(My season) has been good so far. I was injured for a few games but am starting to feel more comfortable. I’m getting used to the speed, the players, and strength but feel I’m progressing well. I’m looking up to some of the older guys who are helping me along the way.”
Matthew Quigley and Johnny Ludvig are two veterans on defense who have helped Kurtis in his rookie season. “Both are good players who have been in the league for a long time. Just watching them in practice and the room, I pick up on the little things they do. I try to bring those into my game and hopefully I can show the younger players in the future like they have done for me.”
One area which stands out in Smythe’s game is his skating — an asset he contributes to his success. “I think my skating is my number one thing since I was a little kid. I think it is how I got here too. I have to use it every game to show the fans, my coaches, and everyone how I can contribute to the game.”
Some of Portland’s 17-year-olds had the benefit of playing games during their 16-year-old season. Smythe, however, didn’t have the same luxury. “I didn’t play any WHL games last year. My first game was this year. I’m starting to get my head up and my feet moving to make a play. It feels a lot better once you know you can do that and play in this league. It is a happy feeling to have, and I’m feeling that the last couple of games as I’m moving my feet making plays.”
Like many rookies, one area Kurtis is focusing on is his strength. “Because this is my first year — there are a bunch of bigger guys in the league — my strength is on my list. My strength against guys in the corners, staying on guys, being hard on them in the defensive zone. Everything else, there are little things I want to keep working on though.”
Away from the rink, you may find Smythe at the beach or playing sports with his friends and family.
“I have lots of friends back home and like to hang out with them when I can,” he commented. “I like to hang out at the beach there, and I used to play baseball and football. My brothers and dad and I will play other sports too, but mainly I just hang out with friends and family. In the summer, I go to the lake with my family. My uncle has a boat there, and he taught us how to water ski and all of that.”
On the baseball diamond, Kurtis was a second baseman turning double plays, but hockey is main focus.
Portland is always near the top of the league for miles/kilometers traveled, given their geographic location compared to the rest of the league. However, the bus trips are not something that fazes the rookie defenseman. “I think I started (traveling) in eighth grade when I went to Medicine Hat from Vancouver, so traveling isn’t anything I’m not used to. At Delta, we had pretty good buses too, but Portland’s bus is obviously really nice which helps.”
With the season almost 50% complete, Smythe’s goal is “playing as many games as I can and helping the team win. I want to get as much experience as I can for next year. If I can contribute to the team in the points, that would be awesome, but the main thing is playing my defensive game and helping the team win. That is my goal, and for the whole team, I know every other guy in the dressing room would say the same thing.”
17-year-old Smythe’s attention to the defensive side of the puck is a key component to Portland’s success in 2019. He is yet another key member of Portland’s core. The Winterhawks have focused heavily on the 2002-born players.
