Tribute to Cory Smith

October 27, 2010

Paying respect to Corey Smith

Next week's home game against the Kainai Chiefs will include a sombre and commemorative event.  The Peigan Cowboys of the Ranchland Hockey League "Senior A Hockey will retire the number "14" hockey jersey of Corey Smith.   Smith was stabbed in 2007 in Lethbridge, lapsing into a coma he has never recovered from. DUe to a lack of evidence the police were unable to secure a conviction against his cowardly assailant. In the words of Cowboys coach Tyrone Potts: "Corey Smith was an outstanding athlete who was a major part  of the Peigan Cowboys organization from 1999 to 2007 . Corey was committed and came to play hockey every night. We have always believed that he would wake up one day and be apart of our lives again."

Smith played hockey most of his life, starting as a novice at age five, then playing Pee Wee in Brocket and the surrounding communities.  He was named Athlete of the Year for the Piikani community during this time.  He attended Notre Dame College in Wilcox, Saskatchewan, playing for the Notre Dame hounds for two years. After graduating from St. Michael's Residential School in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan he played for several teams in the area.  He was the top scorer for the Saddle Lake Warriors when he played for them during the 1997 - 98 season. 

Corey loved hockey, and in the summer months, softball, accumulating a large collection of trophies for each.

The ceremony in Smith's honor will take place right before the game, to be held on Saturday, Feb. 12, commencing at 8 p.m.  This will be the Cowboy's final home game prior to the start of the playoffs. Come and join the Smith family and the Peigan Cowboys in honoring Cory, and in retiring his #14 jersey to the rafters at the Pincher Creek Memorial Arena.