Smyth satisfied with rookie campaign
St. Catharines native Derek Smyth had a chance to perform for about 40 friends and family last week when the Ottawa 67’s visited the Niagara IceDogs. Photo: SPECIAL TO BPSN.
Derek Smyth has made a smooth adjustment to the Ontario Hockey League.
The 17-year-old St. Catharines native was selected by the Ottawa 67’s in the 11th round of the 2020 OHL draft, but didn’t get a chance to crack the lineup until this year after last season was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.
“The transition has been pretty good,” Smyth said. “You have to earn everything when you play in the OHL and I think I’ve been doing that and continue to do that to earn more.
“Everything has been really awesome and I love being here.”
Smyth patrolled the blueline for the Niagara North Stars before being selected by the 67’s.
He bided his time last year suiting up last year for the Fort Erie Meteors, where he practised and played in a number of exhibition, non-contact scrimmages.
“I think I had more time to develop off ice and on ice with the gap year and I’m trying to make the most of it now,” said Smyth, who attended Sir Winston Churchill. “It was awesome. It helped me ease into the adjustment of playing junior hockey in general. Fort Erie is a great program. There are great people there and they have all been super supportive texting me to see how I’m doing here.”
Smyth had no preconceived notions when he headed to training camp this season.
“I just went in there and tried my best. I knew if I gave my best good things would happen and it did. I’m so thankful for it.”
Smyth has seen a good amount of playing time for a rookie and realizes there is chain of command at the major junior level.
“The playing time, I’m pleased with,” he said. “Coach (Dave Cameron) plays me a lot. I kill some penalties but Jack Matier, who is already signed to the NHL (San Jose) and Teddy Sawyer play most of them so I’m going to wait my turn patiently and let those guys do what they do best.”
Smyth netted his first OHL goal last month at Sudbury and added his second over the weekend.
“It was awesome, a dream come true,” Smyth said of his inaugural junior goal. “Now it’s time to keep on a roll and get a whole lot more.”
Off the ice, Smyth reports things are going smoothly as well.
“Ottawa makes it really easy for everybody that plays for the organization to do their thing,” he said. “They make the schedule easy to work with. If you just follow the schedule you will be fine and make it easier to enjoy your time here.”
Smyth recently had a chance to perform before about 40 family and friends when the 67’s visited the Niagara IceDogs.
“It was awesome,” he said. “Everybody was there and really excited. It wasn’t the outcome we wanted but it was still really fun.
“It was everybody basically I knew from back home.”
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