NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Shane Smith strides towards the face-off dot alongside Medicine Hat Tigers forward Markus Ruck in the first period of a 3-2 Medicine Hat win on Saturday at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Shane Smith never thought he’d be donning a Lethbridge Hurricanes sweater.
The former Medicine Hat Tigers forward has played 22 games in the red and blue since being acquired on Oct. 5 in a one-for-one deal for 20-year-old goaltender Harrison Meneghin.
Smith returned to Medicine Hat over the weekend in a 3-2 Tigers win Saturday, his first appearance at Co-op Place since being traded. The 19-year-old forward says the different side of the rink took some getting used to, as did his new jersey and colours.
“It’s definitely weird being on this side of the rivalry,” Smith said pregame Saturday.
He suited up in 143 games with the Tigers across five season, tallying 48 goals and 85 points. He added another two assists in nine playoff games. Through his 22 games in Lethbridge, the Cessford, Alta. product has five goals and 13 points.
“If you look at it statistic wise, I don’t think it’s the start I’ve wanted to get off to this year, but the coaching staff here is remarkable, such a high end,” Smith said. “Whether it’s power play, penalty killer or Bill (Peters) with the assistants, it’s pretty special to be along alongside that. He’s been in the NHL, he knows the road to get to NHL, which is my long-term goal. So it’s been awesome to kind of learn and feed off what he has.”
Hurricanes associate coach and assistant general manager Matt Anholt has liked what he’s seen from Smith and says the former Tiger has been nothing but a pro since arriving.
“He shows up early, gets his work done, he stays late, he gets extra work done, he’s got a good heart skill, which is a big time thing for us,” Anholt said. “You need that come the playoffs, especially from a guy who can score at the net and win battles and play through hands. He’s a guy who can play on both special teams, which we can’t have enough of those guys.”
Smith has played four games against his former club, picking up a goal in a 4-1 win over the Tigers on Sunday at the VisitLethbridge.comArena. He had two assists in a 7-6 win over Medicine Hat on Nov. 6. He’s enjoyed playing against former teammates, friends and experiencing the age-old rivalry.
“It’s pretty cool to be in a rivalry series with your old team, and especially with how close we are in standings, that makes it even a little bit sweeter,” Smith said.
Smith spent a long time in Medicine Hat, beyond his years at Co-op Place. He played for the South East Athletic Club Tigers U15AAA team in 2018-19 before two seasons with the Edge academy. He then joined the South Alberta Hockey Academy in 2021-22 and played a large role in their 2021 Mac’s championship win.
It’s the city his career started and took off from, getting an invite to the Vegas Golden Knights rookie camp in the summer of 2024 and then training camp. He has a lot of memories he says he’ll hold dear, but says his favourite thing in his Tigers career was how close the 2023-24 team was.
“Becoming a family with those guys over there, every day kind of making a new memory, or whatever it may be, it’s just having a lot of fun with your brothers,” Smith said. “Those guys, I’ll talk to the rest of my life and I’ll always be one text or one phone call away.
“So it’s pretty cool to have those memories here, but now it’s time to flip the switch a bit.”
