The Inferno chats with Mark Smith

Mark Smith, gritty,proud and one hell of a shot blocker. Mark is back for his second season with the Devils after a good first year including his MBA studies and now he can just focus on what he loves to do, play hockey! Mark is no stranger to this league as this will be his 3rd season in a row after a year with Edinburgh Capitals.

We caught up with Mark before he headed home for summer to talk about the season ahead, playing on the same team as his brother and diving at pucks…..

1. Who do you think is the best D man you have played on a line with and against?
Best played with is Jay Bouwmeister of the Calgary Flames. Best played against is Matt Carle while at University of Denver now on the Flyers

2. How big was the transition from North America to here?

Transition was not too bad, obviously some differences culturally, and the way things were run in Edinburgh were pretty different from back home but overall transition was not too difficult. I Have enjoyed my time here in the UK.

3. You played a year at Edinburgh before moving to Cardiff- Your views on how it went playing for the Capitals and main reasons for leaving?

Edinburgh was a great city and my teammates were all great guys, but they are to strapped for cash and that is the main reason they can’t compete year in and year out. It is a shame though because I feel that city could be a premier place to play if it was run properly.

4. How big an influence was the MBA place on your decision to play on Cardiff?
Having the MBA was a huge reason for coming to Cardiff; I am just in the final stages of completing it and hopefully can get it done. I feel that the MBA would be very advantageous down the road with life after hockey.

5. Your well known for shot blocking, do you know your stats for last season?
You mean number of shots blocked? If so no idea but about 3-5 a game typically.

6. Where should the league focus future development?
If feel that the league should focus on putting the best product possible on the ice for fans to enjoy, and maybe try to instil more of the culture of hockey to a greater audience. At the same time though I do feel it is important to set limits on import players like they have done. It is also important to ensure a level playing field throughout the league, to make it more competitive. We can’t be having a league were a team loses like 25 straight like Edinburgh.

7. How do the fans in the UK, and specifically Cardiff, compare to fans in North America?
The places I played pro in North America the fan base really wasn’t that good and people really were not that interested in hockey in general. So it has been a real treat to have the kind of fans we do in Cardiff as I do feel they are the best fans in the league and definitely a contributing factor to the home record that we have.

8. Is there a feeling of unfinished business from last season for the team?
There is definitely that feeling, and is still tough to really think about that final game and what could have been. But you got to move on, get refocused and prepare for the new season and focus on winning in the next season. It will do no good to dwell on last season.

9. Did the purchase of Sheffield have an impact in the locker room?
Although not much was said about in the locker room I do feel that it did have an influence on guys. I really don’t want to go into much detail about that one though.

10. Weller was obviously a huge signing - what was his biggest impact?
I feel that bringing in a player that was just in the NHL 2 seasons prior really helped everyone else elevate their game. He was a good guy in the locker room and a great hockey player, so was obviously good to have picked him up.

11. If you had to pick one part of your game you would improve, what would it be and why?

I feel that my offensive numbers should be better, and I know I have some offensive abilities but it is just a matter of gaining the confidence to display those abilities. Typically though I just try to be solid all around, and sound defensively.

12. How off putting to players is the Big Blue Tent? Has this ever cost us a signing to your knowledge?
I don’t think it is an issue at all and don’t feel that it causes any problems in the recruiting process, and I have no knowledge of it causing any problems.

13. Which one current player in the British leagues (Brit or import) would you like to have playing with you in Cardiff?
Well there are a lot of good players to choose from, and I would probably say Jon Pelle or Owen Fussey.

14. You're an Oilers fan. Simple question - why do that to yourself?
Hahaha. Well the last couple years have been rough but things are looking bright for the future.. We also did just reach the cup final only a few years ago, and not the mention the history the team has with 5 cup wins and the presence the team has within the city and what they mean to the city is huge. Gotta love em, no fair weather fans in Edmonton.

15. What was the single best non hockey related aspect of living in Cardiff ('it being a great city, y’ know' isn't an answer)?
Friendly people overall and all of the history nearby, the Castle in city centre for example. I find that stuff to be pretty cool.

16. After you hang your skates up, what would you like to do? Would you like to be a fireman or will you look to coach or use your degree to pursue other employment?
Not too sure yet what I would like to pursue, I do feel though that whatever I choose my degree is going to help me. Time will tell I guess.

17. How do you find it playing on the same team as your brother? Does it help to know someone so well being on the ice with you or is he more like a team mate?
Well it is nice to have him around for sure, but as you know we don’t play well together for some reason which I don’t know, but at the end of the day he is just another teammate I guess, but one that you know a lot more about than the others.

18. Looking at your stats/teams, you played with a few Ex Devils and an Ex Giant at Charlotte Checkers in the form of Mike Hartwick, Kirk DeWaele and Mike Bayrack. What did you think of them as players on and off the ice?

They are all really different kind of player with DeWaele being more of a stay at home, solid Dman. Bayrack brings more to the offensive side, and Hartwick I only played with for a couple of weeks so don’t know to much about him as a player or as a person off the ice. As for Dewaele and Bayrack, they are both westerns Canadian guys so have alot in common in that respect. I got along with them both and enjoyed having them as teammates. My brother is also pretty good friends with both of them as well, so that helped in me getting to know them better