▁U M ass ▁lost ▁in ▁the ▁Championship ▁match ▁against ▁N ort he astern ▁ 3 – 2 . ▁ ▁In ▁his ▁junior ▁year , ▁Smith ▁was ▁named ▁a ▁semi - final ist ▁for ▁the ▁Walter ▁Brown ▁Award ▁as ▁the ▁best ▁American - born ▁college ▁hockey ▁player ▁in ▁New ▁England . ▁The ▁River ▁Haw ks ▁won ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁Hockey ▁East ▁Men ' s ▁Ice ▁Hockey ▁Tournament ▁and ▁Smith ▁was ▁named ▁to ▁the ▁All ▁Tournament ▁Team ▁and ▁Tournament ▁M VP . ▁On ▁March ▁ 2 9 , ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁Smith ▁chose ▁to ▁for go ▁his ▁senior ▁year ▁at ▁U M ass ▁and ▁signed ▁as ▁an ▁und raft ed ▁free ▁agent ▁by ▁the ▁National ▁Hockey ▁League ' s ▁Buff alo ▁Sab res . ▁ ▁Professional ▁Smith ▁made ▁his ▁Sab res ▁debut ▁on ▁April ▁ 2 , ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁in ▁a ▁ 4 – 2 ▁loss ▁to ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁Island ers , ▁in ▁which ▁he ▁also ▁got ▁his ▁first ▁N HL ▁point ▁with ▁an ▁assist ▁on ▁a ▁goal ▁by ▁Ev ander ▁K ane . ▁When ▁Smith ▁made ▁his ▁debut , ▁he ▁became ▁one ▁of ▁only ▁two ▁players ▁in ▁league ▁history ▁to ▁have ▁been ▁born ▁in ▁the ▁state ▁of ▁Iowa , ▁joining ▁go alt ender ▁Scott ▁C lem m ensen . ▁ ▁Smith ▁played ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 7 – 1 8 ▁season ▁with ▁the ▁Sab res ▁American ▁Hockey ▁League ▁( A HL ) ▁affili ate , ▁the ▁Ro chester ▁Americans . ▁In ▁his ▁ro