Staff Directory
Smith, Britni
Britni Smith
- Title:
- Head Coach
The second head coach in program history, Britni Smith took the reins of Orange ice hockey in May 2022. A 2010 graduate of St. Lawrence University, Smith was an assistant at Clarkson for eight years and has served in a number of coaching roles with Hockey Canada since 2014. She will serve as a camp coach for Canada's National Women's Team at its Fall Festical training camp in September 2023 in preparation for the 2023-24 season, which includes the Rivalry Series. Smith is a member of the NCAA Division I Ice Hockey committee. During the Spring of 2023, Smith completed the Atlantic Coast Conference Coaching the Whole Athlete Academy, an eight-week professional development program.
The Port Perry, Ontario native was a Top-10 finalist for the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as a defenseman at St. Lawrence.
In two seasons at the helm of the Orange program, Smith has mentored a number of College Hockey America postseason honorees, including:
At Clarkson, Smith played a vital role in helping Clarkson to a 207-60-26 record, including four 30-win seasons, three ECAC Hockey regular season titles, three conference tournament crowns, seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament, showings in four consecutive Frozen Fours (2016 through 2019) and back-to-back NCAA National Championships (2017 and 2018). She mentored three Patty Kazmaier Award winners, two top-three finalists and four top-10 finalists, in addition to 10 All-Americans and five Olympians.
From 2014 to 2020, Smith held several roles as part of the Hockey Canada staff before stepping into her current role as a camp coach (Sept. 2023). She was an assistant coach for the National Women’s U-18 Team in 2016 and 2020, helping to guide both teams to an IIHF World Championship silver medal finish, the National Women’s Development Team in 2018-19, and the National Women’s Development Camp in 2014.
“Britni is a highly regarded coach who is a proven recruiter and has experience as an assistant coach for two national championship teams and as a coach with Hockey Canada,“ said Syracuse University Director of Athletics John Wildhack when announcing her appointment. “She is incredibly detailed and prepared and has excellent communication skills. Britni is a rising star in the coaching profession. We are excited to have her lead our program.”
Smith started her coaching career as a top assistant coach at the University of Toronto (2012-14), where she helped lead the Varsity Blues to a 21-9 overall record, including a 17-6 CIS mark in 2013-14, prior to going to Clarkson for the 2014-15 season.
As a standout student-athlete at St. Lawrence, Smith played in 146 games, recording 74 points on 20 goals and 54 assists from the blue line from 2006 to 2010. During her senior campaign, she tallied the third-most points in the country by a defenseman, posting eight goals and 17 assists. She earned All-ECAC Hockey Second Team honors in her junior and senior years and was a three-time conference All-Academic Team member.
Smith played professionally in the CWHL for the Toronto Furies from 2010-14, serving as captain for the 2014 CWHL Champions. She also played for Hockey Canada’s U-22 National Team from 2006-10.
She earned a degree in psychology with a minor in sports and exercise science at St. Lawrence, where she played for two seasons for former head coach Paul Flanagan, who came to Syracuse to start the Orange program in 2008-09.
Smith’s Coaching Experience
NCAA/U-Sport
Head Coach, Syracuse (2022-present)
Assistant Coach, Clarkson (2014-2022)
Assistant Coach, University of Toronto (2012-2014)
Hockey Canada
Camp Coach, National Women's Team (2023)
Assistant Coach, Women’s Development Team (2018)
Assistant Coach, U-18 World Championship (2016, 2020)
Camp Coach, National Development Team (2014)
Smith’s Playing Experience
NCAA, St. Lawrence University (2006-2010)
Top-10 Patty Kazmaier Award Winner Finalist (2010)
Assistant Captain (2009-2010)
NCAA Appearance (2007, 2008, 2009)
Frozen Four Finalist (2007)
CWHL, Toronto Furies (2010-2014)
CWHL Champions (2014)
Captain (2012-2014)
CWHL Rookie of the Year (2011)
Drafted 3rd Overall in inaugural CWHL Draft (2010)
Hockey Canada
U-22 National Team (2006-2010)
MLP Cup Gold Medalist (2010)
MLP Cup Silver Medalist (2009)
European Air Canada Cup Gold Medalist (2007, 2008)
The Port Perry, Ontario native was a Top-10 finalist for the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as a defenseman at St. Lawrence.
In two seasons at the helm of the Orange program, Smith has mentored a number of College Hockey America postseason honorees, including:
- 2024 CHA First Team selection Rachel Teslak
- 2024 CHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year Tatum White
- 2024 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship winner Tatum White
- 2024 Hockey Humanitarian Award finalist Sarah Thompson
- 2023 CHA Best Defensive Forward Lauren Bellefontaine
- 2023 CHA First Team selection Mae Batherson, in addition to
- 2023 CHA All-Rookie Team selection Maya D'Arcy
- 2023 CHA All-Rookie Team selection Rhea Hicks
- 2023 CSC Academic All-District selection Tatum White
- 2024 Hockey Humanitarian Award nominee Sarah Thompson
At Clarkson, Smith played a vital role in helping Clarkson to a 207-60-26 record, including four 30-win seasons, three ECAC Hockey regular season titles, three conference tournament crowns, seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament, showings in four consecutive Frozen Fours (2016 through 2019) and back-to-back NCAA National Championships (2017 and 2018). She mentored three Patty Kazmaier Award winners, two top-three finalists and four top-10 finalists, in addition to 10 All-Americans and five Olympians.
From 2014 to 2020, Smith held several roles as part of the Hockey Canada staff before stepping into her current role as a camp coach (Sept. 2023). She was an assistant coach for the National Women’s U-18 Team in 2016 and 2020, helping to guide both teams to an IIHF World Championship silver medal finish, the National Women’s Development Team in 2018-19, and the National Women’s Development Camp in 2014.
“Britni is a highly regarded coach who is a proven recruiter and has experience as an assistant coach for two national championship teams and as a coach with Hockey Canada,“ said Syracuse University Director of Athletics John Wildhack when announcing her appointment. “She is incredibly detailed and prepared and has excellent communication skills. Britni is a rising star in the coaching profession. We are excited to have her lead our program.”
Smith started her coaching career as a top assistant coach at the University of Toronto (2012-14), where she helped lead the Varsity Blues to a 21-9 overall record, including a 17-6 CIS mark in 2013-14, prior to going to Clarkson for the 2014-15 season.
As a standout student-athlete at St. Lawrence, Smith played in 146 games, recording 74 points on 20 goals and 54 assists from the blue line from 2006 to 2010. During her senior campaign, she tallied the third-most points in the country by a defenseman, posting eight goals and 17 assists. She earned All-ECAC Hockey Second Team honors in her junior and senior years and was a three-time conference All-Academic Team member.
Smith played professionally in the CWHL for the Toronto Furies from 2010-14, serving as captain for the 2014 CWHL Champions. She also played for Hockey Canada’s U-22 National Team from 2006-10.
She earned a degree in psychology with a minor in sports and exercise science at St. Lawrence, where she played for two seasons for former head coach Paul Flanagan, who came to Syracuse to start the Orange program in 2008-09.
Smith’s Coaching Experience
NCAA/U-Sport
Head Coach, Syracuse (2022-present)
Assistant Coach, Clarkson (2014-2022)
Assistant Coach, University of Toronto (2012-2014)
Hockey Canada
Camp Coach, National Women's Team (2023)
Assistant Coach, Women’s Development Team (2018)
Assistant Coach, U-18 World Championship (2016, 2020)
Camp Coach, National Development Team (2014)
Smith’s Playing Experience
NCAA, St. Lawrence University (2006-2010)
Top-10 Patty Kazmaier Award Winner Finalist (2010)
Assistant Captain (2009-2010)
NCAA Appearance (2007, 2008, 2009)
Frozen Four Finalist (2007)
CWHL, Toronto Furies (2010-2014)
CWHL Champions (2014)
Captain (2012-2014)
CWHL Rookie of the Year (2011)
Drafted 3rd Overall in inaugural CWHL Draft (2010)
Hockey Canada
U-22 National Team (2006-2010)
MLP Cup Gold Medalist (2010)
MLP Cup Silver Medalist (2009)
European Air Canada Cup Gold Medalist (2007, 2008)
