CJ Smith

CJ Smith is from Des Moines, Iowa. At age 13, he moved to Minnesota to pursue his goal of playing hockey at the highest level. He first skated with Bloomington Jefferson, then spent a season at the Academy of Holy Angels before joining the Austin Bruins in the NAHL for his junior and senior years of high school. His performance there earned him a commitment to play Division I hockey at UMass Lowell.

As a freshman at UMass Lowell, CJ led the team in scoring and was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. By his junior year, he helped capture both the Hockey East regular-season and playoff titles, earning tournament MVP honors.

Following his junior season, CJ signed with the Buffalo Sabres and became the first—and still only—Iowa-born player to score an NHL goal. Over his professional career, he won a Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves and made another finals appearance with the Charlotte Checkers.

CJ remains passionate about the game and is committed to helping the next generation of players grow in their journey. He brings a growth mindset, a willingness to learn, and a drive to be a resource for others both on and off the ice.