Conor Smart, the Ottawa Junior Senators left wing, likes to
make things happen when he’s on the ice.
“I like to be creative,” he explained. “Offensively I’ll take what
the defense gives me.”
That means looking for his shot when he’s open or, if the
defense is collapsing around him, passing to an open
teammate.
The native of Keswick, ONT, who shoots left-handed, has
scored 11 goals and assisted on 14 others making him a very
valuable asset for the first place Junior Senators.
Ottawa GM/Coach Martin Dagenais has been impressed with
the first-year forward whom they traded for before the start of
the season.
“Conor is a big part of our future,” the coach said. “He provides
us with secondary scoring this season, but we think he will be
that much better next year when it will be his turn to play big
minutes.
“He has tremendous speed and he can really shoot the puck,”
Dagenais added.
Playing for the Junior Senators has been a revelation for the
18-year- old Smart.
Last year he was playing for a young Orangeville Flyers team
that struggled. It could have been the same for him this year
without the trade. Now, he is playing for one of the premier
teams in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL).
“It’s been great,” Smart remarked. “They have a really good
group of guys. All the guys are close to each other.”
The Junior Senators are running away with the regular season
title in the Yzerman Division with a sparkling 35-6- 1-2 record.
Their 73 points are 22 better than the runner-up Hawkesbury
Hawks.
It may be his first year with the Junior Senators however,
Smart knows what has separated his team from the others.
“We balance four lines that are all very skilled and unique in
their own way,” he pointed out.
Smart has made his contribution to the uniqueness of Ottawa’s
four lines. What he brings to the ice as Dagenais noted, is
“speed.” He uses it to create open space which in turns allows
him to be creative and use his instincts.
“I try not to think too much,” he said.
Smart has seen the benefits of playing with a winning program,
“I’ve really improved tremendously,” said the winger. “They (Jr.
Senators coaches) focus and stress on the little things and
playing defense first. My overall game has improved. I’m more
confident and consistent.”
This has helped him make the adjustment to playing at the
CCHL Junior Hockey level.
“The game is a little different,” Smart said. “The players are
bigger, faster and stronger. Once you settle in, it’s really good.”
The trade to the Junior Senators moved Smart five hours drive
from his home but, there was a silver lining.
“I have a lot of family that live there,” he pointed out. “I have a
support system.
His grandparents, Lorna and John Smart, are among the family.
They live just a half-hour from the Ottawa rink. He rooms with
them.
His parents Francine and Ron have been able to get to some of
the Junior Senator games.
Like many who are playing in the CCHL, Smart wants to move
on to Division I hockey.
“That (Division I) is the ultimate goal,” he said. “Just to play at
the next level would be great.”
For one, Dagenais believes Smart has what it takes to get there.
“He’ll definitely be a Division I candidate in the future,” said the
Ottawa coach.
