LAS VEGAS (KTNV) \u2014 The Frozen Four has arrived in Las Vegas for the first time, and for Golden Knights forward Cole Smith, the moment feels personal.<\/p>\n
Smith, a North Dakota alum, is watching his former program return to college hockey\u2019s biggest stage \u2014 a reminder of where his own path began.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I mean, it\u2019s awesome,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI was there for four years and the culture there\u2026I follow them all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
North Dakota is one of four teams competing for a national title this week, bringing a wave of familiar faces and memories back into focus for Smith \u2014 even as he remains on the road with Vegas.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got a lot of guys that have messaged me that I played with from back in the day that are coming into town to watch it,\u201d Smith said. \u201cAnd I think the special thing with North Dakota is how well their fans travel and how proud everybody is that\u2019s played there.\u201d<\/p>\n
That connection \u2014 between players, alumni and fans \u2014 is what Smith says separates the college game, and particularly his time in Grand Forks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like college hockey, I just had such a tight bond with everybody you play with,\u201d Smith said. \u201cEspecially when you get to experience college with guys for two, three, even four years\u2026you become so tight, and you\u2019re in such a small community \u2014 it\u2019s amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith\u2019s journey to the NHL wasn\u2019t guaranteed. Undrafted out of college, he worked his way up through the minor leagues before earning a consistent role \u2014 a path he credits in part to his development at North Dakota.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think college hockey in general shaped everything for me going forward,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWith the development process, especially at North Dakota, it meant everything.\u201d<\/p>\n