Canadian defenseman Ty Smith, 25, has agreed to a one-year deal with Dinamo Minsk, a KHL team based in Belarus, according to a report from Russian sports outlet Championat.com on Thursday. This marks Smith’s inaugural contract to play hockey internationally.
Hailing from Lloydminster, Alberta, Smith played junior hockey with the Spokane Chiefs. He was selected 17th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Between 2020 and 2025, Smith appeared in 131 regular-season NHL games with the Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Carolina Hurricanes, accumulating 49 points and 52 penalty minutes.
Smith spent most of his NHL playing time over two seasons with New Jersey and earned a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2021.
In related news, Canadian goalie Louis Domingue, 33, signed a one-year contract with KHL’s Sibir Novosibirsk, the club announced Thursday.
On the international stage, Smith has represented Canada in two IIHF U-18 World Championships and two World Junior Championships, capturing a World Junior Gold medal in 2020.
Dinamo Minsk, the only KHL team based in Belarus, finished fourth in the Western Conference last season and won a playoff round for the first time since joining the league in 2014.
Additionally, Xavier Uerlet, a 31-year-old French-born Canadian defenseman, secured a two-year contract extension with Dinamo Minsk, as confirmed by the KHL website on Tuesday.
Fan Take: This influx of North American talent like Ty Smith and Louis Domingue into the KHL highlights the league’s growing appeal and competitive level, offering fans fresh storylines and rivalries. It also underscores the increasing globalization of hockey, which broadens the sport’s reach and boosts its development worldwide.
