UND hockey notes: Matt Smaby can relate to developing in college hockey

GRAND FORKS — Matt Smaby knows the development process well. It wasn't all sunshine moments when he came to UND as an 18-year-old defenseman in 2003. But he made progress throughout his time on campus, and by the time he was a junior, he was the team captain and anchor on the back end of an NCAA Frozen Four team. Smaby is now an associate head coach at UND, working through the development process with UND's young players, especially on the back end. They've had their rough moments in the first month — a pair of losses at rival Minnesota — but their steady progress was evident in last weekend's tie and win against Western Michigan. "It's a tough position to play," Smaby said. "I think about myself and my career. . . I wasn't the best defenseman until I was 30 years old. You're continuing to learn all the way through. "These guys are not only extremely talented, but they still have a lot to learn in regard to how to play.

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