QMJHL action
Smith’s journey to the Screaming Eagles a road less travelled.
SYDNEY — Jacob Smith’s road to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles has been long and included a few bumps along the way, but that hasn’t slowed down the Sudbury native from playing at the highest level.
Smith played in the Ontario Hockey League as a 16-year-old with the Kingston Frontenacs. After a brief stint with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, he and the team decided to part ways. He would play the remainder of the season in junior ‘A’ with the Kemptville 73s based in Kemptville, Ont.
Last season, a friend of his was playing for the Truro Bearcats of the Maritime Junior Hockey League and enticed him to join the club. He did, and the team won the league title under the guidance of coach Shawn Evans.
“I say I expected a little too much,” he said. “Being 16 in the OHL, I was in over my head, not hockey-wise, just attitude-wise. I kind of found my game at 17 in Kemptville and 18 in Truro. I think I learned a lot from facing adversity. It seems to be working out really well for me.”
His play earned him an invite to Screaming Eagles camp in August. Smith was cut, but went back to Truro to work on his game. However, another opportunity arose in October to earn a spot on the Screaming Eagles roster, and he made good on the chance.
The right winger has six goals and six assists for 12 points in 41 games this season. Eight of those points have come since the start of January, and admits he’s always been a “second-half guy.”
“It’s awesome. The guys are great. I get along with all of them and I think we owe our success a lot to off the ice,” said Smith. “We’re a lot closer than we were before Christmas and all the guys get along. It seems like we’re more of a family.”
Head coach Marc-André Dumont said Smith brings heart to the lineup and has a versatile skill set, from blocking shots to scoring goals.
“It’s refreshing to see hockey players take their chance like that and get the chance to prove themselves that they can play at the highest level and he should be very proud of himself,” he said. “He’s a great example of never giving up on your objectives and just following through.”
Smith and his Screaming Eagles teammates enter tonight’s game with the Saint John Sea Dogs short-handed. The flu bug has made its rounds with a number of players on the team, but the club fought through illness and injury for a come-frombehind 3-2 win over the Victoriaville Tigres on Saturday on home ice.
Clark Bishop (lower body) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (lower body) remain out, but are practising. Francis Brunelle (suspension) and Kyle Farrell (illness) won’t dress. A handful of other players are game-time decisions. Dumont said six players missed practice Monday.
“Saint John is a fast, high-tempo team that creates a lot of offence,” said Dumont. “In the last five games, they’ve earned 40 shots or more in four of those five games. We know they’re coming here to compete.”
Following tonight’s meeting with the Sea Dogs, the Screaming Eagles hit the road for three games in three nights on the weekend. They’ll play Quebec on Friday, Chicoutimi on Saturday and Baie-Comeau on Sunday.