WHL GRAD KEVIN SMITH COMMITS TO UBC TBIRDS
Vancouver – The UBC Thunderbirds men’s hockey program is pleased to announce the addition of defenceman Kevin Smith (North Vancouver, BC), who has committed to joining the team for the 2012-13 season. He joins the likes of Neil Manning, Joe Antilla, Dillon Wagner, and Scott MacDonald is this year’s recruiting class.
The 21 year old split last season between the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets and the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies. He played 27 games for the Rockets (1 goal, 13 assists, 14 points, 16 penalty minutes), before joining the Grizzlies in January. He was immediately appointed team captain, picking up 10 assists and 8 penalty minutes in 15 games.
“I’m excited to be staring a new chapter with UBC and I’m looking forward to being a Thunderbird,” said Smith. “I’m very happy to be apart of UBC’s program, which has such a great reputation. With the impressive group of recruits coming in this year, we are all excited for the opportunity to help the team win.”
Smith, who stands 6-foot-1, 193 pounds, was originally drafted by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the 2nd round of the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft out of the North Shore Winter Club. He played 286 career games (regular season and playoffs) in the Western Hockey League with the Warriors and Rockets, amassing 16 goals, 76 assists, 92 points, and 223 penalty minutes.
“Kevin is a good skating defenceman who moves the puck well and can play the powerplay,” said Head Coach Milan Dragicevic. “We are short on right-handed defencemen, so this gives us some nice options on the back end.”
The Thunderbirds open the Canada West Regular Season September 28 in Regina.
For every season played in the Western Hockey League, players earn a 1-year guaranteed scholarship to the post-secondary institution of their choice, including tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees. Western Hockey League clubs combine to act as the leading supplier of hockey scholarships in Western Canada, with over 200 players enjoying a WHL Scholarship each year.
