2025 NHL Draft-eligible defenceman Smith named Tempo WHL Player of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – Tri-City Americans defenceman Jackson Smith has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday, March 23, 2025, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

Smith led all WHL defenders with four goals and two assists for six points in three games as the Americans closed out their regular season schedule.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound blueliner played a key role in Tri-City’s 4-2 win against the Portland Winterhawks on March 21. Smith opened the scoring after grabbing a loose puck and ripping a low wrister past Ondrej Stebetak late in the first frame. He added some insurance on a four-on-three powerplay in the third period by serving up a pass to Savin Virk for the eventual-game-winning goal.

Smith spearheaded a strong comeback attempt against the Spokane Chiefs the following night. With Spokane leading 3-1 in the third period, Smith lit the lamp with another lethal wrister on the powerplay. The 17-year-old duplicated the goal with another impressive shot with less than a minute remaining, though the Americans would fall in a narrow 4-3 loss.

He closed out the regular season with a first-star performance in a unique match that saw Tri-City and Seattle play the remaining 38:55 of a rescheduled game. With Seattle leading 2-0 in the second period, Smith dazzled with a toe-drag around a Thunderbirds defender before firing his 11^th goal of the season home from the faceoff dot. He added an assist on the powerplay as he kickstarted a clean passing play with Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Charlie Elick before Rookie Savin Virk finished off the play. The Thunderbirds claimed a 3-2 victory, but Smith was named first star of the night with one of his finest performances of the season.

Smith sits fourth on the Americans in scoring with 11 goals (including a team-leading four game-winners) and 43 assists for 54 assists in 68 games.

He’s also on a five-game point streak that’s seen him bag five goals and three helpers.

NHL Central Scouting rated Smith ninth among all North American skaters in the agency’s midterm rankings ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft.

Smith represented the WHL at the first-ever CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota Canada in November and picked up three assists in five games to help Canada win gold at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

The Americans selected Smith with the second-overall pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.

Since then, he’s potted 19 goals and 66 assists for 85 points in 136 regular-season matches.

Tri-City (32-29-6-1) enters the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien as the seventh seed in the Western Conference and will take on the B.C. Division champion Victoria Royals in Round One starting on Friday, March 28.

All WHL Playoffs games will be streamed for free on Victory+.

2024-25 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
September 23, 2024: Roger McQueen, Brandon Wheat Kings
September 30, 2024: Nathan Behm, Kamloops Blazers
October 7, 2024: Shea Van Olm, Spokane Chiefs
October 15, 2024: Mazden Leslie, Vancouver Giants
October 21, 2024: Ben Kindel, Calgary Hitmen
October 28, 2024: Nathan Behm, Kamloops Blazers
November 4, 2024: Brady Birnie, Swift Current Broncos
November 11, 2024: Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars (Los Angeles Kings)
November 18, 2024: Tomas Mrsic, Prince Albert Raiders (St. Louis Blues)
November 25, 2024: Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (Washington Capitals)
December 2, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 9, 2024: Tyson Jugnauth, Portland Winterhawks (Seattle Kraken)
December 16, 2024: Gracyn Sawchyn, Edmonton Oil Kings (Florida Panthers)
December 23, 2024: Rilen Kovacevic, Moose Jaw Warriors
December 30, 2024: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
January 6, 2025: Evan Friesen, Wenatchee Wild
January 13, 2025: Andrew Cristall, Spokane Chiefs (Washington Capitals)
January 20, 2025: Berkly Catton, Spokane Chiefs (Seattle Kraken)
January 27, 2025: Quinn Mantei, Brandon Wheat Kings
February 3, 2025: Andrew Cristall, Spokane Chiefs (Washington Capitals)
February 10, 2025: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals
February 18, 2025: Berkly Catton, Spokane Chiefs (Seattle Kraken)
February 24, 2025: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
March 3, 2025: Teydon Trembecky, Victoria Royals
March 10, 2025: Hunter Laing, Saskatoon Blades (Calgary Flames)
March 17, 2025: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers

About the Western Hockey League

Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.

-30-