Hard work pays off

LAREDO, Texas — The CHL All-Stars needed just 23 seconds to tie the score in the second period with Laredo rookie Darryl Smith taking a pass that was banked off the wall by Odessa’s Dominic Leveille and quickly snapping it over the shoulder of Andrew Penner.

Rookie Darryl Smith has had no problem finding the net this season. The first year pro has 21 goals, 22 assists for 43 points and is plus 21 in 33 games this season with Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League. Smitty’s hard work has not gone unoticed as he was called up to the Houston Aeroes of the American Hockey League for 4 games this season. Darryl got his start in hockey in his hometown of Thorold, Ontario until his midget years where he played AAA midget in Welland, Ontario until he was drafted in the Ontario Hockey League by the Guelph Storm. Darryl ended up playing 62 games with Guelph where he had 3 goals and 3 assists.  After the 2004-05 season he was released from the Storm and found himself in the QMJHL with the Gatineau Olympiques where his junior career took off and helped Gatineau win the Quebec League championship and a birth in the Memorial Cup last season in Kitchener, Ontario. It is with the Olympiques where Darryl learned that hard work pays off.
“My coach in Gatineau Benoit Groulx showed me that you have to work hard everyday if you want to go anywhere in the sport and he really pushed me and it helped my game greatly” Smith said.
It should come to no great surprise that Smith’s hard work has paid dividends. As a rookie this season he leads all rookies in scoring and is second on the Bucks in scoring and leads the team in plus/minus with a plus 21. Mike McArthur of  The Hockey Group who represents Darryl has said,  “We knew all along that Darryl had that strength of character and perseverance to show what he can do. Credit as well goes to his coach in Laredo,Terry Ruskowski, who has proven time and again to be the coach who knows that, when given the opportunity, perseverance and character is often the crucial factor in consistently high levels performance individually and as a team. We knew that Smitty and Ruskowski’s coaching would be a great combination and a big step in their season and careers.” Smith has nothing but praise for coach Ruskowski and Jeff Bess, player/assistant coach, who have shown the confidence in him as a player.
“My coach, Terry Ruskowski has given me every possible opportunity and has really let me develop in the process,” Smith said. “He is always there with things I can do better but always tries to keep things up beat as well. He is very approachable which makes it easy for when I have questions. He will always take the time to explain something that someone doesn’t understand. Also my linemate/ assistant coach Jeff Bes. He’s helped me since day 1 with getting me adjusted to the pro game. Hes a veteran and has a lot of experiences so hes a great guy to listen and talk to about just about anything.” Smith managed to secure a position on the roster and Terry Ruskowski couldn’t be more pleased with what has transpired since his arrival. It didn’t take Ruskowski long to figure out the type of individual he was bringing into Laredo.
“He’s an example of what dedication and hard work can do to succeed in pro hockey and he certainly has a hockey future,”  Ruskowski said. Contact the author at: andruw_b@wcgwave.ca