Junior hockey-bound Smejkal winner of 2020 Workman Scholarship
The Mark Workman Scholarship is awarded to a current high school senior in the Vegas Jr. Golden Knights program who best exemplifies passion, sportsmanship, team play, work ethic, discipline, community service and academic achievement.
Noah Smejkal checks all those boxes, and then some.
The winner of the 2020 scholarship, which is named after the late Vegas Golden Knights amateur scout, Smejkal played the 2019-20 season with the Jr. Golden Knights’ Division III varsity team.
“Receiving this award means so much to me,” said Smejkal, who has signed to play junior hockey next season with the Northeast Generals organization (NAHL, NA3HL). “I’m happy to represent the Jr. Golden Knights and see youth hockey in Las Vegas continuing to expand. Getting the Mark Workman Scholarship is a huge honor and a very humbling experience for me. The work doesn’t stop here, but I’m excited to see what my future holds.”
Smejkal, a now-graduate of Cimarron Memorial High School, laced up his first pair of skates when he was 14 years old.
Off the ice, he volunteers for Spectrum on Ice, a program designed to give kids with disabilities the opportunity to play hockey. Smejkal is also a house league coach and Lil’ Knights coach. He is heavily involved with the manufacturing and robotics program at CMHS and enjoys studying political science.
All of those efforts did not go unnoticed by the NHL club.
“Noah exuded such a positive attitude,” said Golden Knights vice president of hockey programming and facility operations Darren Eliot. “From working to offset the cost of participation, to getting involved in coaching to instruction, every element exhibited a passion and love of the game.”
Workman passed away Feb. 14, 2018, after a short and courageous battle with cancer.
He was a passionate hockey man that dedicated his life to the game. In addition to his involvement at the amateur, collegiate, and professional levels, he gave much of his time to youth hockey and to the growth and development of the game. He represented USA Hockey at their spring and summer development camps.
— Matt Mackinder
(June 24, 2020)
