SASKATOON – Saskatoon Blades general manager and head coach Bob Woods has made a handful of trades over the past couple weeks. Global News caught up with the team’s newest member, Evan Smith.
When Smith heard he had been traded to the Blades last week, the 18-year-old goalie packed up his belongings and embarked on a 20-hour drive from Iowa to Saskatchewan.
“It was a long one. There was a few blizzards in my little Mazda 3 … it wasn’t the best at handling it but we got here,” said Smith.
Saskatoon acquired Smith, a fifth-round pick in 2016 and a ninth-round pick in 2016 from the Victoria Royals in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.
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The Parker, Colo. product started this season playing for the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) where he has posted a 3.05 GAA and a .904 save percentage in five games played.
“Sixous City was a great place, I really liked it there but when I got the phone call, I knew a little bit about Sask. I knew a little bit about the city and the team and it just felt like the right thing to do,” said Smith.
The six-foot six goaltender is eager to show what he can do in the WHL.
“He’s a big goalie, he covers a lot of net and he moves well for a big guy … and you want to see him in a game situation and I think he’s a pretty competitive guy. Talking to his previous coach and he really seems to fit in well with the guys from the get-go here,” said Woods.
Smith was taken in the seventh round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators. Even though he’s an NHL prospect, Smith knows he has to earn his ice time in Saskatoon.
“Well it’s always good to have that competition and you want to support your partner but you want to push them as well,” said Woods.
Woods says Smith will make his first start in one of the Blades remaining three games before the Christmas break. Saskatoon hosts the Lethbridge Hurricanes Wednesday night at SaskTel Centre.
Jack Haskins contributed to this story
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