Draft tracker: 5 questions with Gemel Smith, Owen Sound Attack

Even when he was a fourth-line rookie on a veteran team last season, Gemel Smith usually did something to catch your eye.

The Toronto native, who somehow lasted until the sixth round of the Ontario Hockey League priority selection draft in 2010, stood out with his speed and smarts. His contributions helped the Owen Sound Attack bring a championship to the OHL's tiniest market. Now that the Attack are a younger outfit, Smith is following through on the promise he hinted at a year ago, ranking second on the Attack in both scoring (21 points in 19 games) and plus/minus rating (+6).

"I'm feeling really confident this year," says Smith, who along with teammate Jarrod Maidens had the rare feat of winning a league title in the CHL and a gold medal in the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka under-18 tournament in the same calendar year. "I play with two great linemates, Artur Gavrus and [Attack captain] Mike Halmo, they're just good and getting me going, helping me produce and get some points."

"I knew I had a little bit of me of it in me, but I was kind of surprised," the 17-year-old adds. "I've just been in the right places a couple times ... but I try to work on my defensive game, not just the offence."

As Brock Otten noted recently at OHL Prospects, Smith is a tough prospect to get a read on. The big question the 5-foot-11, 161-pounder is how well his game will transfer to the pros. Junior hockey is full of players who thrive and put up points by virtue of having a non-stop motor, a good confluence of speed and work ethic that might cover for a lack of high-end skill. In that regard, Smith could be likened somewhat to his Attack teammate Daniel Catenacci, who was a Buffalo Sabres mid third-round pick in June. Smith's draft status might fall somewhere in that range. However, if he's already a point-a-game OHLer at age 17, perhaps Smith has more skill than he was given credit for in minor hockey.

1. Whom in the NHL do you watch and think, "He does things I can blend into my game" or "I need to play more like him?"

"I'd have to say [Philadelphia Flyers centre] Daniel Briere. He's a smaller guy, he's fast, he's feisty, he takes pucks to the net and he's good in both zones, offensively and defensively."

2. Apart from the obvious — building strength, improving your speed — what is the biggest area of your game you have to improve before you'll be ready to turn pro?

"Definitely my defensive game. Because I'm a smaller guy, I have to get my positioning down pat perfectly, have a good stick on the puck and not get muscled off the puck easily."

3. What do you consider your proudest hockey achievement?

"Winning a Memorial Cup [Owen Sound beat tournament host Mississauga in the OHL championship series last season and played in the tournament for the first time since the team moved to the city]. I've always been on a decent team, never a championship-winning team. And to win a league title, coming in my first year like that, I'll never forget that. Especially in my hometown. I had a lot of family there because I used to live in Mississauga.."

4. What teammates have had the greatest impact in the season-plus you have been in the OHL?

"[Last season's Attack scoring leaders] Garrett Wilson or Joey Hishon. Just watching them, they don't just keep to themselves, they tell you what's right and what's wrong. They just give you that little advice you need to become a better player."

5. What is the worst movie you've ever watched on the team bus?

"Definitely have to be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." (BTN: Who put that on?!) "[Attack defenceman] Matthew Petgrave put it on."

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet (photo: OHL Images).