Not often does an 18-year-old defenseman get as much attention going into a U20 World Juniors as Ty Smith is getting now.
The Spokane Chiefs blue liner was invited to Hockey Canada’s World Juniors Summer Showcase in Kamloops and he impressed.
If he could replicate what he did for Hockey Canada at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament where he had three assists and led Canada to a gold medal, the team with the maple leaf on its chest could be set up to repeat as champions.
Smith knew going in that he had to stay true to himself in order to make a positive impact on Tim Hunter and Hockey Canada’s coaching staff.
“It’s tough for sure but I guess it’s actually like the real thing in that way. It’s a short window in December there. I think you just need to kind of stick to the system and play your game – be the player you are. That’s the reason why everyone is here is because of the different ways they play so I think that’s just what you have to focus on,” Smith said.
His other summer plans had him across the continent in New Jersey for New Jersey Devils Development Camp.
“It went really well there. I had a lot of fun – the guys were great. The staff was great and I loved the rink. It was a great place to be. We did some fun things – went to a Mets game, went go-carting – it was a lot of fun.”
It must have gone well as the Devils signed their first round pick to an entry-level contract before even seeing him participate in training camp.
With Spokane now looking to have Smith and Jaret Anderson-Dolan as players who have signed NHL contracts, the 2018-19 season for the Chiefs s gearing up to be a good one.
To hear it from Smith though, one of the key members of the Chiefs could be so good that he may not be back.
“We will see at camp. Anderson-Dolan is a great player and he might do really well at L.A.’s camp and make their team so I guess we will see. He’s obviously a huge part of our team in Spokane so it will depend a lot on if we get him back. We have a great staff there in Spokane from our management down to the coaches. Dan Lambert and the rest of the bench is awesome. No matter who we have got, we should have a decent chance there. We will always be working on some stuff and we will see how it goes.”
With the Chiefs losing in seven games in the first round last year after missing the playoffs the year before, Smith, Anderson-Dolan and co. could be in for another big step forward this year. Training camps begins this week and is the first step.
