T-Birds’ Smith nominated for WHL’s Humanitarian of the Year

Published 4:16 pm Tuesday, April 12, 2016

For the Reporter

Seattle Thunderbirds captain Jerret Smith and Lethbridge Hurricanes captain Tyler Wong have been nominated for the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s Humanitarian of the Year, the league announced Tuesday.

The award recognizes a player who has helped and enhanced the community they play in. Smith, who represents the Western Conference, and Wong, of the Eastern Conference, will be honored at the WHL awards ceremony in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on May 4, at which time the Humanitarian of the Year will be announced.

Smith posted a career-high 41 points (9 goals, 32 assists) from Seattle’s blue line this season, his fourth in the league. All the while, Smith committed his free time to becoming a key mentor for youth in the Kent area.

Smith was an active speaker in a number of school assemblies hosted by the Thunderbirds this season, which covered topics such as anti-bullying, goal setting and responsibility.

He also spent the past three years as a mentor at Neely-O’Brien Elementary School, where Smith connects with students in the classroom and on the playground.

Smith developed a particularly special bond with one student, who confided in him earlier this year that his father was ill before he passed away a short time later. Smith, a Surrey, B.C., native, supported the student throughout the difficult time, lending an ear whenever he needed someone to listen to. Smith attended the funeral alongside the student before inviting him and his classmates on a tour of the ShoWare Center and the Thunderbirds’ dressing room the next day.

Smith was named the T-Birds Humanitarian of the Year at the team’s awards ceremony after the last regular season home game of the year.