Jacob Smith of the Revelstoke Grizzlies is taking his speed and gritty style to the Merritt Centennials of the B.C. Hockey League for the 2022-23 season.
The Trail, B.C. product told www.merrittcentennials.com that he is excited to play for a team “with such great history in the best Junior A league in North America.”
Smith, who debuted in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League in 2019-20 with the Beaver Valley Nitehawks playing four games, had 22 points in 35 games for the Grizzlies, including 13 goals. In 19 Teck Cup playoff games, Smith had nine points and added two goals and three points in four Cyclone Taylor Cup games to lead the Grizzlies.
Smith said being in Revelstoke was the best spot for him.
“The hard working mentality of every single player on our team pushed everyone to be better day in and day out,” he said. “Our coaches Ryan Parent and Jiri Novak were great for my development. I feel like my 200-foot game got so much better this year.”
Winning the Teck Cup Championship and bronze at the Cyclone Taylor Cup was a valuable experience for him.
“I learned what it takes to win a championship and that every shift, and every single detail matters,” added Smith.
“Jacob is a versatile, hard working player that will supersede expectations at the next level,” said Parent, the Grizzlies Head Coach and GM. “He is a believer in committment and hard work. We were fortunate to have Smitty as a part of our championship team. He was a key componant to our overall success.”
