By Matthew Dunne, Contributing Writer
Westborough – Westborough’s Jordan Smotherman has navigated the twists and turns of a professional hockey career for years, and now finds himself playing a short drive from the town he grew up in.
Smotherman is now a member of the Worcester Railers, an NHL affiliate team and member of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), and he is excited to have the opportunity to take the ice in front of his family and friends.
“I still have a number of friends that live in the Westborough area I’m very close with,” he said. “All my Westborough friends are very excited to be able to come to games at some point.”
A true Westborough native, Smotherman still finds himself involved with the city his family has called home for over 20 years.
“I play in the Westborough men’s softball league every summer, and all my teammates are excited to be able to watch the games,” Smotherman said.
Smotherman’s hockey career has brought him far and wide, being drafted in 2005 by the former NHL Atlanta Thrashers. Making multiple starts for Atlanta, Smotherman also played in the AHL. His career has included stints in Europe, with the Manchester Monarchs in New Hampshire, with Ireland’s Belfast Giants, and now the Worcester Railers.
“I played my first five years in the American League – Chicago, Syracuse, Providence, and then moved over to Europe and played a little bit over there,” Smotherman explained. “In 2016, I came home and had heart surgery, then played for the Manchester Monarchs, and then most recently in Belfast.”
The Worcester Railers’ season is scheduled to start in January, and all players and staff remain hopeful no further delays will be encountered. The months-long period of rest due to the ongoing pandemic, however, has allowed players to fully recover from the demanding schedule of a professional hockey player.
“The first three or four months, rinks weren’t open at all so there was no time on the ice – and at first I was kind of worried about that, but after three or four months of actually giving my body some rest all of those bumps and bruises started going away.
He added: “It’s the first time since I was about 16 years old, I had the time to recover between seasons, so I’m looking forward to seeing what good the long break will do.”
Smotherman knows there will be life after hockey, and is considering his future career paths that will hopefully allow him to remain in the greater Boston area.
“I’m about to finish my master’s degree in sports management, which was part of playing in Belfast,” he said. “I’ve also done some coaching and was an assistant coach in Manchester and a player-assistant coach in Belfast last year,” Smotherman said. “I’m definitely interested in staying in the Boston area, close to family and friends.”
Smotherman’s future with the Worcester Railers looks bright, as he adds a strong veteran presence to the team and looks to build upon his years of experience.
Despite the unusual circumstances of the 2020-2021 season, it’s safe to say that Smotherman is happy to be home.
Photos/submitted
