Jason La Rose
WJAC Experience: United States – 2007/2008 | Bronze Medal/Gold Medal WJAC Statistics: 9 GP 3G 5A 8P
NHL Entry Draft: Nashville Predators – 2009 (4th round, 98th overall) NHL Statistics (as of Dec. 8): 303 GP 70G 83A 153P
Other International Experience: 2011 IIHF World Championship (eighth place) 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship (seventh place) 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship (bronze medal) 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship (sixth place)
At the WJAC: After playing a bit part and winning a bronze medal in 2007 with the first U.S. team to compete at the World Junior A Challenge, Smith returned one year later in a much-bigger role, wearing the ‘C’ for the Americans at the 2008 tournament in Camrose, Alta.
Held pointless in a tournament-opening 5-2 loss to Germany – one of the biggest upsets in WJAC history – Smith bounced back with at least one point in the Americans’ last four games, including two goals and an assist to help the U.S. beat Canada East, and two helpers in an 8-1 romp over Canada West in the final that gave the U.S. its first of six gold medals.
After the WJAC: Smith joined the men’s hockey program at the University of Wisconsin for two seasons from 2009-11, captaining the Badgers in his sophomore season before turning pro and joining the Nashville Predators, who had used the 98th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on him.
He jumped into the Predators’ line-up straight out of college in 2011-12 and has become one of Nashville’s most consistent forwards; Smith has missed just three games over the last two-plus seasons, reaching the 20-goal and 40-point plateaus in each of the past two campaigns.