Gemel Smith is back in the country after another international hockey junket.
Smith, the energetic center of the Owen Sound Attack, won a Gold medal last summer at the Ivan Hlinka Under 17 Tournament in the Czech Republic.
Last week, Smith was back in the Czech Republic, again with Team Canada, but had to settle for a Bronze medal at the World Under 18 Championship.
While the experience was good in Smith’s eyes, it wasn’t close to what he & his thrown-together teammates set out to do and the disappointment is quite evident in his voice.
Overall, Smith will admit that he did well at the World Under 18 tournament, but understand he’s a driven kid and he almost always seeks a better result than what is at hand.
Playing in the Under 18 tournament, amid a galaxy of draft eligible players for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, Smith likely garnered further attention.
I think every NHL scout has to know him, but because he’s so unique as a player, I’m not sure if that is good news or bad news.
I can’t think of many Junior players who possess, pursue and retrieve pucks in tight places like Gemel, and even a positive like that might present a quandary to an NHL scout.
As for the draft itself, Smith admits he’s excited about it, but far from wound up, meaning high, late or non-selection, he really just wants to keep playing and achieving.
I’m Fred Wallace