The award has his name on it, but as far as Alex Smith is concerned, it should bear many monikers.
The Flin Flon Bombers’ top centreman and leading scorer is the winner of the 2015-16 RBC SJHL Player of the Year award.
“It’s a team award as much as an individual award,” said Smith, 20, adding that his teammates, coaches and billets made the win possible.
Smith said he is excited to receive the recognition – his first major award in hockey – but there are more pressing things on his mind.
“It’s my last year of junior and winning is the most important thing, so with playoffs right around the corner, I’m excited for that,” he said.
In winning the award, Smith (32G, 52A, 84P) beat out two other finalists in Kindersley Klippers centreman and ex-Bomber Austin Calladine (27G, 48A, 75P) and Estevan Bruins winger Darcy DeRoose (28G, 48A, 76P).
The award caps off a banner regular season for Smith in which he finished third in SJHL scoring and led the league in assists.
Centering Flin Flon’s top line with Brandon Switzer and Joel Kocur, Smith upped his output by 37 points over last season, his first campaign in Flin Flon.
Standing 6 ft tall and weighing 190 lbs, he has also proven his proficiency in the faceoff circle and demonstrated an uncanny vision for the ice.
Smith has honed his skills over time. His introduction to the sport came when he was a youngster playing mini sticks hockey with his older brother in their native Edmonton.
He eventually graduated to organized hockey, always playing centre or wing before shifting exclusively to centre around the bantam level.
“What I take pride in is faceoffs,” Smith said. “I take a lot of faceoffs, whether it’s late in the game, in the D zone or in the offensive zone. It’s a position where you’re always on your toes. …It’s a fun position.”
NCAA scouts have taken notice of Smith. In January, he accepted a full-ride scholarship with Michigan Tech, where he begins studying and playing this fall.
Smith hasn’t committed to an area of study, but he thinks he’ll likely end up in business.
He views Michigan Tech as the best of both worlds: “get an education and continue your hockey.”
After his four years at Michigan Tech are up, Smith hopes to play pro hockey in some capacity.
And if not, he will always have an education from a respected university to fall back on.
SJHL year-end awards
RBC Player of the Year: Alex Smith, C, Flin Flon
SGEU Most Valuable Player: Kris Joyce, G, La Ronge
SJHL Rookie of the Year: Layne Young, F, Battlefords
SJHL Top Scorer: Travis Mayan, LW, Melfort
IBAS Top Defenceman: Eric Sinclair, Melfort
SaskTel Top Goaltender: Jack Burgart, Weyburn
Canalta Hotels Coach of the Year: Kevin Hasselberg, Battlefords
