Former Winnipeg Blues & Selkirk Steelers Head Coach, Ryan Smith has been selected as assistant coach of Canada’s national U17 program for the 2022-23 season.
Smith spent six seasons (2008-14) as a Head Coach in the MJHL before advancing to coach at the major junior level in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He also served as an assistant coach with Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in 2012 and 2013, winning silver and bronze, respectively.
Smith was named interim head coach of the Spokane Chiefs after serving as an associate coach for the past two seasons (2020-22). He was previously an assistant with the Swift Current Broncos (2015-18) and Medicine Hat Tigers (2018-20).
In his own junior career, Smith played in the MJHL for the now defunct St. James Canadians for three seasons (1991-1994), where he scored 140 goals and 158 assists Fin 131 games. He was named MJHL Rookie of the Year (1991-1992), MJHL First Team All-Star and MJHL MVP (1993-1994) during his time in the league.
