Last Saturday seemed like just another game for Knighthawks forward Ryan Smith. Number 43 in Army Green notched three goals and five points. It’s the sixth time in eight games the third-year Knighthawk has scored a hat trick this season.
Just a season after scoring 33 goals, Smith, the team’s third overall pick in the 2020 NLL Entry Draft, currently leads Rochester with 26 goals in nine fewer games.
“I feel like I’m definitely playing better than I have in my first two years in the league,” said Smith. “Our young offense is coming together and growing together. It’s a dynamic offense.”
“He’s really good,” said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen when asked about Smith ahead of last weekend. “Fieldsy (Connor Fields) is our one and Smitty is our one-A. Things are continually dropping for him. He’s playing with a lot of confidence. He’s continuing to be a leader for us. It’s fun to see how he’s developed.”
The Burlington, Ontario native is six goals shy of 100 for his NLL career. For Smith, a less is more approach has resulted in an offensive spike.
SMITTY SCORES x4!
(You didn’t REALLY think we’d forget about our other four goal-scorer from Saturday knight, did you?!) pic.twitter.com/EWj8HpVkAd
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) January 17, 2024
“I think I’m carrying the ball less this year, which fits with how I usually play. I think I’m at my best when I’m playing off the ball. I’m doing more workouts throughout the week and watching more video than I have in the past, which I think has led to this trail of success.”
The trail of success comes streamlined through a yearly progression. Smith’s point production last year exceeded his rookie season and he’s on pace to trump what he did last season with his current pace. It’s a situation not all too unfamiliar to the 26-year-old who experienced something similar in college.
“I never really thought I’d be a division one lacrosse player at Robert Morris. It really wasn’t until my fourth or fifth year at college that I even thought I could be an NLL player. You’re gonna grow more and more each year. Going back to Robert Morris my last couple of years as the number one guy gave me a lot of confidence. I wasn’t the greatest lacrosse player growing up, but that gave me a chip on my shoulder for every time I was ever overlooked.”
Smith certainly isn’t flying under the radar anymore. His 26 goals are tied for third-best in the NLL and he’s a top-10 point producer with 51 points. He’s caught the attention of the opposition and of his teammates, with longtime best friend Ryan Lanchbury making a statement.
“In my mind he arguably is the best player in the league,” said Lanchbury.
“I think the way he’s playing this year is just lights out. The thing about Smitty is he’s a leader. He can shoot the ball. He can pass the ball. He can set good picks. There’s no weakness to his game. There’s no way a team can totally shut him down. He’s proven right now that he’s arguably the best, if not right up there in the discussion.”
“I’d say Lanch definitely is a little bias, but my goal is to be one of the top players in the NLL each and every year,” said Smith. “I feel like I’m taking a step torwards that, but I know there’s a lot of work left in front of me. A lot of that is attributed to my teammates. Lanch is good and (Kyle) Waters is one of the best pick guys I’ve ever played with. When all of us are going, it’s hard to stop us.”
Smith admits he doesn’t look at all of his stats, but he does pay attention to things like shooting percentage and some of the more advanced stats aside from goals and assists. He views shooting percentage as a measurement of ‘dumb shots versus good shots.’
He wants to improve on shooting, and once in a while, he’ll look at some of the bigger numbers. “It’s not like I’m hopping on to NLL.com after every game to see where I stand, but occasionally I’ll look at the top scorers.”
Frame. By. Frame 📸
Ryan Smith brought the goals (5 of them) and the points (11 of them) AND THE ELECTRIC CELLIES 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wleaxxaVdp
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) February 4, 2024
Smith’s name currently ranks beside some of the NLL’s elite players. Guys like Lyle Thompson, Jeff Teat, Callum Crawford are among the top scorers this season. Ryan Smith is amongst elite company.
So, does that make him an elite player?
“I think so,” said Smith when asked that question. “I think I do a lot of things that some of those players don’t do. Obviously they’re all unbelievable players and franchise players, but I think what separates me from those players is my ability to carry the ball, but also get to the inside.”
Smith’s play of late has earned him those elite accolades, but right now the focus remains on his team. Goals are great, but championships are better. The ‘Hawks have seen a 3-0 start turn into a turbulent 3-5 beginning to the 2023-24 season. Despite the current skid, Smith is confident his group can rebound and continue pushing towards the ultimate goal.
“I believe in our guys. I think Matt Gilray summed it up best after our game on Saturday. There is no championship team in the history of any sport that hasn’t been met with adversity at some point during a season. We haven’t put ourselves in a good spot, but it’s just about getting that chip back on our shoulder. We have to go out and grind every game. It starts at the first whistle. I have nothing but faith in our team. We’re gonna step up and make our push towards the playoffs.”