Brendan Smith of the Creston Valley Thunder Cats has committed to play collegiate hockey for Briercrest College in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference.
The Kamloops native went 12-16-0 (including a win with Kelowna to start the season) with a 3.11 goals against average and a .918 save percentage and one shutout. Smith earned one KIJHL Top Goalie selection on Oct. 6.
“Committing to Briercrest means a lot as I’m able to continue playing hockey while gaining my education,” said Smith. “Briercrest is a good fit for me because not only do they have a great hockey program, but the program and values taught at the school are second to none.”
“Brendan brings an exceptional work ethic, strong technical skill, and a calm demeanor on the ice. He was named the Top Goaltender of his division, nominated for the KIJHL’s Top Goalie award, and was instrumental in helping his rebuilding team reach the playoffs,” said Briercrest College head coach Carter Duffin on a social media post. “We are thrilled to have Brendan joining us at Briercrest.”
Smith said his time in the KIJHL helped him earn this opportunity because of its competitiveness.
“I had to be at my best every game and practice to earn this,” he added. “My coaches were more than willing to help me find the best opportunities, making the process of committing to Briercrest less stressful. The KIJHL draws a lot of attention from college coaches, making it a great league to play.”
Smith said playing in Creston Valley and Kelowna helped him grow in many areas, including improving his preparation and consistency. That helped Smith learn what’s best for him and to perform at a consistent level.
Smith completed his KIJHL career having played 92 career regular season games, and going 29-49-0 with one shutout, and a 3.42 GAA and a .910 SP. In 11 playoff games, Smith went 3-8-0 with a 4.31 GAA and an .883 SP.
