Getting To Know Your NPH Rivals: Ryan "Smitty" Smith

Name: Ryan Michael Smith


NPH Team Name: Washington Crapitals

Vitals: 29 YOA, married (Karen), one child (Nolan), hails from Geneseo, NY. Currently lives in Washington DC and is an analyst with the US Environmental Protection Agency.

How Do You Know The Other Guys in the League?: I've lived with many of them in long-term relationships.

Where'd Your Team Name Come From?: I live in Washington and Crapitals sounds like Capitals. Go Sabres!

Best Sporting Event You've Ever Been To In Person: I'd have to say that the best sporting event I've been to was when an unranked 'Cuse knocked off a #3 Pitt squad at the Dome en route to a National Championship. We rushed the court 3 times and had to be shooed off by security so that they could finish the game. Or, it was when the Ice Knights beat Potsdam in the first round of the SUNYAC playoffs senior year and I absolutely dressed down the opposing goaltender during the Mini-Game in a silent Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena, "Trickle trickle trickle, right between your legs goalie!" - ah, Tony Scorsone, you are a clutch performer. I think we got our asses kicked by Plattsburgh the next weekend.

Favorite NHL Team: Buffalo Sabres

Favorite Non-NHL Sports/Teams/Players: 'Cuse, Dodgers, Bills, and Tiger Woods (get it!).

Favorite NHL Player: Ryan Miller, Owen Nolan, Tyler Myers, Mike Grier, Brian Gionta

Favorite NHL Player To Hate: Sean Avery, Brett Hull - it was no goal, Bobby Clarke

Favorite Hockey-Related Memory: Winning the Bantam Tier-III National Championship on our home rink in 1995, it's great being a champion. Also, punching that kid from Aquinas in the head with my blocker when he ran me in the playoffs, no penalty.

Best Gambling-Related Story: Knocking Orkin out of his Texas Hold-'em Tournament at his bachelor party, or Come Back Saturday in Vegas on the 2008 trip!

Favorite Piece of NHL Clothing That I Own: My new Sabres St. Patrick's Day winter hat, two of my favorite things combined. The Sabres and St. Patty's Day, how do you go wrong?

Favorite Draft Pick: Iginla, tough to argue with that, they guy does everything. A complete player.

Draft-Day Regret: Vesa Toskala - Do NOT drink the Brian Burke Kool-Aid, you will not be happy with the results, the defensive end in the Air Canada Center is shooting gallery!

Key To Your Season: Goaltending, with so many categories for goaltending it's really hard to win if one of your 'keepers has a bad week. Fleury's been excellent, but I've had trouble keeping a second goalie healthy and sufficient.