Whitehorse native Dawson Smith was recently signed by the La Ronge Ice Wolves of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

Smith, an 18-year-old goalie, played for the Yukon Rivermen in 2017.

Smith also played for the Cariboo Cougars of the BC Elite Hockey League.

“It was good. I played three years there, one in minor, two in major, got to know everyone pretty well along the road and we were a pretty good team for most of the years so it was good. It was definitely a good experience as well.”

Smith had the opportunity to play at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer. He finished 4th in the tournament with a sparkling .917 save percentage. Team Yukon, however, finished 13th.

“We were dead last,” related Smith. “It was good, though. It was really fun. A good time for sure.”

Smith did his best to help the team. “It was good. I tried to do what I could … for the team … it was good.”

Smith found the competition to be pretty tough.

“Oh, yeah, it was insane! Probably the best hockey I’ve played … it was so good. A really good experience. Nothing like that, for sure.”

Smith took up stopping pucks for a living as a challenge.

“I guess you got to be a little crazy I think, it comes with the package. But there really wasn’t a defining story. I was playing forward and then one day I guess I tried goalie, and I think the first time I sucked, but I think that was the reason why – I just wanted to get better at it. It irked me that I wasn’t very good.”

Smith explains how he ended up in La Ronge.

“I was playing in Prince George for a couple years and I was injured for most of that, which is pretty unfortunate, so I didn’t have much time to show what I could offer the team, so I went to the camp in Langley (B.C.) this summer. It was more like an ID camp, so the coaches just came and watched you play games and whatever against other kids, and the La Ronge coach saw me there, and asked me if I’d like to try out, so it’s good, and now I’m here.”

La Ronge is approximately 250 kilometres north of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

“It’s pretty small,” said Smith. “I wasn’t expecting how small it is, but it’s a nice town, like, everyone’s super-friendly and it definitely makes the shift a lot easier.”

Smith had some idea of what he was getting into.

“Coming from Whitehorse you’re kind of prepared for a little ‘ugly’ winters for sure. We’ve had a couple of snows so far. Nothing we can’t handle, for sure.”

Smith is enjoying playing at this level.

“It’s awesome, yeah. It’s really good, really good hockey, really good guys. Yeah, it’s amazing.”

Smith is currently the backup goalie in La Ronge, and will have to wait his turn to be the starter.

“The goalie we have right now is really good … whatever happens, I still gotta get a game in, and start playing good, so … it could be a while.”

The first year has been kind of a learning experience for Smith.

“Just kind of learning from everyone else and getting to watch the games too, which is good.”

La Ronge has a goalie coach, Kyle Sephton, to help him along the way.

“He’s a really good guy … it’s been good. He does some one-on-one stuff, so it’s really helpful.”

Smith lists a few strengths in his game.

“I like to play the puck – not so good sometimes … I’d like to say I’m a pretty happy guy on keeping the boys kind of motivated … just kinda quickish, I’d say, quick.”

Like any young goalie, he has a few things he needs to work on.

“It’d be good if I could kind of control my movements a little better. I get out of place quite a bit, and that’s just because I try to move too much, I think. And obviously just keeping my confidence up … just trying to play my game and hopefully something pieces together.”

Like almost all goalies these days, Smith plays the Butterfly style.

Smith has had quite a few people that were influences on his career.

“There’s definitely been a lot, that’s for sure. Obviously, I wouldn’t be here without my parents … a lot of coaching staff helped me along the way. There was a goalie coach in Prince George … Kris Joyce, I had him for a while. He was really good. He kind of shaped me to what I am today, I would say, as a goalie.

“The goalie I play with now, here (Xavier Cannon), also a really good guy, and he’s always willing to help me out and I really appreciate that.”

Some people are surprised when Smith tells them he’s from the Yukon.

“There’s some shock involved,” relates Smith. “A lot of crazy igloo polar bear stories, a bunch of those. But that gets shut down pretty quick.

“I’ll take the Whitehorse, Yukon, wherever I go, and definitely have pride in that, because it’s cool being from a small little town up north. There’s not many of us, that’s for sure.”

As for his future goals, “I’d really like to play university hockey,” said Smith. “I think that’s the goal for sure. Just trying to get some schooling paid for would be nice as well. Just kind of see where the road takes me. I don’t really have a definite plan, that’s for sure.”

What about playing in the NCAA?

“If it happens, it happens, I won’t say no to it, for sure … even Canadian university hockey would be awesome, too.”

If the NHL or Team Canada came calling, Smith wouldn’t turn them down.

“I think if anybody was offered the chance they’d say yes, but, just trying to stay realistic with it and just gonna take what I’ve got right now and see where that takes me.”