The University of Maine has landed its first men’s hockey player from the state of Virginia.
Right winger Ryan Smith, who is from Roanoke and is playing for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States (Junior) Hockey League, has verbally committed to attend UMaine beginning in September.
He will be a three-quarter scholarship player.
The 6-foot, 196-pound Smith has 12 goals and 12 assists in 58 games. He had five goals and nine assists in 57 games for the Gamblers a year ago.
“He’s a great athlete on and off the ice,” said Green Bay coach and general manager Pat Mikesch. “He’s a strong skater, and he’s very physically fit.
“He’s a raw kid from a non-traditional hockey area who is still developing and learning the game. But his upside is huge,” added Mikesch, a former four-year standout at Michigan Tech University.
Mikesch also said Smith has a good shot, is a very good penalty killer and is versatile.
“He can play on your top line or you can use him on a [checking] line that is tough to play against,” he said.
Smith said he decided on UMaine because he “really liked the coaching staff.”
“They were really nice and that made the recruiting process pretty easy. I visited the campus, and I liked it a lot. I went to prep school in Lake Placid, [New York], so being in the north doesn’t bother me. I also like Hockey East.
“Maine showed the most interest in me. They wanted me, and it felt good. It seemed like a good spot and a good fit for me,” added Smith, who turned 19 on Monday.
Smith began playing roller hockey when he was 5, and when a couple of friends transferred over to ice hockey, he joined them and enjoyed it.
He played a lot of his ice hockey in the Atlanta, Georgia, suburb of Alpharetta. Black Bears winger Malcolm Hayes is from Atlanta.
Smith went to Northwood Prep in Lake Placid in his sophomore year.
He takes pride in the defensive aspect of his game, saying, “I like have a good plus-minus. And penalty-killing is something I can bring to the table.”
He wants to become more consistent and develop the offensive aspect of his game in preparation for next fall.
His coming to UMaine is contingent upon his being accepted into the school and meeting NCAA eligibility requirements.