Jukurit
Registered User
- May 16, 2022
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LD Alberts Smits - Jukurit, Liiga (2026 Draft)
- Thread starter Jukurit
- Start date
I wanted to make a thread about this kid. Turns out he already has one.
He moved to Finland at age 14. Did not really do anything noteworthy in Latvia.
This has been a breakout season of breakout seasons for Smits. His progress has been unexpected and very rapid over the last year. He made a jump from 2nd division U18 league in Finland to U18 SM to U20 2nd div to U20 SM to Liiga, skipping Mestis, jumping over 5 tiers in less than a year.
He was completely off the radar 2 years ago, even in Latvia.
This year he dominated at the Finnish U18s, made the Latvian U18 national team mid-season and became the leading Dman in that group after the first exhibition game. I've seen only a few games of him, but he clearly stood out at the U18 level. He scored 2 goals and was a +5 in 3 games vs. Norway/Denmark/Austria.
He will make the U18 Worlds, he will play on the top pairing and he will be QBing our PP. And he will showcase himself at the 2026 WJC as well.
A definite draft prospect for the 2026 NHL draft. Good physical specimen, good size, good skater, moves the puck well. Can't wait to see him play at the U18 Worlds for another competitive Latvian team.
He moved to Finland at age 14. Did not really do anything noteworthy in Latvia.
This has been a breakout season of breakout seasons for Smits. His progress has been unexpected and very rapid over the last year. He made a jump from 2nd division U18 league in Finland to U18 SM to U20 2nd div to U20 SM to Liiga, skipping Mestis, jumping over 5 tiers in less than a year.
He was completely off the radar 2 years ago, even in Latvia.
This year he dominated at the Finnish U18s, made the Latvian U18 national team mid-season and became the leading Dman in that group after the first exhibition game. I've seen only a few games of him, but he clearly stood out at the U18 level. He scored 2 goals and was a +5 in 3 games vs. Norway/Denmark/Austria.
He will make the U18 Worlds, he will play on the top pairing and he will be QBing our PP. And he will showcase himself at the 2026 WJC as well.
A definite draft prospect for the 2026 NHL draft. Good physical specimen, good size, good skater, moves the puck well. Can't wait to see him play at the U18 Worlds for another competitive Latvian team.
