WHL Everett Silvertips

Silvertips Select Tarin Smith 20th Overall in the WHL Draft

December 9, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


EVERETT, Wash. - The Everett Silvertips are proud to select defenseman Tarin Smith in the first round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.

Smith, an '06-born Porcupine Plain, SK native, is currently with the Saskatoon Blazers 18U AAA team in the SMAAAHL, where he has a goal and 14 assists through 20 games played. He previously played at the U15 level with the North East Wolfpack AA squad in 2019-20 and '20-21.

Additionally, Smith skated in five games at the 2021 WHL Cup as a member of Team Saskatchewan, registering three assists. He is the fourth player from the Saskatoon Blazers to be selected in the first round of the WHL Draft, joining 4th-overall pick Roger McQueen (Brandon Wheat Kings), 13th-overall pick Cole Peardon (Prince Albert Raiders) and 15th-overall pick Tyson Buczkowski (Prince George Cougars).

"I've watched Tarin Smith's game for the past three years and have seen his game evolve," explained Everett's senior Saskatchewan scout Garry Ryhorchuk. "We project him to be an all-situational defenseman for us. He just has an all-around good skill set and when you combine high intelligence with no panic to his game, you really get excited he's now a part of our organization."

"Tarin is a complete defenseman that excels in many aspects of the game," said Silvertips director of player personnel Mike Fraser. "He can skate, moves the puck really well, he disrupts opposing teams' offense and also adds an offensive element of his own into the game. Our scouting staff thinks he fits the Silvertip mold perfectly and he will be a key component to our back-end in the near future."

"Our scouting staff has been able to watch Tarin lots over the last few years," commented Everett head coach and general manager Dennis Williams. "To see his improvements in his development...he's a defenseman that can do it in all three zones. He's a player we're really excited about adding, not only from a hockey standpoint, but someone with high character, great teammate, someone that's really going to step into the Everett culture and continue to grow it."

The Everett Silvertips had not picked in the first round of the WHL Draft since 2017, when they used their 20th-overall selection to take defenseman Ronan Seeley. Seeley eventually grew to be picked by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 7th-round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

"By all accounts we know we're getting a quality individual with Tarin," Ryhorchuk added. "One who will fit in very well with our team and provide good leadership going forward."

Smith joins Aidan Yi and Cody Polumbus as part of the Silvertips' yield from WHL Draft season. Yi and Polumbus were Everett's first- and second-round selections from Wednesday's U.S. Prospects Draft.

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