Miles Smith '22 Recruiting Profile

People say I'm a natural athlete. Sports have always come pretty easy to me , and as a young kid I played almost every sport you can imagine (except hockey). My parents had me in soccer, baseball, swimming, basketball, tennis, football, gymnastics, and even fencing! When I wasn't competing in one of those sports I was skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and playing golf, which I still enjoy doing. My parents didn't know much about hockey, so I got a late start compared to almost every other kid in Minnesota. At 11 years old I was told I had missed my opportunity. But I found a pair of used skates, borrowed a stick and got on the ice anyway. Hockey soon became my favorite sport. From the moment I was placed on the Peewee C team, I knew what I wanted to do. My goals were to practice hard, play well and move up. I watched hundreds of videos and set up practice nets in my basement and garage. I skated on the pond behind my house or the neighborhood outdoor rink, even on days when the temperature was way below zero. Over 5 years, I worked my way from Peewee C to B to two years of Bantam A and then Varsity. I am still growing, getting faster and stronger, and working hard to improve. I recently gave up football to concentrate on hockey year-round. I want to major in business, and I realize the importance of doing well in school. This past summer, I was one of only two kids from my high school invited to Yale University to attend a week-long business forum. Although it was cancelled due to the pandemic, it was an honor to have been chosen. As for what I can bring to a college hockey program, I am a hard-worker, a grinder, and someone who will do whatever it takes to help my team win - I've been told that I am very coachable.  I am also someone you won't have to worry about when it comes to grades or off the ice issues. My goals are to work hard, lead by example, and play the game at the highest possible level.