First OJHLer with major junior experience to commit to a D1 program under new NCAA rules
Colton Smith of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Leamington Flyers has made history by committing to join the NCAA Division I Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY beginning with the 2025-26 season.
The Flyers winger is the first player in the OJHL with major junior experience to commit to a D1 program under the new NCAA rules.
The new rule allows prospects who played hockey at the major junior level or on professional teams to retain their NCAA eligibility as long as they are not paid.
Smith, 20, played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, with his hometown Windsor Spitfires and the London Knights, before joining the Flyers this season.
Smith is on the ice this morning, playing for OJHL Team Evan Rodriguez in the first game of the 2024 Battle of Ontario in Smiths Falls. The two-day event pits teams of All-Stars and Prospects from the OJHL against squads from eastern Ontario’s Central Canada Hockey League.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to continue my hockey career at Clarkson,” Smith said in a Flyers’ release. “It’s a great program and being able to play D1 hockey is going to be awesome. Leamington has given me a home and I know Clarkson will, too.”
Smith is on the ice this morning, playing for OJHL Team Evan Rodriguez in the first game of the 2024 Battle of Ontario in Smiths Falls.
Smith leads the OJHL in several scoring categories: points (48), goals (29), points per game (1.85), power-play goals (13) and game-winning goals (5).
Smith was named OJHL West Conference Player of the Month for October.
The Flyers, who have the best record – 22-2-2-1 – in the OJHL, are ranked third in the Canadian Junior Hockey League in this week’s Top 20 rankings.
Smith’s father, D.J. Smith, is an assistant coach with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. The former head coach of the Ottawa Senators spent eight seasons behind the bench with the Windsor Spitfires, including two as a head coach. He won two Memorial Cups with Leamington head coach Dale Mitchell in the lineup.
“I’m very happy for Colton and his family to earn his commitment to Clarkson,” Mitchell said. “It’s great to see not only his hard work be recognized but the opportunity to join the NCAA with the recent rule change.”
Congratulations to Colton and best of luck in the OJHL and NCAA!
The OJHL has had more than 50 Canadian Hockey League and NCAA commitments already this season.
Check out all our current commitments here: https://www.ojhl.ca/committments/
Photos by Jamie Green and Tim Bates of OJHL Images.
With files from the Leamington Flyers
