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Swindon Wildcats unveil latest signing Mark Smith
Swindon Wildcats have added the experienced head of Mark Smith to their roster for the 2016/17 season, as Aaron Nell attempts to solidify his side and shore up the defence.
The D-Man becomes the second fresh signing of the off-season for the Cats and is the final piece of the blue-line jigsaw for Head Coach Aaron Nell, signing a one-year deal following his departure from the Cardiff Devils.
Smith - brother of former Wildcats D-Man Kenton - is highly respected in British Ice Hockey and has carved out a career to remember with the likes of the Devils and the Coventry Blaze.
The 33-year-old parted ways with the Devils following the culmination of the 2015/16 campaign, and Nell was thrilled to snap up the services of the Edmonton native.
"I'm delighted Mark has decided to play in Swindon next season," the player-coach told swindonwildcats.com.
"Mark is a very reliable and solid D-Man who is a very similar player to Neil Liddiard. He comes to play every night and he's looking forward to a new challenge in Swindon.
"When the extra import became available I was very keen to sign a reliable stay-at-home D-Man and Mark fits the bill perfectly.
"He will really help and improve us defensively and also on the P.K.
"I've talked to lots of different people about Mark and everyone had good words to say about him.
"He's a great person to have in the dressing room and he is keen to help our young defencemen - he is a great role model for them."
Smith - who began his lengthy and distinguished career with the Sherwood Park Crusaders in the AJHL - arrived on these shores in 2009 after putting pen to paper on a deal with Elite League outfit the Edinburgh Capitals.
The Canadian went on to rack up just over 300 appearances in British Hockey's top flight, piling up 97 points (26 G, 71 A) in the process.
Having iced just nine times for Cardiff last term, Smith was on the lookout for a new challenge and is looking forward to putting his vast experience to good use and helping the Wildcats to challenge for top honours in 16/17.
"I'm extremely excited," he told swindonwildcats.com.
"It is an opportunity to get back playing hockey and I'm very excited about the team Aaron has put together. I watched the team a few times last year and I'm excited about some of the players they have and the new guys they have brought in.
"I know Max (Birbraer) pretty well and I'm excited about playing with him again, and having Stevie (Lyle) in net is always a plus.
"He's always a go to guy, he plays big time games and I'm just extremely excited - I can't wait to get started.
"It is a fresh start for me.
"I'm excited about the challenge and I will approach every game the same way I've approached every game in my career - and that is to give 100% every game, game in and game out.
"We should be pushing for trophies 100%. That's why every player plays hockey or why they should play hockey - to win a Championship.
"You don't just turn up half-hearted out there, you want to give everything you've got and at the end of the season you want to know that you've put everything on the line and hopefully you've picked up some trophies by the end of it.
"This team should absolutely be competing for trophies and that's a huge reason why I want to be a part of it."
Smith becomes the 17th signing of the off-season for the Wildcats and completes the club's D core for the 16/17 campaign, joining a very talented group of defencemen that include Neil Liddiard, Callum Buglass, Stevie Whitfield, Lee Richardson, Oliver Stone and Ben Nethersell.
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