Rory Smith’s defensive play landed him on the NLL all-star team in 2012. (Larry Palumbo photo.)
Rory Smith’s nickname is “The Mimico Mauler.”
We don’t have to explain much more to you, do we?
The Vancouver Stealth added presence, personality and panache to their checking corps when they acquired hard-nosed left-handed defender Smith, 27, from the Buffalo Bandits in a multi-player swap at the National Lacrosse League entry draft on Sept. 22.
There were times last season, when Vancouver was on its way to a 4-14 inaugural campaign at the Langley Events Centre, where you could wonder about the collective give-a-darn of the team. Smith should help rectify that. In short order.
“When you’re on the other team, he makes you aware that he’s out there,” explained Stealth veteran left-handed forward Cliff Smith (no relation). “The thing is, you’re probably even more aware when he’s out there when he’s on your team. He blocks more shots than anybody. He puts his body on the line every shift. You watch a guy do that, it’s pretty hard to look yourself in the mirror when you haven’t busted your butt for every single loose ball.
“He sets a competition level for the rest of the group. He sets a sacrifice level for the rest of the group.”
The Mimico, Ont., native, the older brother of Boston Bruins forward Reilly Smith, 23, and Detroit Red Wings defenceman Brendan Smith, 25, is one of the toughest customers of this generation of lacrosse. His fights are amongst the most watched NLL videos on YouTube.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Smith is scrapping less and less, though. He received 36 minutes in penalties last season in 18 regular season games with Buffalo. Compare that to 2010, when had 104 PIMs in 14 league games with the now defunct Orlando Titans.
It’s a product of him getting older. It’s a product of him getting better; he played in the NLL all-star game in 2012.
It’s about the league cutting its game-day rosters down to 16 runners a team from 18 and making any sort of player ejection decimating in the process. As well, there are a scarce few true heavyweights in the league.
“There’s about five of us in the league in the same calibre, I guess,” said Smith. “I’m not going to go grab some random guy.”
Cliff Smith added: “I’d be happy if he doesn’t get in a fight this season. He’s too important to us.”
Smith is well versed in the Lower Mainland. He played three seasons in the Western Lacrosse Association with the New Westminster Salmonbellies from 2009-2011, where his teammates included current Stealth members like Cliff Smith, goalie Tyler Richards, lefty defender Ilija Gajic and righty defender Curtis Hodgson.
He says he’s here for the long term. The Stealth are expected to announce that he’s signed a two-year contract in the coming days. No word on terms.
“I want to live here,” said Smith. “Turning this into something special is one of my goals. I want this (the LEC) to be the place to be on a great Saturday night.
“For that to happen, there has to be different aspects. It has to be physical. That brings a certain fan out. We had that in New Westminster. Then there’s a pack mentality. If it affects one player, it affects the whole team, and I think a lot of fans love that. They realize that guy is not alone. It’s constant team.”
Smith didn’t come from Buffalo cheaply. Vancouver landed him and goalie prospect Eric Penney, 20, plus the 12th overall pick in the draft, for impressive young defender Nick Weiss, 22, and the ninth overall choice, as well as a second rounder in 2015 and a first rounder in 2018.
Vancouver opens training camp on Nov. 22 at the LEC. The regular season kicks off with a visit to Calgary on Jan. 3, and their home opener is Jan. 10, with the Toronto Rock providing the opposition at the LEC.
