University of Regina men's hockey head coach Trevor Keeper announced Friday that Blackfalds Bulldogs defenceman Braydan Smith has committed to the Cougars for the 2026-27 season.
 
Smith, a Prince Albert product, shoots right and checks in at 6-4 and 175 lbs. He spent three of his four junior seasons in the BCHL, including the past two with Blackfalds where he suited up for 49 games. He also had brief stops with the Victoria Grizzlies and Nanaimo Clippers during the 2024-25 season after beginning his junior career with the Trail Smoke Eaters in 2022-23.
 
"Braydan brings a combination of size, mobility, and poise to the blue line," Keeper said. "He has a strong feel for the game, makes smart plays with the puck, has keen positional awareness, and a great first pass. We think there's still plenty of room for him to grow and we're looking forward to welcoming him to campus and helping him reach the next stage of his development at the U SPORTS level."
 
Smith also spent the 2023-24 season in the USHL, appearing in 47 games with the Des Moines Buccaneers.
 
Over three BCHL seasons, Smith recorded three goals and 13 assists in a total of 110 regular season games before adding two assists in 10 playoff appearances.
 
Smith joins a U of R blue line that returns Leyton Holoien, Blake Heward, Ashton Fishley, Jaren Brinson, Matt Kjemhus, and Rylan Silzer. He also becomes the fourth defenceman in the Cougars' 2026-27 recruiting class, joining Boston Harkness, Matthew Keller, and Rylan Pearce.