Terrell Goldsmith has already proven himself a physical force on the back end for the Prince Albert Raiders. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Goldsmith Season Prep

Focused Goldsmith eager to return to Raiders

Aug 24, 2022 | 5:00 PM

It’s a long drive from Fort St. James, B.C., to Prince Albert. Almost 15 hours, in fact. But Terrell Goldsmith could hardly wait to load up the car and make it.

The hard-hitting 17-year-old defenceman has been eager to start a new season with the Prince Albert Raiders, which will be his second in the WHL. After playing in his first full season last year, he’s ready to return to Prince Albert as a more veteran player.

“I’ve been chomping at the bit for a long time ready to come back and be around the guys and start hockey again,” said Goldsmith.

Like many of his fellow Raiders, Goldsmith has spent some of the off-season working on his golf game, which will come in handy at the Raiders’ annual tournament tomorrow. Besides that, however, it’s been a lot of hours in the gym and the weight room as he looks to build on his rookie season.

“Obviously skating, handling the puck, shooting all that stuff,” Goldsmith said. “Getting faster in the gym and stronger, all that stuff pretty much.”

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Goldsmith played in 47 games for the Raiders last season, but those technically weren’t his first games in the WHL as he played 14 games in the hub environment in Regina the season before. Of course that hub season meant he didn’t get to see just how crazy the Art Hauser Centre can get when the fans are into a game.

“It was kind of different playing in front of the fans, but it was obviously way better,” said Goldsmith. “It was a little nerve wracking to be honest because I’d never played in front of that many people, but it was fun once I got into it and got used to it.”

The defence corps for the Raiders is shaping up to be a strong unit, and they’ll have a new voice behind the bench to help guide them as longtime professional defenceman, Keaton Ellerby, has joined the team as an assistant coach. Ellerby was a big, physical defenceman in his playing days, which makes him an ideal voice of experience for Goldsmith to learn from.

“It’ll be cool and I’ll ask lots of questions,” said Goldsmith. “He’s obviously been around. He’s just starting so it’ll be cool to get to work with him and get to know him.”

Goldsmith added that as he’s entering his draft year it will be helpful to have a partner like Nolan Allan on the back end who has been through the draft year process before.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP