Cole Smith Bio
Cole Smith is an American professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 195 pounds, he has developed into a dependable forward known for his work ethic and defensive responsibility. After beginning his professional career in 2020, Smith worked his way through the minor leagues before establishing himself as an NHL regular with the Nashville Predators.
Smith was born on October 28, 1995, in Brainerd, Minnesota, into a family deeply rooted in athletics. He attended Brainerd High School and later the University of North Dakota, where he majored in kinesiology. Over the course of his career, he has suited up for several organizations, including the Steinbach Pistons, North Dakota Fighting Hawks, Florida Everblades, Chicago Wolves, and Milwaukee Admirals, before earning a full-time role in the NHL.
Early Life and Background
Cole Smith was born on October 28, 1995, in Brainerd, Minnesota, to parents Tom and Kris Smith. His father played football at St. Cloud State University, and his mother ran track at Concordia College-Moorhead. He grew up alongside two sisters in a household where sports were central to daily life, with his mother, father, sister, uncle, and many cousins all competing at the college level.
In 2009, his mother Kris was inducted into the Concordia College Athletics Department Hall of Fame after setting program records in indoor and outdoor long jump. Several members of the Smith family have also been inducted into the Warrior Athletic Hall of Fame and named Brainerd Athletes of the Year. His youngest sister, Gabbie, played ice hockey at Bemidji State University, and his middle sister, Allyson, played soccer at the same school. His uncle Sandy played collegiate hockey and later played professionally for Eisbären Berlin in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
Growing up in Brainerd, Smith became good friends with future American Hockey League teammate Mitch McLain. Despite a two-year age difference, the two played youth baseball together and even participated in the U10 Little League World Series. That early love of multiple sports laid the foundation for the versatile athletic profile he would later bring to hockey.
Path to Hockey
While attending Brainerd High School from 2011 to 2014, Smith participated in three sports, including ice hockey, football, and track. In football, he played defensive back, wide receiver, and special teams. During the 2013 season, he helped the Brainerd Warriors post a 12–1 record and was named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State High School Team, All-Section and All-Conference teams, and was recognized as the Warriors Defensive Player of the Year. His coach, Ron Stolski, described him as a player with a great work ethic, a quiet leader who leads by example, and a difference-maker.
On the ice, Smith was a three-year starter for the Brainerd ice hockey team and finished his career ninth on the Warriors’ all-time scoring list with 110 total points. In track and field, he won the triple jump for Brainerd’s only first-place finish at the 2014 Wayzita Invitational. After graduating, he was selected in the 10th round of the United States Hockey League Draft by the Sioux Falls Stampede.
Cole Smith Career
Manitoba Junior Hockey League (2014–2016)
Smith attended the Sioux Falls Stampede’s tryout sessions before the 2014–15 season but was released before the roster was finalized. He subsequently joined the Steinbach Pistons of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) due to a family connection to the head coach. In his first season, he posted 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points over 38 games, drawing attention from scouts at the University of North Dakota, Bemidji State University, and the University of Michigan.
In his second season with the Pistons, Smith greatly improved, leading the team in scoring with 26 goals and ranking second with 61 points. His offensive play helped the Pistons qualify for the MJHL’s Turnbull Cup, where he contributed seven goals and 11 assists in 15 playoff games. He earned the MJHL Player of the Month honor for April after recording four goals and six assists over eight playoff games. Although several schools had been interested, only North Dakota offered him a 20 percent scholarship, and he committed to join the Fighting Hawks for the 2016–17 season.
University of North Dakota (2016–2020)
Smith played college hockey for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks from 2016 to 2020 while majoring in kinesiology. Although he struggled to earn playing time at the start of his freshman year, he became a regular by the end of the season. He scored his first collegiate goal in his debut against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on October 15, 2016, and went on to finish with three goals and four assists in 29 games. During the NCHC Quarterfinals, he assisted on both the game-tying and game-winning goals in a 6–5 overtime win over St. Cloud State.
As a sophomore, Smith became a key player for the Fighting Hawks and tied Ben Cherski’s school record for fastest goal to start the third period after scoring seven seconds into the frame against Western Michigan on December 2, 2017. During his junior year, he consistently played alongside Gavin Hain and Mark Senden, and the trio finished in the top three among team scorers with a combined plus-45 rating. He received the team’s Cliff ‘Fido’ Purpur Award and was named an American Hockey Coaches Association Division I All American Scholar.
Before his senior season, Smith was named an assistant captain for the Fighting Hawks. He was a key part of a team that posted the top regular-season record in the NCHC and set a record for most consecutive home wins at the Ralph Engelstad Arena. Although the team won the regular-season title, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented them from competing for the conference and national championships. Smith finished his senior year with a career-high 11 goals and 18 points over 34 games and was named a finalist for the NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year award.
Nashville Predators Era (2020–2026)
Smith officially concluded his collegiate career on March 19, 2020, after signing a one-year contract with the Nashville Predators. Ahead of the delayed 2020–21 season, he wore jersey number 36 and was reassigned to the Predators’ ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades, where he played five games and tallied three points before being recalled to the Predators’ training camp. He was named to the Predators’ taxi squad before making his NHL debut on January 14, 2021, against the Columbus Blue Jackets, recording one shot on goal in 5:57 minutes of ice time in a 3–1 win. By doing so, he became the first former Steinbach Piston to ever appear in an NHL game. He finished his rookie AHL season with the Chicago Wolves, recording five goals and five assists for 10 points over 23 games, and signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on July 15, 2021.
During the 2021–22 season, Smith spent most of his time with the Milwaukee Admirals, helping lift the team from last place in the Central Division to third place. He finished the AHL regular season with 21 goals and 20 assists for 41 points over 59 games, the fourth most on the team, and signed another one-year, two-way extension on July 14, 2022.
Smith began the 2022–23 season on the Predators’ opening night roster for the first time. On October 7, 2022, he recorded his first career NHL point, an assist, in a 4–1 win over the San Jose Sharks. On January 21, 2023, in his 49th NHL game, he scored his first career NHL goal to lift Nashville to a 5–3 win over the Los Angeles Kings. He finished that season with four goals and 13 assists for 17 points over 69 games. In the 2023–24 season, Smith was elevated to a line with Cody Glass and Gustav Nyquist, recorded his first career short-handed goal against the Philadelphia Flyers on December 21, 2023, and signed a two-year, $2 million contract extension on January 24, 2024.
Notable Events and Milestones
Smith’s path to the NHL featured several defining moments, including becoming the first former Steinbach Piston to play in the league and setting North Dakota’s record for fastest goal to start a period. He scored his first NHL goal in his 49th career game, an important milestone that cemented his place as a regular NHL contributor. His signing of a two-year contract extension in January 2024 reflected the organization’s confidence in his trajectory.
Cole Smith Career Wins and Performances
Cole Smith has built a steady professional career through contributions at both the AHL and NHL levels. His most notable achievements include helping the Steinbach Pistons qualify for the MJHL’s Turnbull Cup, serving as a key contributor on the University of North Dakota’s NCHC regular-season championship team, and earning a regular role with the Nashville Predators after years of development in the minor leagues. While specific win totals in junior and college hockey are not all individually verified, his progression from undrafted free agent to full-time NHL forward stands as a defining feature of his career.
Cole Smith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cole Smith’s family has deep athletic roots, with multiple members having competed at the college level. His father, Tom Smith, played football at St. Cloud State University, and his mother, Kris Smith, ran track at Concordia College-Moorhead. His uncle Sandy played collegiate hockey and went on to play professionally for Eisbären Berlin in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. His youngest sister, Gabbie, played ice hockey at Bemidji State University, while his middle sister, Allyson, played soccer at the same school. Several family members have been inducted into the Warrior Athletic Hall of Fame and named Brainerd Athletes of the Year.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025–26 season, Cole Smith continued his role with the Nashville Predators, posting 10 points through 42 games. He played a steady, defensive-minded game on the lower lines, contributing physicality and responsible two-way play. He remained a fixture in the Predators’ lineup as the team navigated the early months of the new season.
On March 3, 2026, Smith was traded by the Predators to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Christoffer Sedoff and a 2028 third-round draft pick. He debuted for Vegas the following day, playing just over 14 minutes in a 4–3 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings. The move offered him an opportunity to contribute to a contending roster in the closing stretch of the regular season.
