Incoming freshman Jackson Smith was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft inside the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Friday night.

The smooth-skating, 6-4 defenseman now holds the distinction as the first-ever Nittany Lion to be selected in the opening round of the NHL Draft. He also becomes the 17th Nittany Lion all-time to be drafted and the first since Aiden Fink in 2023.

Smith, who committed to Penn State on June 15, arrives in Hockey Valley this fall after spending the past two-plus seasons with the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League. The Calgary, Alberta native registered career highs across the board with 11 goals and 43 assists for 54 points in 68 games this past season. Smith added one goal and two assists in a pair of playoff games for the Americans. Smith’s 54 points in 2024-25 ranked as the 10th most among WHL blueliners while his 43 assists tied for ninth. In 143 total WHL games, including playoffs, Smith tallied 88 points on 20 goals and 68 assists for the Americans.

Back in the spring, Smith captured the gold medal with Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championships in May. He skated in all seven games scoring four goals from the backend while adding one assist for five points and a plus-7 rating. Last Summer, Smith also donned the Maple Leaf earning gold with Team Canada at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton, Alberta. The Canadians edged Czechia 2-1 in the gold medal game last August. Smith skated in five games collecting three assists during the tournament.