Meet Cyprus Smith-Davis
South Island Royals U18 AAA BCEHL
Forward – 2004 DOB
6’1” 190lbs
Tell us about your hometown, family and hobbies.
My hometown is Victoria BC. Most of my mom and dad’s side of the family live on the island, my grandparents from my dad’s side live in Edmonton. My hobbies are limited with all of the hockey and training I do but, whenever I can I try to get out surfing or just exploring nature.
How did you originally begin playing hockey (what age as well) and what is your favourite memory from when you were younger?
Since I can remember I have always loved hockey. My dad played back in the day and was who got me into it, it was never pushed on me, but I just gravitated towards it. I was 5 when I played my first season of hockey for Peninsula Eagles. My favorite memory from hockey is in atom we were a tier 3 team but got moved up to a tier 2 tourney and we won gold in a shootout.
Who is your favourite NHL player and who do you model your game after? Why?
My favorite player ever since I was young is Sidney Crosby, just his commitment and skill is crazy to me and almost every time he’s on the puck it is a highlight. I don’t really try to model my game off anyone specifically but, I love the way Tyler Motte and Connor Garland play. I am not a small player, but I love the grind and physicality they play with and how they always play with a chip on their shoulder, I try to play like I always got something to prove.
What team do/did you play for? What was your favorite part from the season?
The last 3 seasons I have played for the U18 South Island Royals in the BCEHL, I have been the captain for the last two seasons. My favorite part so far of this season was our last weekend before Christmas break when we beat our island rivals two games in a row and got into a brawl at the end of the game. It was a great team moment, and it has really excited and motivated all of us for the rest of the season.
What are your top goals as a student athlete? Why are they your top goals?
My goal is just to be at the top of my game every time I am on the ice while still staying above average in school, to be a great son and brother and friend. These are my top goals because that’s what means most to me in my life.
How important is school from your perspective? Why is it that way?
School is very important in all aspects of life, not just the stuff you learn but your attitude about the stuff they hand out to you. Everyone has got something they had no interest in ever doing in school but it is how you respond to those challenges and it brings out your true character. If you try you will usually get good grades and there is no excuse not to try.
What would it mean to you to play at the NCAA or Pro level?
Playing NCAA or professional hockey would mean absolutely everything to me. How my brain works is if you’re doing something, you want to do it to the best of your abilities and I want to reach my maximum potential wherever that takes me I’m happy with as long as I know I gave it my all, that being said if I do give it my all in my own opinion about myself the sky’s the limit for me.
What separates you as a player or person? How do you continue to get better?
What separates me from the rest of the pack I think is my mindset and discipline. Hopefully in the other questions you can kind of see how I think and get a glimpse of who I am as a person and my mindset. How I think I can continue to get better is to honestly keep doing what I am doing which is, working on all aspects of my game on and off the ice whenever I get the chance too and take every opportunity to keep separating myself.
What impact are you looking to have in your sports careers (community, team, success, etc.)
Whenever I am at the rink, I always try to be the best leader I can be no matter what my jersey says. Whenever there’s a chance to help out around the rink with stuff, I try to ask the trainers if they need any help with stuff or if we are doing community work I won’t hesitate to go and help out. At the end of the day, you are only playing hockey for 10% of the day so that other 90% is off the ice and that’s how I want to be judged as a person.
One fun fact about yourself.
I know the lyrics to a song after listening to it once.