Niagara IceDogs forward Reyth Smith is wasting no time making his mark this season.
The left winger is off to a hot start, already closing in on his entire point total from last season just four games into the new campaign.
Smith says that production is the result of a big summer of work, as he stayed in Niagara to train during the offseason.
Smith also made an immediate impact in the IceDogs' home opener, scoring twice and adding an assist in front of the Niagara crowd.
He says he loves playing at home, and getting the chance to put on a show for the fans is always a good feeling.
This season has also brought a new coaching staff and general manager to Niagara. Smith says the team has bought into head coach Jake Grimes' approach. Smith says he's personally looking to add more offensive production without losing the gritty, power-forward style that's become a big part of his game.
When it comes to the 2-2 start to the season, Smith feels like this season is a great opportunity for the IceDogs to prove a lot of people wrong.
That mindset will be put to the test with a pair of games against the Barrie Colts coming up - a team Niagara faced in last year's playoffs.
Smith says there's still a bit of a bad taste from that playoff series, and he's had Thursday's game circled on the calendar.
(Written by: Matt Latour)