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A new town, a new school and a new team. Many unfamiliar faces and the frustrating task of getting accustomed to a campus all over again.
Transferring schools midway through college never is easy.
For Dan Smith and Kevin Eidsmo, both members of the Saint Mary’s University men’s hockey team, the transition has been as smooth as anyone could have hoped for.
Smith, from Rochester, Minn., came from the University of Massachusetts. Eidsmo, originally from Chanhassen, Minn., came from St. Olaf.
The pair transferred to SMU (6-10-1, 3-4-1 MIAC) in the fall for academic reasons, athletic reasons and, in the case of Smith, even some good old home-cooking.
Both have played crucial roles on the team since their arrival.
Smith is the starting goalie and has a .900 save-percentage.
“Dan has been very solid,” SMU coach Don Olson said. “He’s kept us in games where we’ve struggled. Our players have confidence in him. He’s been a tremendous addition.”
Smith decided to come to SMU for a variety of reasons. He wanted to get
closer to home and he wasn’t a big fan of the East Coast. It also didn’t hurt that longtime friend and high school teammate Adam Gill is SMU’s captain.
Smith and Gill played at Rochester Lourdes.
“I knew how hard he worked and how much of a competitor he is,” Gill said. “I knew he would be a great asset to our team.”
For Smith, adjusting to the team was a little awkward at first, but it didn’t take long for him to fit in.
“I love it,” he said. “It’s a great group of guys. Eidsmo and I became friends fast because we were both transfers. It was easy. Hockey guys are hockey guys.”
Eidsmo also said it didn’t take long to adjust to the surroundings.
A defenseman who leads the Cardinals in points, Eidsmo decided to come to SMU in large part because of the school’s accounting program.
A business major, Eidsmo originally chose St. Olaf because of its academics. After a couple years, he found he wanted a more narrowed accounting program.
“I wasn’t happy with my major at (St.) Olaf and SMU was the logical choice for me,” Eidsmo said. “I like it here a lot. Everyone’s been great. My love for hockey has been reborn.”
Despite playing against SMU the past two years at St. Olaf, the Cardinals
didn’t give Eidsmo too hard a time when he arrived.
“I was worried they would hold grudges, but they made a point to make me feel welcome,” Eidsmo said. “Although they did show me last year’s highlight video when I was out there and they scored.”
Olson recruited both players when they were in high school, but it wasn’t until two years later the pair finally joined the Cardinals. It has paid dividends.
“Kevin is having a great year,” Olson said. “He’s our biggest, strongest defenseman.
“They have both fit right in and been huge additions.”
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