by Tommy Young
Nepean, ON – The Nepean Raiders are proud to announce that 2006-born forward Tyler Smith has signed with the team for the 2024/25 season.
Tyler, from Ottawa, Ontario, is a fast, smooth, and skilled forward who excels at creating time and space to use his pinpoint shot. Drafted in 2021 by the Rockland Nationals, Tyler spent two seasons with the Nats in U18 AAA, garnering 32 goals and 22 assists for 54 points in 72 games, as well as three more playoff goals in five games. This earned him a 4-game call-up to the Jr. A Nationals as a 16-year-old to end the 2022-23 season.
This past season, Tyler bounced around a trio of leagues; he began the season in the United States with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights of the NCDC, only playing in five games before returning to his native Canada. Splitting time between the CAHS and the EOJHL, Tyler excelled. In only 10 games with St. Peter High, he buried 12 goals and added 18 assists for 30 points; as well, Tyler played in 20 games at the Jr. B level with the Ottawa Jr. Canadians, scoring six times and adding 10 assists. He also contributed a trio of goals and a pair of assists in the playoffs as the Jr. Canadians were eliminated in the second round.
Raiders GM Lino Dixon had high praise for the young forward:
“Tyler is a player I have watched and coveted for years. He is exactly the type of player we want in Nepean; fast, skilled and a high level of compete. We look forward to seeing what he will accomplish with us.”
Tyler is an exciting young addition to a growing Raiders forward group, joining fellow 2006-born forwards Isaac Bradley and Deklyn Campbell. We’re very excited to see him in the Black and Red.
Welcome to Nepean, Tyler!
