Medicine Hat Tigers forward Shane Smith stretches at centre ice ahead of the Tigers 3-0 preseason win over the Swift Current Broncos at Co-op Place on Sept. 17.--NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Shane Smith has impressed the Medicine Hat Tigers staff throughout training camp and preseason. That manifested itself in Tuesday’s practice during a conditioning skate.
The Tigers were split into groups, team orange and team black. Each group had to skate the full distance of the ice five times as the last drill before breaking off to work on special teams.
After team black completed their fifth skate, the coaching staff signalled the end of the lap only to be interrupted by Smith, who quickly informed them his team, the orange group, had not skated their fifth time.
Once the whistle blew for them to skate, he was the first one to touch both the far goal line and the starting goal line on the way back. Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins said the moment meant something to him and showed a lot about Smith.
“Not just that he called it out but to see how hard he went after, too, like he went after it,” Desjardins said. “He’s been a really great surprise at camp.”
Smith joked a few of his orange teammates weren’t too happy with the move but said it had to be done.
“It’s a thing where I looked at it and thought, ‘I don’t want the other team getting any better than I am,'” Smith said. “I think it was good but yeah a few of them weren’t too happy.”
Desjardins said he expected Smith to be good for the Tigers but did not expect him to be as far ahead as he was entering camp this season.
“He’s a guy right now that I expect to be able to play against other teams’ top lines and I would have thought that was at least a year away for him,” Desjardins said. “His fitness scores too are right at the top of the team, he works hard. He’s committed to the game and I think he’s enjoying himself here too, which is big for him. He’s one of those players that I think he’s pretty committed and if you’re good to him, he’ll be good back. That’s one reason he’s playing so well.”
Smith, who dressed in nine games last season after debuting with a single game played in the 2020-21 campaign, said he was a lot more confident coming into his third camp.
“A lot more comfortable around the guys and I think that just helps with every aspect,” Smith said. “Whether it’s practice or whatever, it just helps you be more comfortable around the guys and you perform better.
The 17-year-old knew going into the summer he would have to put in the work to impress at camp. Now, he’s looking to impress even more.
“I just went there and worked as hard as I could and knew I’d come back better, and that brings the confidence up and when you play with confidence, everything’s better in your game,” Smith said. “I obviously wanted to take that roster spot coming into camp but now it’s staying in the lineup every night and never losing that spot you have. Just continuing to perform and being consistent with your play every day.”
The Cessford product is still chasing his first WHL point and is eager to get his first goal.
“I can’t wait, I’ve been dreaming for some time now,” Smith said. “It’s been a couple of years I’ve been up and down and I want it badly.”
Smith is looking forward to filling his role with the Tigers this season and understands he isn’t going to fill the scoresheet like some of his teammates but is ready to embrace what he excels at.
“I’m not going to put up a lot of points, I know I’m not going to be that offensive guy but just going out every game and giving my team that opportunity to win,” Smith said. “Whether that’s playing physical or in the defensive role or even stepping up offensively. I just need to play my role, whatever my role is that game and give my team the best chance.”
