Smith, Blazers remain smokin’ hot
Colin Smith was awoken from a slumber when KTW reached him by phone on Monday, Oct. 29.
The interview that followed lacked energy and and pizazz — two things the Kamloops Blazer forward has displayed every game night throughout the early stages of the 2012-2013 WHL campaign.
“Both individually and as a team things are going well,” a groggy Smith told KTW.
“We’re just trying to keep playing and not think too much.”
That “things are going well” is an understatement.
Smith scored the overtime winner in a 4-3 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds in Kent, Wash., on Sunday, Oct. 28, giving Kamloops its third win in three nights.
The Blazers, now 15-0-01, downed Victoria 5-2 on Saturday, Oct. 27, one night after thumping Brandon 8-1. Both games were played at Interior Savings Centre.
Next up for Kamloops — the nation’s No. 1-ranked major-junior team — is a trip to Everett today (Oct. 30) to play the Silvertips.
Smith has not exactly flown under the radar, but the lion’s share of the attention given to the Blazers has been absorbed by JC Lipon, who won both the CHL and WHL player of the week awards in consecutive weeks earlier this month.
“I think the attention put on him allowed me to kind of just play my game,” said Smith, who began to shake the cobwebs off as the interview rolled along.
Lipon leads the WHL with 39 points, 15 of them goals, but his centreman, Smith, is on his heels with 13 goals and 38 points.
Tim Bozon, the line’s left-winger, is third in league scoring with 29 points, 14 of them goals.
Smith is on a 16-game point streak and has had nine straight multi-point games.
Both Smith and Lipon were named to the Team WHL roster for a Subway Super Series game against Team Russia set for Nov. 15 in Victoria.
Teams across the league are well aware of the line’s prolific early-season accomplishments — the trio has combined for 106 points in 16 games — and Smith has noticed an increase in the attention being paid to him and his linemates.
“I felt like the Alberta trip was probably the start of it,” said Smith, an Edmonton product.
“Teams know and they are going to come after us.”
Many are wondering how long both the Blazers and the Smith line can stay this smouldering hot.
The diminutive forward said he plans to keep applying himself at practice and the rest will take care of itself.
“Some people may think it’s a streak, but I think all three of us work hard every day and that proves that it’s not,” said Smith, who had his wits about him when the conversation came to a close.
“Maybe the big points won’t continue, but we should stay consistent.”
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