A plane ticket home compliments of mom and dad is all Liam Smith wanted from Santa this year.
The 18-year-old former Western Kings star will be home for the holidays Sunday to enjoy a break from the hectic grind that he absorbs as a rookie with the St. Stephen Aces of the Maritime Hockey League.
Smith was home for a short visit a few weeks ago to attend the funeral of his great grandma, but that wasn’t the kind of return home he was looking forward to by any means, so getting to enjoy the comforts of home for a week is all that matters to him.
Leaving home to pursue hockey on the mainland has meant some lonely times for the six-foot-two, 180-pound winger as he tried to get used to a higher level of hockey with former Kings teammate Andrew Antle the only familiar face in the dressing room.
He has two siblings in Corner Brook who he wants to catch up with during the break. Of course, getting to spend time with mom and dad and a handful of close friends makes the holiday season an even bigger occasion for him.
But, there is somebody special who he can’t wait to see and that’s his dog Meika. He said he misses his dog more than anything. Meika is his girl and a big part of the Smith clan for the past three years. To his surprise, most of the players who suit up for the Aces share the love of animals.
“Guys are always saying they want to go home because they miss their dog,” he said with a light chuckle Thursday afternoon from St. Stephen.
“She’s so cute,” he shot back when asked why he misses Meika so much.
Smith has slowly settled into life as a junior hockey player. He is among the Top 10 in rookie scoring throughout the league with 17 points (7G, 7A) in 27 games.
“I’m pretty happy with the way I’ve been playing. The coaches gave me a chance and I feel like I’ve been given my chance to keep going,” he said.
Smith lives a busy life for an 18-year-old. He works a part-time job four days a week stocking shelves in the dairy department at a local grocery store before getting a bite to eat and heading to practice with the Aces Monday to Thursday on a weekly basis.
His weekends are consumed by games, a lot of the times riding the bus to a nearby town with hopes of helping the team pick up two points.
It’s about finding independence. He doesn’t have mom or dad around to help so he just goes about his business knowing it’s up to him to find his way both on and off the ice.
While he’s away, he has had a billet family that has helped him deal with being away from home so he knows it could have been tougher. He stays with Jim and Lynn Ross and he appreciates everything they do for him.
“They are making me feel at home. I give them credit because they’ve been doing a great job,” he said.
Coming home to a festive atmosphere is what he figures he needs most to ensure he gets a good break from hockey and yet still be busy catching up with family and friends.
He looks forward to playing in the Western Kings alumni hockey game during the break and one of the best gatherings for him happens on Christmas Eve when grandparents Carolyn and Taylor Colbourne host all the gang for what is always a special time for everybody.
“Everyone’s always there and everybody is having a good time. It’s a lot of fun and gets you in the Christmas spirit,” he said.
Meika will be waiting by the door. It’s a face he can’t wait to see. Nothing under the tree would have the same impact on him.
