Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.
Britni Smith almost slipped on the ice amid the excitement of Clarkson’s national championship win in 2018. Moments earlier, Clarkson’s Élizabeth Giguère netted the final score of the tournament, quickly shooting the puck past Colgate goaltender Julia Vandyk in overtime.
Despite being a player less than a decade earlier, Smith lost her balance after Giguère waved over the then-Clarkson assistant to hurry and join the celebratory photo. But she steadied herself, surrounded by the second straight team she’d helped win a national championship.
After four years as an assistant under Matt Desrosiers at Clarkson, Syracuse hired Smith as its second head coach in program history following Paul Flanagan’s retirement. Seen as a “player’s coach” with a proven track record of winning and national experience, Smith provides a new look for the Orange.
“(Smith) definitely has so much to bring to the table,” Clarkson assistant coach Cassidy Vinkle said. “The players are going to learn so much from her.”
Before Smith’s coaching career, Desrosiers said Clarkson had to be aware of her on the ice when she played for St. Lawrence. Smith and the Saints finished 10-1-1 against the Golden Knights during her playing career.
With Smith, St. Lawerence made three NCAA tournament appearances, including a Frozen Four in 2007. In her senior season, Smith served as an assistant captain and became a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier award, which is given to the top female collegiate hockey player.
Smith spent time around multiple well-established coaches at the collegiate and national levels, including Flanagan, who coached Smith for two seasons at St. Lawrence. Smith said she brought in different pieces from those mentors to become the coach she wanted to be.
When the Clarkson assistant coaching job opened up, Desrosiers went to Flanagan, someone he heavily trusted. He mentioned Smith as one of the first people Desrosiers should consider. At the time, Smith coached in Canada, but since Desrosiers was already familiar with her, Smith got the job.
Megan Thompson | Digital Design Director
Within 30 minutes of her arrival at Clarkson, Smith and Desrosiers went on the road for recruiting.
“She was very hard working and that was evident right from the very beginning,” Desrosiers said.
Vinkle played at Clarkson before becoming an…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at "ice hockey" – Google News…