LYNN — For most hockey players, the season starts in December and ends a few months later, but for St. Mary’s starting goaltender Matthew Smith Jr., it never stops. The constant hard work and dedication to his craft landed him a spot on the USA Hockey National Development Camp this summer.
It took place in Buffalo, New York. With Smith being selected as one of the top 24 goalies across the country, he said it was something he had been working for all year.
“It was one of my biggest goals. Just being able to go there, in general, was amazing for me. I was just trying to have a good time out there,” Smith said.
He got a phone call from the director of USA Hockey Goaltending, who broke the news to him that he was selected.
“I was at a loss of words,” Smith said. “It was a really special moment.”
Smith traveled to Buffalo, where he was one of the first to arrive for camp, something that ended up benefiting him.
“It helped that I was the first kid there. My flight was super early, so I was one of the first there along with a few Massachusetts kids and a couple from California,” Smith said. “It was smooth sailing since they had a bunch of team-bonding exercises.”
A normal gameday would consist of waking up early, stretching, eating breakfast, and completing the game, followed by lunch, meetings, and team-bonding exercises.
“The cool thing is that you look up in the stands and there are scouts of every division and college you’ve ever heard of watching,” Smith said.
When asked what it was like to perform in front of college scouts, Smith said it didn’t add any additional pressure.
“I don’t think it added any more pressure on me because at the end of the day, you have to just play. You’re out there with a USA Hockey jersey on anyway, which is crazy enough,” Smith said. “I just looked at it like, now, it’s a reality and I have to play my game.”
Smith registered a 0.89 save percentage against some of the top hockey players in the nation.
“It was a huge confidence-builder for me. I feel like if I’m in a big situation or in a big game in the future, there will be less pressure. It’s kind of dumbed down because this is the biggest thing I’ve ever done and it really helped me channel my nerves,” Smith said. “Since the camp, I’ve been a lot more confident in my recent games.”
That confidence can only be beneficial for the St. Mary’s netminder. His father and St. Mary’s boys hockey coach, Matthew Smith Sr., spoke about how proud he is and how big of an achievement it is for St. Mary’s hockey.
“I am extremely proud that one of our players was able to make it to the national camp. It’s honestly great for St. Mary’s and other players on the team, as this may draw more people to our games this year,” he said. “I believe that only three high school hockey players made the camp in his birth year, and the rest of the players were Prep School and Academy players. It’s just a great accomplishment for Matthew.”
“With Matthew being my son as well, I get a front row seat to witness the work he puts in every single day. He’s a very focused and motivated young man,” Smith Sr. said. “When he didn’t make national camp the year before, he set a goal to make it the next year, and he did just that with hard work, discipline, and passion.”
