LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Olin Smith, a native of Massena, N.Y., leaves the 45th Empire State Winter Games as a gold medalist. On Sunday, he scored a pair of goals to lift his boys U10 hockey team, the St. Lawrence Steel, to a 6-1 win over the Bethlehem Eagles.
Smith has one word to describe his time in Lake Placid and competing in the Empire State Winter Games. “Fun.” When not playing games he found plenty of time to skate on the oval and just enjoy being outside. Now, he goes home with memories and a gold medal.
Smith’s passion for hockey started at a young age. He noted that he has been playing since he was five years-old and he hopes to someday play in the NHL, and be like his favorite player, David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins.
If he makes it to the NHL, he won’t be the first player from Massena to do so. The area has produced a handful of players who have made it to the game’s top league, to include 2008 third-overall pick and two-time Stanley Cup champion Zach Bogosian.
