PORCUPINE PLAIN — The Everett Silvertips are hoping Porcupine Plain’s Tarin Smith can help them roar in the future.
The Washington state-based team, featuring the nickname of a grizzly bear, grabbed the son of Kirk and Deanna Smith in the first round, 20th overall, in the Western Hockey League Prospects Draft. The defenceman was one of five Saskatchewan products taken in the first round of the major junior league’s draft of 2006-born players.
“Being picked by Everett means so much,” Smith said. “I have only heard good things about the organization and the people there. I have a buddy [Roan Woodward of Nipawin] on the team that I played bantam with. He said he loves it there so I’m super pumped to be a part of their organization.”
A member of the U18 AAA Saskatoon Blazers, Smith’s draft day was kind of a “always the last to know” story. He had been following the draft on the WHL’s website on Dec. 9.
“My life was behind for some odd reason,” Smith said. “The way I found out Everett picked me was because my phone started blowing up with congrats. Then I watched the draft for a few more minutes and saw my name called by Everett.”
Smith appreciates all his parents have done to get him to this point.
“They have always been super supportive throughout my minor hockey career and have always travelled to watch and put in endless hours to make this happen,” he said. “My dad has always encouraged me to get better and done everything in his power to help me on the ice and in life.”
The 6-foot-1, 174-pound blue liner has three goals, 19 points and 30 penalty minutes in 23 games this season for the Blazers. Smith lit the lamp twice on Sunday against Prince Albert. Entering this week, he has recorded a point in each of his last five games.
Earlier this year Smith helped Team Saskatchewan win the bronze medals at the WHL Cup, a competition featuring Western Canada’s top 2006-born players, in Red Deer. In five games, he recorded three assists.
After coaching Smith for two seasons with the North East U15 AA program, Gavin Brandl now coaches against him as an assistant coach for the U18 AAA Tisdale Trojans. Brandl praises Smith’s skill as well as his personality.
“Tarin has the type of skill set that jumps out at you the very moment you first step on the ice with him,” he said. “He's deceptive, smart, creative and competitive.
“Tarin is hands down one of the most skilled players I ever have or will coach - but more than that he is someone I would consider a friend. He's funny, he cares about his teammates, and he absolutely loves being on the ice. I got the chance to watch him grow from a kid into a leader and I could not be any happier for him and excited to see what his future holds.”
On the Silvertips’ website, Everett director of player personnel Mike Fraser described him as “a complete defenceman that excels in many aspects of the game.” He explained that Smith “can skate, moves the puck really well, he disrupts opposing teams’ offence and also adds an offensive element of his own into the game.”
“I’ve watched Tarin Smith’s game for the past three years and have seen his game evolve,” Everett senior Saskatchewan scout Garry Ryhorchuk said on the team’s website. “We project him to be an all-situational defenseman for us. He just has an all-around good skill set and when you combine high intelligence with no panic to his game, you really get excited he’s now a part of our organization.”
The team is also pleased to add Smith’s personality to its dressing room. Head coach and general manager Dennis Williams said on the website that Smith is “someone with high character, great teammates, someone that’s really going to step into the Everett culture and continue to grow it.”
