USHL: QA with Craig Smith

Chicago Steel forward Andrew Miller won the USHL Player of the Year Award, but it really could just have easily gone to the Waterloo Black Hawks' Craig Smith. Miller led the league in points with 32 goals and 50 assists in 58 games and made each teammate that played alongside him much better, but perhaps no forward in the USHL played as complete of game as Smith. The speedy Smith, who finished tied for second with Indiana's Mike Cichy in USHL scoring with 76 points, not only stood out offensively, he was captain of his team and played an aggressively physical two-way game night in and night out. While not USHL play, the Madison native and future Badger also represented his league and his country well by earning All-Tournament recognition at the 2008 World Junior A Challenge. Regardless of whether Smith deserved Player of the Year honors after exploding in his third season in the league (although he must be in contention for the Dave Tyler Award as USA Hockey's Junior Player of the Year), he's solidly put himself in contention for selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in his third year of eligibility, possibly making the third time the charm.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey was able to talk with Craig Smith of the Waterloo Black Hawks in the final weekend of the USHL regular season. Smith discussed dealing with a late-season personal tragedy, his superb 2008-09 on the ice, the USHL Prospects/All-Star Game, playing for Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge, his commitment to the University of Wisconsin, his youth hockey in Madison, and the prospect of being selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

McKeen's: Heading into tonight, you had 16 points in your last 8 games, you were the Offensive Player of the Week March 23, and things have been going very well on the ice, but you've also been in the news for something that is very sad, the passing of your housing mother, Karen Wente. This isn't an easy question to ask, but tell me about that, when you found out, your thoughts and reaction, and then also the game afterwards.

Smith: We had an away game in Sioux City, and we won the game. They pulled me in after the game with the coaches and they told me, and it was pretty devastating. She was very special to me and my family. I've been living with her for three years, so it was like another family member going. Going to the Saturday night game, I wasn't sure if I was going to play or not. I was told I wasn't going to be playing on Saturday, and I decided I wanted to play. I thought that was the best thing and I thought that that's what she would have wanted.

McKeen's: Reading the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier's article about the game, I understand you felt a little extra energy that night.

Smith: Yeah. I was going in a little banged up and I felt like I didn't (pauses), everything was going right and I felt good on the ice and had a lot of wind.

McKeen's: How have things been moving forward with Bill, your housing father?

Smith: As the weeks progress now, you're not going to see people around the house very much anymore. I'm just going to kind of stick around and keep him a little company, because the house is definitely quiet.

McKeen's: Moving to more hockey-related things. It's kind of hard to transition from such a somber topic, but on the ice, 2008-09 has gone extremely well for you. You're in a position to still lead the league in scoring. I think you have a chance to be the USHL Player of the Year, and last year you had 23 points in 58 games. So, what's been the difference between last year and this year?

Smith: Last year I went in, about, a 16-game rut without a point, and I didn't really know how to get out of it. I don't think I was really mature enough to realize where I was at and what I have to do. I think this year, I kind of picked up on it. As you can see, I don't think I've had more than two games without a point. I think consistency is a big factor in everybody's game, and once you figure that out, I think it's huge for your game.

McKeen's: Already entering this final weekend of the regular season, you've set yourself in the Black Hawk record book. Unless someone passes you in future, you'll be second to Jason Blake for points in a season, which is pretty impressive. Has that sunk in and what are your thoughts on that?

Smith: It's a big accomplishment. I didn't really realize that. I looked on the website and then I saw it. It put a smile on my face seeing Jason Blake's name there. He's a great hockey player. I was very honored to be in the same article as him.

McKeen's: Back in February, you played in the USHL Prospects/All-Star Game. How did you find out you'd been named to that team, who told you, and what was your reaction?

Smith: Actually, I found out on the internet, again (chuckles). They released it on the website and I came home from practice and checked it out, and it put a smile on my face, too. It was a very good day for me, I was kind of shooting for it, and it was another one of my goals this year.

McKeen's: Mission accomplished on that one for sure. What was the game like for you, how did it compare to the normal grind every night, and what were the highlights of the two days overall?

Smith: It was a fun experience, meeting a lot of the guys around the league, especially after the USA thing, I kind of knew some guys that were up there. I thought it was a good experience. It's definitely a little different game, I thought. It wasn't as physical as it could have been, and I don't think they usually are, but I had a really fun time.

McKeen's: Speaking of the USA thing, the World Junior A Challenge this year, that, too, went very well for you, but it wasn't your first go-round at it. Tell me about the 2007 World Junior A Challenge and how that went for you and taking the bronze.

Smith: On that team, there was a bunch of guys that came out of the Select camps and went and played for their country. I think that helps a little bit. I think the second year around, putting the USA jersey on and then playing international competition, I think I was more ready for it the second time around. First time around, I kind of just had my eyes open. I was in awe of the different countries coming and playing.

McKeen's: Moving to this year, you had three goals and five assists in the five games, and you were name to the All-Tournament Team. You touched on this a little bit, but how was the 2008 tournament different from the 2007 tournament and the difference in the performance of the team?

Smith: I just thought this team was a great bunch of guys. Not to say that last year's wasn't, I just felt like after we had that first game, which we had lost, everybody kind of opened up to each other maybe a little more than the first year. I think that was a big difference.

McKeen's: I've talked to some of your teammates from that team, and many of them have indicated losing that first game to Germany may have been one the best things to happen to you guys. Josh Birkholz said something to the effect of, "We figured out real quick we did not want to be the joke of the tournament."

Smith: Yeah.

McKeen's: And away you guys went (winning the gold). Going back to 2006-07, your rookie season in the USHL, what were the biggest adjustments for you coming out of Wisconsin high school hockey and what areas improved the most for you that first year?

Smith: Probably being a lot more patient with the puck. I felt coming in, I was a little jittery, and I think that's what all rookies come in with, they have that problem. I think I kind of settled down a little bit and kind of controlled some of my anger problems.

McKeen's: (Chuckles)

Smith: Controlled some of that.

McKeen's: You've improved quite a bit over the course of the three seasons, so what are the areas of your game that improved the most over that entire time and what are the areas you're still looking at focusing on this summer heading into Wisconsin?

Smith: I think this year a big thing for me was becoming the best two-way player I can. I'm trying to get on defense a lot. I think throughout the season I've learned to be a better two-way player.

McKeen's: What are your plans for the summer?

Smith: Summer plans? Just working out with Wisconsin and getting prepared for the season. It's going to be fun. I'm ready to get to work.

McKeen's: I think you'll fit in quite well there, considering some of the guys they have and have had. We've talked a lot about improvement, but tell me what you feel are the strengths of your game and the style of game that you like to play?

Smith: Very fast game. I like fast and intense. It can be a skill game, but I think my size and speed, I can play a grinding role.

McKeen's: Going back to Wisconsin, you committed there back in 2006, which is a while ago now. What has the Badgers' response been to this season?

Smith: They're very happy with my progress this season. Last year, they didn't know whether I was going to come in or not. They pushed my signing date back, and I didn't have the best season, the season I wanted. It was kind of either way for me. If I did go, it was a good thing, and if I didn't, it was also a good thing. It was kind of a win/win situation.

McKeen's: At what point did Wisconsin first start talking to you? Was that as a sophomore, to the degree they could?

Smith: It was after my sophomore year. There was a camp that they run, a Wisconsin high school camp, and they had seen me there. They found out that I was going to Waterloo and said they'd kind of keep in contact with the coaches. I think it was about the sixth game in, they had offered.

McKeen's: Any other programs that were considering you?

Smith: Yeah. CC (Colorado College) I know. I was too young to get talked to, but I was getting letters from just about every WCHA team.

McKeen's: Kind of the norm, it seems, for guys of your caliber from around the Upper Midwest. Prior to the USHL, you played for Madison LaFollette in the Wisconsin High School Hockey League. You were an All-State Honorable Mention as a tenth grader, which was pretty good. That's known, but what organizations did you skate for prior to high school?

Smith: Prior to high school? I played with the Madison Capitols for four years growing up, and then eighth-grade year I played with the Madison Patriots, a Double-A organization. Then from there, I went on to play with Team Powerade and played for my high school, it was a before-and-after deal. Then, my sophomore year, I tried out for Team Wisconsin majors, and made that team and got to play in the Minnesota Elite League, then I also played with my high school again.

McKeen's: With the Elite League, tell me about that, how it compared to Wisconsin high school hockey and how it helped you make the jump to the USHL, if it did.

Smith: It was unbelievable. There's a ton of players that even (pauses), some went from high school to college in that league that I was in. Jay Barriball and Jordan Fulton, those guys went straight out of high school. I think that kind of prepared me, opened my eyes a little to how good of hockey it was out there and what I needed to improve on.

McKeen's: With high school, what were some of the highlights of your high school career?

Smith: Just playing with my buddies, playing in front of my friends. It was pretty much the first time that I was getting a chance to do that. I thought it was pretty cool getting to play with my friends and playing in front of some of my friends that had never seen me play before.

McKeen's: Going back to the beginning, when did you first start playing hockey and how did you get that start?

Smith: Oh, I think I was about three years old. It's kind of a weird thing. I'd always liked to watch hockey with my dad, and he played high school at LaFollette as well. I don't know, he was just kind of like, "You want to give it a try?" We went out and got a pair of skates. I think it was a late night, we went on Olbrich, it was an old skating rink near our house, not too far from our house. So, went out there and got 'er started.

McKeen's: Who were some of your favorite players growing up and why and who are some players today you'd like to equate to?

Smith: Favorite player growing up was Wayne Gretzky. He was kind of a guy that didn't have all the speed in the world, but he was just a great player, a real class act. I kind of try to follow him there.

McKeen's: The NHL Entry Draft is in June, and it's your third year of eligibility, but I think you have a good chance of being taken this year. Have you noticed more interest from NHL teams this year than previous seasons and what would it mean to you to be drafted?

Smith: I think it'd be a huge thing to be drafted, especially coming from the east side of Madison. Not many players have been drafted out of there, so I'd love to be on that list. You know? We'll see what happens. I had a good year this year. The last two years, I didn't know if I was going to be, especially last year, it was kind of up in the air. This year, I've got a better chance at it. If I do, that'd be great, and if I don't, I'll have to pick up the slack (smiles).

McKeen's: (Chuckles) There's always free agency. Lastly, what was your favorite NHL team growing up and why, and what was your favorite non-NHL team growing up?

Smith: I really couldn't tell you if I have a favorite team. I like watching Chicago and Detroit. If I had to pick one, I'd probably say Chicago, maybe closer to my house, kind of got them on TV a lot. I kind of like watching them, and there are lot of past Badgers playing there right now.

McKeen's: You remind me of some them, be it with Chicago or Rockford. Non-NHL team?

Smith: Non-NHL team? I'd probably say Wisconsin. I grew up watching them, my uncle's got season tickets, so that was kind of big deal for me.