Saint Andrews native Gabe Smith has been awarded the Guy-Carbonneau Trophy for top defensive forward in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
The QMJHL said this has been a breakout year for Smith, who was drafted by the NHL’s Utah Mammoth in the fourth round.
Smith currently plays for the Moncton Wildcats and has improved his personal best from 39 last season to 77 points. The QMJHL placed him third amid the high-powered Wildcats.
“Of his 34 goals, 18 came on the power play, a league-high,” a release from the OMJHL said. “Smith was frequently matched against top opposing players and used his imposing 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame to disrupt opponents.”
Smith was the Wildcats most used center in the faceoff circle (1,170), where he posted a 58.9 per cent success rate, according to the OMJHL. He was on the ice for 44 of the team’s goals, contributing heavily to its offensive play, a key factor in his strong plus or minus rating.
Several current NHL players have earned this top award, including Nicolas Roy with the Colorado Avalanche, Phil Danault with the Montreal Canadiens, and Dawson Mercer with the New Jersey Devils.
The Wildcats have advanced to the semifinals in their bid for the Gilles-Courteau Trophy. Their opponent has yet to be decided, with the Newfoundland Regiment and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada facing off for the final semifinal spot. Last year, the team was crowned the QMJHL champions and advanced to the Memorial Cup, but were defeated by the London Knights in the semifinals of the tournament.
Smith, 19, is only one point from Wildcats captain Caleb Desnoyers, who was drafted fourth overall in the first round by the Utah Mammoth.
Tommy Beyl, the team’s leading scorer, won the Raymond-Lagacé Trophy for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
