With a season of major junior coaching experience now under his belt, Jason Smith is better equipped for his second tour of duty with the
Familiar with both the league and his returning players, are ready to hit the ground running in the 2017-18 campaign.
乌鸦传媒淚 think having that whole experience of last year, from training camp, going through the exhibition season, getting to know the players, that was all new to me,乌鸦传媒� said Smith, whose club posted a 45-22-5-0 record last season, before losing to Seattle in the Western Conference final. 乌鸦传媒淣ow, I have a relationship that乌鸦传媒檚 developed with most of the guys on the team, I know what to expect and the players know what to expect from the coaches.
乌鸦传媒淎s a staff we乌鸦传媒檒l look to make some adjustments in our style of play,乌鸦传媒� he added. 乌鸦传媒淚 think we had beliefs in a lot of what we did last year, it乌鸦传媒檚 just a matter of tweaking things and, as a group, making sure we乌鸦传媒檙e always communicating.乌鸦传媒�
Smith will be supported again this season by assistants Kris Mallette and Travis Crickard, each in their fourth seasons, and Adam Brown, who is entering his second season as the video/goaltending coach.
Smith expects the 2017-18 edition Rockets to 乌鸦传媒渂e a team that乌鸦传媒檚 plays fast乌鸦传媒� and will rely on 乌鸦传媒渃ompete and work ethic乌鸦传媒� to get results.
The second-year head coach is excited about the stable of talent the staff has to work with, including the back end which may be one of the league乌鸦传媒檚 deepest and most skilled defensive corps.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 exciting,乌鸦传媒� Smith said of the team乌鸦传媒檚 defense. 乌鸦传媒淲hen you have a group that can defend and also moves the puck well, that乌鸦传媒檚 important. The way the game has evolved you want active D-men and hopefully that will help us put a lot of pressure on other teams.乌鸦传媒�
For the first time since Ryan Huska乌鸦传媒檚 final season at the helm in 2013-14, a Rockets head coach will be entering his second season with the club.
Kelowna GM Bruce Hamilton expects Smith and his staff will take a significant step forward this season.
乌鸦传媒淚 think he乌鸦传媒檚 going to be a lot more settled, knowing what he乌鸦传媒檚 working with and his style that fits with the players he has,乌鸦传媒� said Hamilton. 乌鸦传媒淥ne thing we need to fix is our discipline, we were the most penalized team in the league last year and I know our coaches are working on that.
乌鸦传媒淛ason has a year under his belt, it乌鸦传媒檚 not an easy transition coming from pro to junior,乌鸦传媒� Hamilton added. 乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 matured, he has a year of experience and our three assistants have all been through this with him.乌鸦传媒�
Smith and the Rockets open the WHL regular season Friday at home to the Kamloops Blazers. Face off at Prospera Place is 7:05 p.m.
