These words are barely needed. The pictures accompanying this article tell the story pretty well. No rich verbiage can shine the accomplishments of Ben Smith better than those trophies. Smith already has won five of them. With one hand still potentially ringless, he’s got plenty of room to add more.
Before Smith could arrive on Chestnut Hill, the Boston College Eagles lost a heartbreaker to the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2006 NCAA championship. With only three seniors on that roster, there was reason to be optimistic that higher heights were still within reach. For members of the Eagles coaching staff, convincing Smith to try to become part of that mission seemed like an accomplishment in itself. Smith was a standout student at Westminster in Simsbury, Conn., and BC assistant coach Mike Cavanaugh (North Andover, Mass.) thought, for sure, that Smith would be Ivy bound. Fortunately for him, Smith already had his heart set on BC.
“I went on my first visit to BC my freshman year,” said Smith, who grew up in Avon, Conn. “From that moment, it was kind of like, ‘Wow, this place is awesome, and I want to go here.’ I jumped at the chance to go.”
Despite joining a runner-up roster with barely any turnover, Smith, whom Cavanaugh labelled a “tireless worker,” managed to do just that, and insert himself into the roster. He scored 10 goals as a freshman, helping to bring the Eagles back to the NCAA final. Once again, though, their wings were clipped. For Smith, however, a strong freshman year had instilled some added confidence and served as proof he could hack it.
“He just really had a desire to come to Boston College and prove that he could play there,” Cavanaugh noted. “He fit in seamlessly that first year. Coming in as a freshman, scoring 10 goals, he proves to himself that he can play at that level.”
In his sophomore season, he raised his level of play. With 50 points, Smith moved himself into the top scorers in the nation.
After two years of crushing disappointment, the Boston College Eagles won the 2008 national championship. Smith assisted on the first two goals and scored the backbreaker to ensure that the Eagles would not return to Boston empty-handed for the third time in a row.
He quickly plummeted from that high, though. He tore his groin as a junior, and struggled through a career-worst year. Cavanaugh observed that Smith wasn’t quite himself, but it took a while to find out why: “It wasn’t until about halfway … I think, it was in January when we found out. He just played through it.”
Adding to the pain of a season of struggle, Smith had to watch his crosstown rivals thrive.
“It was, in general, just a down year for our team. Then, to have that year where you’re watching BU take the trophy home, it definitely gave you some motivation to come back stronger,” Smith said.
He might not have been as lethal as in his sophomore year, but redemption would be Smith’s. Restored to health, Smith rebounded and found his familiar form as a senior. He put up 37 points as he led the Eagles back to the Frozen Four for the third time in his career. In the ultimate game of his collegiate career in 2010, Smith opened the scoring with what would prove to be the game-winner. BC rolled over Wisconsin, and Smith got his second NCAA championship. He considered it the more gratifying of the two.
“Our class, being senior leaders, to go out having won your final college game, not a lot of guys can say that,” Smith said.
As a sixth-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks — and with an impressive college pedigree — Smith would begin his professional career in that organization, right as they were marching toward their first Stanley Cup in nearly a half-century. It can be a daunting task to crack a championship roster, but Smith was looking forward to the challenge.
“It was exciting to go into an organization where they just won the ultimate prize. You want to be a part of it. You want to go out there and make the NHL," he said. "It was up to me to try and work and prove I was good enough to play in the NHL.”
Smith took a strong first step thanks to a solid opening season with Rockford, Chicago’s AHL affiliate. His play impressed enough to play 13 games with the big club, seven of those coming in the playoffs. In those seven, he scored three goals, including an overtime winner in Game 6 against the Vancouver Canucks. Former BC teammate Cory Schneider (Marblehead, Mass.) had been injured earlier in the game, so Smith’s goal — in which he outbattled potential Hall of Famer Daniel Sedin in front of the net to whack the puck — flew by surefire Hall of Famer Roberto Luongo. Early signs were pointing toward a quick stick in the NHL. However, a concussion in the next preseason would set Smith back.
Once recovered, he had an even better season in the AHL, scoring almost a point per game. Unfortunately, if a spot might have been potentially on hold for him with the Hawks, it also was likely taken. In the 2011-12 and ’12-13 seasons, Smith would dress for only 14 regular-season games in Chicago. Then, came his lucky(ish) break. A late injury to Marian Hossa opened up a roster spot for Smith in Game 3 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final. The plus side, Smith would take the ice in the most meaningful hockey game of his career to date. The minus, the notice was too short for his family to scurry from Connecticut to Boston.
“I didn’t know I was playing until, like, five o’clock,” he said. “So, my mom had lunch with me, then drove home.”
Although Smith would not register a point in that game and the Hawks would lose, the appearance qualified him for a ring and engraving. Smith would admit, though, that it was certainly a slightly different feeling than when he was leading the charge in BC.
“You feel guilty, right?" he said. "A lot of guys play a lot of games … and they never get their name on that trophy. I kind of got lucky, right place, right time. At the same time, everyone has a role. You want to be an everyday guy, (but) you take it every time, right? It’s always cool to say I was a small part.”
The next season, the NHL dream would become a more consistent reality. Smith played all of his games for the Blackhawks. He scored 14 goals, and he was a key depth guy when they made another deep run in the 2014 playoffs, narrowly being outmatched by future Cup champion Los Angeles.
That season would also be Smith’s smoothest. The next year, he was a deadline chip. In a move partially inspired by the salary cap, Chicago sent Smith to San Jose. Smith couldn’t find his niche with the new organization. After playing only 25 games in the Sharks’ uniform, he would be shipped to Toronto. Smith would have a befuddling career with the Maple Leaf organization that included Toronto putting him on waivers, and also claiming him off.
Finally, in the 2017-18 season, Smith, at least, found some stability. He would attain the captaincy of the Toronto Marlies, lead the team with 59 points, then he chipped in 16 more as he guided the team to a Calder Cup championship.
It is entirely possible Smith could have continued to be a part of Toronto’s depth chart. He could have continued to mentor some of the prospects looking to help push Auston Matthews and company deeper into spring. He could have been that guy, called upon in May or June, to fill in for a playoff injury or scratch. However, the newly married man wanted hockey to give a little something to him, as he continued to give all he had.
“It was really kind of a life decision," he said. "My role in that organization was going to be a leader on the American League team, which is a great job, don’t get me wrong. I sat down, talked to my future wife (Millie). We were looking, from not just a hockey perspective, but from a life perspective.”
As they looked at the big picture, the Deutsche Eishockey Liga grew in its appeal. In his first year in Mannheim, Smith had some adjustments to make. Even though he played at the highest level, moving to a different league always presents new challenges.
Despite some nuances, Smith still impressed to the tune of 35 points in 52 games. Adler Mannheim took both the regular-season title and championship from Red Bull München, ending Red Bull’s three-year grip on each. Smith added 14 points in as many games to ensure the Mannheim victory.
No one can really explain it. Some athletes just win. In Connecticut, the athlete of note — at least in the hockey world — is often Chris Drury (Trumbull, Conn.). In Little League, in college, in the NHL, Drury seemed to find himself on winning teams. Ben Smith’s name might belong in that same conversation. Of course, he balked at the comparison.
“That’s nice of you to say,” he downplayed. “I don’t think I’ve had anywhere near the career Chris Drury had.”
Maybe some individual numbers don’t quite line up, but, often, Smith’s team finds itself No. 1. He didn’t have a true explanation, but he offered words of wisdom.
“It’s just an attitude,” Smith said. “It’s a mindset. You’re going to outcompete the guy across from you. That’s been my approach.”
