Feature Stories 2009-10

Tough On Ice, Fast On Track by Andy Neal

Cougars defence prospect Josh Smith is among the many bright young players coming up through the ranks.  Like fellow blue liner Jesse Forsberg last season, who cracked the line-up as a 16-year old, Smith will have the same opportunities to become a full-time member with the team that drafted him 19^th overall in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft.  While he’s now focused on getting ready for Cougars training camp, which kicks off August 28 at CN Centre, Smith was recently busy showing his athletic skills in a different forum.  Smith took part in four track and field events at the recently completed Alberta Summer Games in Peace River, competing in the male under-17 100 meters and 4X100 meters, the long jump and javelin.  It was a part of Smith’s summer plans that he didn’t consider until a teacher at his Lacombe, Alberta school suggested he look into doing.

“My gym teacher from Lacombe gave me a piece of paper about it and said I should give it a try,” said Smith, who finished last season with the Cougars playing a total of 10 games, earning one assist and 21 penalty minutes.  “It was kind of a spur of the moment thing to tell you the truth.”

While he failed to qualify for the three individual finals Smith competed for, he set a new personal standard in the 100 meters, stopping the clock in 11.87 seconds.  Smith had an unfortunate incident in the long jump, an event he considers his best at the track.  Smith fell on his final jump and missed the final by two millimeters, posting a five meter jump, well off his 5.80 meter best.  The closest Smith came to the podium for Zone 4, which covers the mostly central region of Alberta, was in the relay, where Smith was the second leg of a fourth place finish.

“We did really well,” added Smith.  “The guys we were racing against train all year and they are older than us.  We just missed by .06 seconds, so it was great.”

Now the work begins for Smith at a shot at becoming a Cougar, winning over many fans during his stay at the end of the 2009-10 season for his aggressive and punishing style of play.  It’s an experience that Smith is pleased he has available under his belt.

 “I’m just hoping that I bring the same stuff that I did at the end of the year.  I just have to play the way I do and see what happens.”