David Smith '20 Recruiting Profile

Hi My name is David Smith. I am a 17 year old goaltender out of Bakersfield, CA. I currently play high school for the Kern County Knights Varsity club. 

I started playing hockey 7 years ago and started playing goalie 6 years ago. After picking up goaltending really quickly in house league, I got offered a spot on the 14uB team. I had a great start to my young career earning my first shutout in my first game then I never quit adding to my resume. I ended that season leading the league in shutouts as well as 3rd in GAA and 2nd in save percentage. 

My second year hadn't gone as I had hoped having let down myself and now having the numbers I had hoped and not keeping my team in the games like I wanted to. I ended that year with my GAA being a bit over 3.00 and one of the lower ranked goalies in save percentage. Despite all of that my coach named me MVP of the team at the end of the year banquet.

My third year of club hockey was when I started to take my career more serious and seeing I could potentially have a chance at a very good future with hockey. I was named an assistant captain for my leadership and I became a well respected player around the city and the league. I ended that year 2nd in GAA with around a 2.50 and finished 3rd in save percentage with just over a .910. Capping off a tremendous year with winning the league and state championship. My teammates and I turned around an 0-16 team the year prior and stepped in and became leauge champions.

My fourth year was a year no one could ever imagine. This was the year I knew I needed to be good because it was my first year on varsity and the varsity team had lost the championship for 4 straight years. I wanted to be the difference maker for this team and become the best I could. I don't think anyone really thought I would play as well as I did after the goaltenders the team had for the past few years but I quickly made sure everyone knew I was the goalie that would help this team win it all. I finished off the year with a 24-1-2 record as well as leading the league in GAA with just under a 1.50 and leading the league in save percentage as well with a .930. We had captured the trophy the team had been waiting for for the past 4 seasons. Not only did we win league but also ended with a state championship as well. At the end of the year I was awarded the "Rogie Vachon Goaltender of the Year" award. 

Now I am onto my fifth season of goaltending and after the offseason I have just had this is the year I want to be my best at. My coach has named me one of the leaders of the team. I am a very well respected player in the community and know just about everyone. This year is a year were I tell myself before every game, "If I am not good, my team is not good". Along with playing, these past 2 seasons I have picked up a job as an assistant coach for the 14u team last season and 12u team this season. I have done multiple private lessons as well with young and old goalies would want to improve there skill.

What makes me different from other goalies you will see is my drive to succeed and the competitiveness I bring to the table. I don't like to lose, I don't like to not perform well. If I don't play well it is a loss in my book. My biggest component that makes me different from many other players is my leadership. My presence is known in the locker room and my coach and I have built a very strong relationship over the offseason and brought this team together. Anything anyone needs I'm always here for.

In my future, I would like to do a lot more coaching and become a professional head coach for a hockey club one day. I started building my coaching career last season and this season I have helped many goalies and players improve their skill. I don't like when no effort is given so I am always pushing for the best because I want to exceed in what I am doing.