AURORA’S SMITH ‘PUMPED’ TO COMMIT TO NCAA CHAMPION UMASS
Willam Smith of the Aurora Tigers (photo credit – Andy Corneau and Christian Bender / OJHL Images) has confirmed his commitment to join the defending NCAA champion UMass Minutemen in Amherst, Mass beginning with the 2023-24 season.
The 18-year-old from Toronto played two games with the Tigers as an affiliate player from the Toronto Titans U18 team in 2019-20.
The defenceman then signed with Aurora ahead of the ill-fated 2020-21 Ontario Junior Hockey League season.
This year, he has eight goals and 17 assists for the resurgent Tigers. Only Brendan Tomilson of the Pickering Panthers has more points amongst OJHL blueliners this season.
“It’s a really awesome school with an amazing hockey program,” Smith told the OJHL this week. “I had great talks with the coaches and I’m super pumped to commit to UMass.”
Other NCAA Division I schools were also interested, “But UMass was definitely No. 1,” Smith said.
OJHL grads on this season’s Minutemen roster include Luke Pavicich (Buffalo) and Eric DeDobbelaer (Brantford).
Aurora Head Coach Greg Johnston, the former Boston Bruin and Toronto Maple Leaf, predicts a bright future for Smith.
“Will Smith is the type of player and person every coach loves to have on their team,” Johnston told the OJHL. “He plays a highly intelligent and skilled game with a great work ethic. I am not surprised UMass has committed to Will as he does everything you ask of him and is a great teammate on and off the ice.
“I believe Will is going to have a very successful NCAA career and if he continues his development I could see a pro career in his future.”
A resident of the Beach neighbourhood in Toronto, Smith graduated from Neil McNeill High School this year.
Congratulations to William and best of luck in the NCAA!
About the OJHL – “League of Choice”
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is the largest Junior ‘A’ league operating under the auspices of the Canadian Junior Hockey League with 22 member clubs. A proud member of the CJHL and Ontario Hockey Association, the OJHL was originally named the Ontario Provincial Junior ‘A’ Hockey League and it was formed out of the Central Junior ‘B’ Hockey League in 1993-94. With a long and storied history of developing players for the next level, including U SPORTS, the NCAA, CHL, minor pro ranks and the NHL, the OJHL had more than 125 commitments in 2019-20– including more than 45 NCAA Division I scholarships.
