High-Scoring Winger Smith Makes Peoria Return

August 16, 2018 - 03:10 pm

Photo Credit: Dennis Sievers/Peoria Rivermen

High-Scoring Winger Smith Makes Peoria Return

The 22-year-old posted 4 GWG, a 10-game point streak last season

 

Peoria, IL – The Peoria Rivermen announced today that the team has signed forward Will Smith to a professional tryout agreement for this October’s training camp. Smith returns to the Rivermen after he posted 33 points in 39 games for Peoria last season before being placed on season-ending injured reserve in March.

 

Smith, 22, began his pro career last October for the ECHL’s Indy Fuel, playing in five games without registering a point before being released on November 8. Smith made his Rivermen debut against Knoxville on Nov. 11 and remained with the team until he suffered a season-ending injury in the opening period of a March 16 game at Pensacola.

 

The East Longmeadow, MA native totaled 15 goals and 18 assists for the Rivermen last season, and his four game-winning markers finished one shy of the team lead. Smith also posted a point or more in 10 straight games from Feb. 10 through March 4, compiling 17 total points and a +9 rating during that stretch.

 

“We’re thankful to get Will back after he suffered that injury that ended his season last year,” said Rivermen head coach Jean-Guy Trudel. “He was a big part of our offense last season, and if he can bring that same fearless speed to our forecheck this year he can be a big piece to our puzzle.”

 

Smith becomes the 13th player to sign a tryout agreement with the Rivermen this year and is the fifth member of last season’s Rivermen roster to sign on for this October’s training camp. Single-game tickets for all 2018-19 Rivermen home games will go on sale October 1 at 10 AM, and season and group tickets are available now by calling the Rivermen office at 309-676-1040.

 

Group and season tickets for Peoria's 37th season of professional hockey presented by Midwest Orthopaedic Center are on sale at the Toyota Box Office in the Peoria Civic Center, or by phone at the Rivermen office, located at 201 S.W. Jefferson Street, or over the phone at (309) 676-1040. For the latest Rivermen news and notes, follow online at www.rivermen.net or through Facebook (www.facebook.com/PeoriaRivermen) - Twitter(https://twitter.com/Peoria_Rivermen)