Ice cheX
10-20-2006, 09:56 AM
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Posted on Fri, Oct. 20, 2006</TD><TD width=15 rowSpan=7>http://www.charlotte.com/images/common/spacer.gif</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>http://www.charlotte.com/images/common/spacer.gif</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>CHARLOTTE CHECKERS
Separating Smiths may get a bit tricky
(http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/hockey/echl/charlotte_checkers/15803535.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp)Kenny joins Kenton (no relation) on defense
CLIFF MEHRTENS
cmehrtens@charlotteobserver.com (cmehrtens@charlotteobserver.com)
Same team. Same position.
Nearly the same name. Similar looks.
It's going to be confusing along the blueline for Charlotte Checkers fans not paying close attention.
Meet defenseman Kenton Smith.
Not far away is defenseman Kenny Smith.
Coach Derek Wilkinson summoned "Smitty" to step forward in a drill the first day of camp. Both guys took a stride, and it sunk in.
"I've seen his name around and joked with my folks that we'd end up in the same spot," Kenny Smith said.
The Checkers begin their 14th ECHL season at 7:30 p.m. today against the Wheeling Nailers at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. It will be Kenton Smith's fourth season in Charlotte, and Kenny Smith's first.
Kenton is 27, from Edmonton, Alberta, and is 5-feet-11 and 177 pounds.
Kenny is 24, from Stoneham, Mass., and is 6-2, 210 pounds.
They've nearly crossed paths before. Kenton Smith went to Edmonton Oilers training camp in 2003, a year after Kenny Smith was there.
"They were calling me Kenny when I was there," Kenton said.
The size difference isn't too noticeable because the Smiths will rarely be standing next to each other during games. There are subtleties.
Kenton shoots the puck left-handed. Kenny is right-handed. Unless they shoot backhanded, which, well, could get confusing.
Kenton's No. 17 jersey will read "Smith."
Kenny's No. 6 will read "K. Smith."
Kenton gets to keep the nickname.
"He's got seniority, so he will be Smitty," Kenny said. "We'll probably end up with some of each other's assists."
Kenton was captain last year and is the lone returning defenseman.
He had career highs in goals (10), assists (27) and penalty minutes (133) and was the only Checker to play all 72 games.
Kenny split last season between Portland (American Hockey League), where he had eight assists in 48 games, and Greenville (ECHL), where he had a goal and three assists in 11 games.
Greenville folded in the offseason, making Kenny a free agent.
"I heard a lot of good things about coach (Wilkinson), how he likes to develop players and get them called up," Kenny said. "I have some family here, and I'm happy I made the decision. We're going to have a pretty good squad."
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Separating Smiths may get a bit tricky
(http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/hockey/echl/charlotte_checkers/15803535.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp)Kenny joins Kenton (no relation) on defense
CLIFF MEHRTENS
cmehrtens@charlotteobserver.com (cmehrtens@charlotteobserver.com)
Same team. Same position.
Nearly the same name. Similar looks.
It's going to be confusing along the blueline for Charlotte Checkers fans not paying close attention.
Meet defenseman Kenton Smith.
Not far away is defenseman Kenny Smith.
Coach Derek Wilkinson summoned "Smitty" to step forward in a drill the first day of camp. Both guys took a stride, and it sunk in.
"I've seen his name around and joked with my folks that we'd end up in the same spot," Kenny Smith said.
The Checkers begin their 14th ECHL season at 7:30 p.m. today against the Wheeling Nailers at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. It will be Kenton Smith's fourth season in Charlotte, and Kenny Smith's first.
Kenton is 27, from Edmonton, Alberta, and is 5-feet-11 and 177 pounds.
Kenny is 24, from Stoneham, Mass., and is 6-2, 210 pounds.
They've nearly crossed paths before. Kenton Smith went to Edmonton Oilers training camp in 2003, a year after Kenny Smith was there.
"They were calling me Kenny when I was there," Kenton said.
The size difference isn't too noticeable because the Smiths will rarely be standing next to each other during games. There are subtleties.
Kenton shoots the puck left-handed. Kenny is right-handed. Unless they shoot backhanded, which, well, could get confusing.
Kenton's No. 17 jersey will read "Smith."
Kenny's No. 6 will read "K. Smith."
Kenton gets to keep the nickname.
"He's got seniority, so he will be Smitty," Kenny said. "We'll probably end up with some of each other's assists."
Kenton was captain last year and is the lone returning defenseman.
He had career highs in goals (10), assists (27) and penalty minutes (133) and was the only Checker to play all 72 games.
Kenny split last season between Portland (American Hockey League), where he had eight assists in 48 games, and Greenville (ECHL), where he had a goal and three assists in 11 games.
Greenville folded in the offseason, making Kenny a free agent.
"I heard a lot of good things about coach (Wilkinson), how he likes to develop players and get them called up," Kenny said. "I have some family here, and I'm happy I made the decision. We're going to have a pretty good squad."
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>