Smith getting job done
By GREG MEACHEM
Advocate staff

Forward Jeff Smith is anxious to make a sizable contribution to the Red Deer Rebels this season.

He already has, sniping five goals in nine games and punishing  opponents with his six-foot-six, 212-pound frame.

"My line's been playing really well. Andrew (Bergen) and Justin (Wallin) have really been working hard," Smith said Thursday, as the Rebels prepared for tonight's Western Hockey League clash with the Kootenay Ice at the Centrium.

Smith has not only taken a regular shift this fall, he's also been used on the power play.

"I stand in front and take all the beatings. But it's worth it when the D-men hit the net," he said.

The 19-year-old reported to camp in late August knowing he had to make an impact if he wanted to play a second full WHL season.

"There was a lot of pressure on me this year to fill the big shoes of (graduated tough guy) Craig Brunel and maybe add something in other areas," said Smith.

"You have to do as the coach says. Being 19, you have to play your role and get the young guys going too. You just try to be the best you can be every day."

So far, with seven points, 30 minutes in penalties and a plus-three rating, Smith has fit nicely into three categories — scorer, scrapper and defensive catalyst.

"But the main one is just bang and crash and get the guys involved," said the Regina native.

Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter looks at Smith and sees a rejuvenated spirit with an ability to score.

"Smitty's certainly playing with more fire than he has in the past, and that's what we need from him," said Sutter.

"He has good hands around the net, but you have to get there first. For big Smitty to get there he has to play an aggressive style. He has to be in peoples' faces and he has to finish his checks. He knows he has to provide the toughness for us when we need it."

Tonight's contest is a rematch of the Sept. 24 meeting, when the Rebels scored three unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the visiting Ice 4-3.

Skeptics might point to the fact Kootenay, currently ranked first in the nation with a 10-1-0-1 record, used back-up B.J. Boxma instead of star goalie Dan Blackburn in that game, and that the Ice simply collapsed in the final frame.

But Smith pointed out that the Rebels are full value for their own sparkling record. Red Deer is 8-1 and ranked second among WHL teams and fourth in the country.

"Tomorrow should be a really good game. The best two teams in the league are going at it so it should be fun," said Smith.

The match could mean more to his crew than to the defending champions from Cranbrook, Sutter suggested.

"It's still early, it's just the 10th game for us and the 13th for them," said Sutter.

"But it's a good test for our hockey team, especially, because the Ice have already been there."

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The Rebels are No. 4 in the CHL rankings for the second week in a row, but Sutter insisted it's no big deal.

"It's not really an issue at all. We don't get caught up in that," he said.

Other WHL teams listed in the top 10 are Kamloops (No. 7) and Swift Current (No. 9).

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Red Deer travels to Medicine Hat Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. battle with the Tigers, who are now being handled by Randy Wong.

Wong, a former assistant coach, replaced Rick Carriere as the head man this week. Carriere, feeling that his players weren’t performing to their potential, moved out from behind the bench to become the team’s general manager.

"I think we wanted to reinstall passion in our team and the emotion it takes to win," Carriere, whose club sports a disappointing 3-6-1-1 slate, told the Medicine Hat News.

"To do that, maybe they need a new voice. Randy brings the passion, and he's really excited about this challenge."