Smith immediately established himself as one of the top young defensemen in college hockey during his freshman season at Penn State, recording 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 35 games. His 11 goals set a Penn State single-season record for a defenseman, while his seven power play goals also established a program mark. The 2025 No. 14 overall pick earned All-Big Ten Second Team and All-Freshman honors and will return to Penn State for his sophomore season, continuing his development as one of Columbus’ premier prospects.

Doing it the ‘Canadian Way’ in Comeback Win Against Finland

Caleb Desnoyers kicked off the third-period scoring by jamming a puck in on the power play during a scramble in the crease. Minutes later, Jackson Smith unleashed a screened shot from the point to extend Canada’s lead to 5-3. Finland mounted a late push, but with Lacelle locked in, the comeback effort came too late to stop Canada from sealing the victory.

Sweden Defeats Canada in First Win At Summer Showcase

With Canada on the power play and only 3 seconds left on the clock, Milton Gastrin scored shorthanded after Jackson Smith had his stick implode trying to force the puck up the middle.

The offence continued into the second as 1:15 into the frame, Tynan Lawrence sniped it home on the same power play to give Canada back the lead.

Filip Ekberg had the response for the Swedes, banking one off of Brek Liske’s skate and into the net.

In the third, Ethan Belchetz tipped one home in his return to the WFCU Centre, where he played 2 seasons with the Windsor Spitfires.

Elton Hermansson scored his first of the tournament on the power play, sniping it top shelf over the glove of Samuel Meloche.

The Swedes didn’t let up. Theo Stockselius fired one from distance, tipping off of Jackson Smith’s stick and past Meloche in net.

Stockselius later scored on the empty net to give Sweden their first win of the Showcase.

Extra Time:

Both teams agreed to play overtime and a shootout given the Showcase style of this tournament.

After a back-and-forth frame, Braeden Cootes scored the overtime-winning goal to give Canada some satisfaction.

In the shootout frame, Sweden won 2-0 with goals from Elton Hermansson and Viktor Klingsell. Isak Sorqvist for Sweden was tremendous in the shootout, stopping all 4 shooters he faced.

Sweden will play Team USA tomorrow at 3 p.m. EDT/ 9 p.m. CEST, while Canada will take on Finland at 7 p.m. EDT.

F Caleb Malhotra (CAN | Vancouver Canucks)

Malhotra showed exactly why Vancouver selected him third overall. Although he didn’t find the scoresheet tonight, he was a driving force offensively, consistently pushing the pace and overwhelming Swedish defenders. He won countless puck battles along the boards and created second-chance opportunities all night. He will be an important player for this Canadian team come Boxing Day.

D Jackson Smith (CAN | Columbus Blue Jackets)

If you followed along with our coverage on X/Twitter, you saw us highlight the flaws in Smith’s game early on. Watching him live at last year’s World Juniors pre-tournament games, his impatience stood out where he frequently forced pucks into high-risk areas. That habit lingered through the first period and a half tonight before he finally settled in. Once comfortable, his elite recovery ability took over; even when caught out of position, his strong skating allows him to recover quickly. Offensively, he uses quick edges to walk the line and create space effortlessly. If Smith finds consistency, he has top-pair potential. But if he plays jumpy, as he did in Kitchener, he can quickly become a liability for this Canadian team.

A 6-4 defenseman with smooth skating and offensive creativity, Smith was ranked as the third-best defenseman in the 2025 NHL Draft. Due to a massive run on centers at the top of the opening round, Smith landed with the Blue Jackets at the 14th overall pick following a 54-point season for the Tri-City Americans in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2024-25. Smith will join a super-talented team at Penn State, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) club, for the 2025-26 season.

Selected 14th overall, Jackson Smith is now a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

If Jackson Smith isn’t the number one eligible defenceman from the WHL, he’s got an excellent case to be it. Jackson Smith possesses many of the things that people look for in a “modern” NHL defenseman. He’s got exceptional four-way mobility, and he uses it to the maximum extent. Smith uses agility, balance, and deceptive footwork to push the puck up ice, and his smooth, powerful edges to close gaps early in rushes. Earlier in the year, he was prone to overthinking and overhandling the puck, but recently he’s cleaned that up. If you’re looking for a rush defender, who can move the puck with his feet and create with an elite skill package, Smith may be your man.-

CHL Vs USA Hockey Top Prospect Game 2

#7 D, Jackson SmithTeam: CHL: Tri-City Americans (WHL, Canada)Height/Weight: 6’3”, 190 lbsShoots: LeftDOB: May 13, 2007 Overview: Jackson Smith is one of the most versatile defensemen in the 2025 NHL Draft, excelling with his mobile skating, high hockey IQ, and calm presence on the ice. He thrives as a puck-moving defenseman, with precise passing and strong playmaking ability, making him a reliable threat from the point. While his shot lacks power, it is accurate and used effectively to create scoring opportunities. Smith’s greatest strength lies in his passing, whether initiating breakouts from his own zone or quarterbacking the power play with creative setups. Defensively, Smith is adept at reading plays, using his stick effectively to disrupt opponents, particularly in two-on-one situations. However, he can struggle in one-on-one matchups against quicker players due to overextension. His smooth lateral skating is a strength, but his acceleration needs vast improvement, as he often loses footraces. Enhancing his lower-body strength would improve his explosiveness and overall skating efficiency. At 6’3”, Smith has a solid frame but tends to rely on his range rather than physicality. Increasing his use of core strength to deliver checks would elevate his defensive presence. Despite these areas for improvement, his composure under pressure and offensive reliability which makes him a standout prospect. Projected as a top-15 pick, Smith has the potential to become an all-around, puck-moving defenseman capable of excelling as a second or third defenseman on an NHL team.

Final Rankings – Jackson Smith has all the physical tools needed to thrive as an NHL defenseman. He isn’t afraid to lay the body, and his explosive skating enables him to be a suffocating rush defender and dynamic transition player. With a little refinement and some improved processing, the sky’s the limit.—