In the OHL Final, Erie Otters defenseman Kurtis MacDermid laid down a picture perfect hip check on Oshawa Generals' 6-foot-7 power forward Hunter Smith. Smith went sailing through the air before coming crashing down on his side. Erie went on to win Game 3 and now trail the best-of-7 series 2-1.
Watch Erie's MacDermid flip Oshawa's Smith with textbook hip checkWhen a 6-foot-7, 208-pound monster of a right winger is flying towards you, the most common reaction would likely be to get out of the way before you get barrelled over. And Oshawa's Hunter Smith, the big bodied winger in question, has definitely driven through, not around, opponents before. Unfortunately for Smith, Erie defenseman Kurtis MacDermid had a different idea.
In Game 3 of the OHL Final, Smith came driving through the neutral zone right at MacDermid. With it clear that he was lined up by MacDermid, Smith attempted to jump by the check of the Otters defenseman only to be sent sailing by a picture perfect hip check. Take a look:
Nothing about that looks fun for Smith, and one can imagine that a few seconds felt like hours for him as he waited to crash back down to the ice.
Outside of the OHL Final, it likely won't be the last time these two meet. Matter of fact, both Smith and MacDermid have their rights owned by Pacific Division clubs, meaning they could meet on a regular basis once their careers continue in the professional ranks. Smith was drafted in the second round, 54th overall, by the Calgary Flames in 2012, while MacDermid was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Kings in September 2012.
With both Los Angeles and Calgary shifting their farm clubs to the West Coast for next season, meetings between Smith and MacDermid could be frequent. Advice for MacDermid? Stay aware of your surroundings, because getting sent flying is something Smith will probably get some measure of revenge for.
The Otters went on to win the game 4-3, and the Generals now lead the OHL Final 2-1.
