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Will Smith (ice hockey)

William Charles Patrick Smith (born March 17, 2005) is an American professional ice hockey center for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college hockey at Boston College. Smith was drafted fourth overall by the Sharks in the 2023 NHL entry draft.[1]

Early life and personal life

William Charles Patrick Smith was born on March 17, 2005 to Bill and Colleen Smith of Lexington, Massachusetts. He has one older sister, Grace, who has also attended Boston College.[2] In Lexington, he was a student at Lexington Public Schools, before attending the Fessenden School, and then Saint Sebastian's School.[3]

Smith started skating at four years old.[3] He played three years of junior hockey with the Boston Jr. Eagles before joining the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP).[4]

Unlike many players recruited by the NTDP, Smith did not live with a billet family, as his parents and sister moved with him to the program's location in Plymouth, Michigan to support his career.[3]

While at Boston College, he was enrolled as a Communication Studies major.[2]

Smith has named fellow Americans Patrick Kane and Auston Matthews as his favorite hockey players.[4][5]

Playing career

Smith playing for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in a January 2023 exhibition game against the Wisconsin Badgers

In Smith's first year in the national program, he scored 37 points in 35 games with the under-17 team. In his first draft-eligible year, he centered the under-18 team's first line, scoring over two points per game, and was named MVP of the BioSteel All-American Game.[6]

Smith committed to playing college hockey for Northeastern University, but eventually changed his mind and matriculated at Boston College.[3] He was named a top ten candidate for the Hobey Baker Award in 2024, alongside fellow BC Eagle Ryan Leonard and future San Jose Sharks teammate Macklin Celebrini.[7]

In the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the San Jose Sharks selected him in the first round, fourth overall.[1] Smith signed his entry-level contract with the Sharks on May 28, 2024.[8]

Smith played his first NHL game on October 10, 2024 in a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues.[9] He recorded his first NHL regular season goal, assisted by Luke Kunin, in a 3-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 31, 2024.[10]

International play

At the 2023 IIHF World U18 Championships, Smith led the tournament in scoring with nine goals and 20 points in seven games and won a gold medal.[11]

On December 16, 2023, Smith was named to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team to compete at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2021–22 U.S. National Development Team USHL 36 14 14 28 28 — — — — —
2022–23 U.S. National Development Team USHL 20 15 27 42 20 — — — — —
2023–24 Boston College HE 41 25 46 71 14 — — — — —
2024–25 San Jose Sharks NHL 74 18 27 45 18 — — — — —
NHL totals 74 18 27 45 18 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2022 United States U18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 4 2 2 4 0
2023 United States U18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 9 11 20 2
2024 United States WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 4 5 9 0
2024 United States WC 5th 5 0 0 0 0
Junior totals 18 15 18 33 2
Senior totals 5 0 0 0 0

Awards and honors

Award Year
College
All-Hockey East First Team 2024 [13]
Hockey East All-Rookie Team [14]
William Flynn Tournament Most Valuable Player
AHCA East First Team All-American [15]
NCAA All-Tournament Team 2024 [16]
International
U18 Best Forward 2023 [17]
U18 All-Star Team 2023 [17]
U18 MVP 2023 [17]

References

  1. ^ a b "BREAKING: Sharks Select Will Smith No. 4". sanjosehockeynow.com. June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "2023-24 Men's Hockey Roster - Will Smith". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Levinsky, Greg (March 11, 2024). "How Lexington's Will Smith became college hockey's leading scorer". The Lexington Observer.
  4. ^ a b "Will Smith". USA Hockey. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  5. ^ "Player Q&A | Will Smith". NHLPA. December 3, 2024.
  6. ^ Wheeler, Scott. "Will Smith, the 2023 NHL Draft's ankle-breaker, is just scratching the surface". The Athletic. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  7. ^ "Hobey Baker Award Top Ten Finalists Announced for 2024". hobeybaker.com. March 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "San Jose Sharks Sign Center Will Smith". NHL.com. San Jose Sharks. May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  9. ^ Peng, Sheng (October 11, 2024). "Sharks Locker Room: Celebrini, Smith Talk NHL Debut". San Jose Hockey Now.
  10. ^ Espy, William (November 1, 2024). "GOTTA SEE IT: Will Smith Calls Shot, Scores 1st Two NHL Goals". San Jose Hockey Now. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  11. ^ Morreale, Mike. "Smith sets sights on 2023 NHL Draft, freshman year at Boston College". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  12. ^ Morreale, Mike G. (December 16, 2023). "Gauthier leads United States 2024 World Junior roster". NHL.com. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  13. ^ "HOCKEY EAST NAMES 2023–24 MEN'S ALL-STAR TEAMS". Hockey East. March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  14. ^ "HOCKEY EAST NAMES 2023–24 PRO AMBITIONS ALL-ROOKIE TEAM". Hockey East. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  15. ^ "Top 25 men's college hockey players earn distinction as CCM/AHCA Hockey All-Americans for 2023–24 season". USCHO.com. April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "Boston College Falls to Denver in National Championship". bceagles.com. April 13, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c "Will Smith named MVP". IIHF. April 30, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by San Jose Sharks first round draft pick
2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Hockey East Tournament MVP
2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NCAA Ice Hockey Scoring Champion
2023–24 		Succeeded by