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ABOUT
SMILING GIANT
After 16 years as a pro player and five years as a coach in Canada, Jeff Smith launched Smiling Giant Hockey in Spring 2023. Moving to Houston from Saskatchewan, Jeff launched his first round of private lessons and weekly clinics in June 2023. In clinics, the focus is on a small group (max 15 skaters) with a heavy emphasis on teaching players to perfect each rep.
Looking towards the future, the goal of Smiling Giant Hockey is to offer semi-private clinics, summer camps, private lessons, youth hockey weekly skills, game performance analysis and career consultations.
Jeff's vision for Smiling Giant Hockey is to create a high-performance hockey development program that provides an opportunity for athletes to receive top quality instruction from an elite level coach.
meet the coach
cOACH JEFF SMITH
Coach Jeff Smith spent about five years as a coach in Canada, first for three years as an assistant with the Estevan Bruins Junior A team, and then parts of two seasons as the head coach with the Estevan Bears 18U AAA hockey team. He is now the 16U AA Houston Junior Aeros head coach and recently served as a Team USA evaluator of the Rocky Mountain District.
Smith, who played 16 pro seasons in the AHL, ECHL and in Europe, served as the Estevan Jr. A Bruins Associate Coach beginning in January 2018, helping lead the team to a league championship that season.
Coach Smith's extensive experiences as both a player and coach have influenced his approach to coaching youth hockey, giving him a unique perspective on what it takes to be successful as a hockey player both on and off the ice.
“Having coached youth players around the world, I’m excited to bring my experience and knowledge to help grow hockey in the Houston area by teaching the basics and fundamentals to create solid, well-rounded hockey players who will know what it takes to play at any level.”
