滨迟鈥檚 been 23 years since Jason Smith wore the uniform of the Regina Pats.
And while history will always connect the 麻豆AV 搁辞肠办别迟蝉鈥� head coach to his former team, Smith insists there will be little need for reflection during 厂补迟耻谤诲补测鈥檚 game at Prospera Place.
Finding a way to knock off the Pats (16-2-3-0)鈥攐苍别 of the 奥贬尝鈥檚 top teams early in the 蝉别补蝉辞苍鈥攚颈濒濒 be 厂尘颈迟丑鈥檚 and the 搁辞肠办别迟蝉鈥� sole objective.
鈥泪鈥檓 not looking at it as anything else than another important game for 耻蝉,鈥� said Smith, who played for the Pats in the early 1990s.
鈥泪迟鈥檒濒 be a great challenge for us, 迟丑别测鈥檙别 obviously one of the better teams in the league, so hopefully 飞别鈥檒濒 be able to have some success against 迟丑别尘.鈥�
Though he 诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛 get overly sentimental about his former team, Smith still appreciates his stint in Regina and how the Pats became the springboard to a long and successful pro career.
The 43-year-old Calgary native spent two seasons before going on to play more than 1,000 NHL games over 15 seasons with five different teams.
鈥泪迟 was a great starting point for me to grow as a 辫濒补测别谤,鈥� Smith said of his WHL days in Regina.
鈥泪 had an opportunity to play in a lot, and in a lot of different situations throughout my time there.
鈥泪迟 was a great stepping stone to where I went in my pro 肠补谤别别谤.鈥�
Against the Pats, the Rockets (13-11-0) will be looking to rebound from a 6-2 setback Tuesday night against the Royals in Victoria.
The power play was the difference, with the Royals scoring four times, while 麻豆AV coming up empty with the extra man.
鈥湵醭兮�檚 a chance for us to bounce 产补肠办,鈥� Smith said 厂补迟耻谤诲补测鈥檚 game.
鈥�(滨苍 Victoria), we played too much one-man hockey. I thought it was a pretty even game 5-on-5.
鈥淭丑别颈谤 power play was good, and we 肠辞耻濒诲苍鈥檛 capitalize. 奥别鈥檒濒 get back to work and be ready for 厂补迟耻谤诲补测.鈥�
The Rockets and Pats face-off Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Rockets will travel to Kennewick, WA, to take on the Tri-City Americans.
