滨迟鈥檚 been 23 years since Jason Smith wore the uniform of the Regina Pats.
And while history will always connect the 麻豆精选 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 with the Pats, from 1991 to 1993, 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 麻豆精选 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.
