After being named the Capitals Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee, Devante Smith-Pelly spoke to the press after Caps practice. Smith-Pelly spoke about being a role model to minority children.

“If one kid looks up to me and it changes their life and that they end up playing in the NHL or like I said getting a scholarship, I did my job I think,” Smith-Pelly said.

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Caps' nominee for the 2018 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, Devante Smith-Pelly, on his impact with the local DC hockey community this season #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/nhDoYJx8Ip

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 27, 2018

On getting bought out of his New Jersey Devils contract:

Devante Smith-Pelly: “It was surprising. I got called at 11:59 AM the day of the 12 o’clock deadline so I had no idea, my agent didn’t know, anyone or anything. To proving people wrong, I wasn’t happy with my season last year at all. I’ve talked about it, there was a bunch of stuff I was going through. I was preparing to go back to Jersey and have a good year regardless so my mindset didn’t really change after that happened. It was just, well I am going to go play well for another team then.”

On being welcomed into a new organization:

Devante Smith-Pelly: “It’s been great. Everyone is tight, everyone is close. A lot of team activities and team dinners and stuff like that. It’s easy coming into a room when you already know two three guys, three four guys. I’ve played with a couple guys and trained with a couple guys already so it was an easy transition. It’s just a group of really good guys so it was really easy for not only myself, but any new guy, to come in and feel very comfortable and just be in the group.”

On importance of something positive after the Chicago incident:

Devante Smith-Pelly: “What happened was obviously pretty negative but for the people of Chicago to feel that they needed to donate money and for me to give it to Fort Dupont…it turned a pretty bad thing into something that changed many kids lives in that area. That money will go a long way with equipment and renovations or whatever they plan on using it for. It will change some kids lives and maybe in 10, 12, 15 years you are going to see someone from Fort Dupont around this time…that the money helped them get to the NHL or helped them get a scholarship. I am very, very thankful that people decided to do that and I hope that money changes some kids lives.”

On being a role model and bring diversity to the sport:

Devante Smith-Pelly: “It’s a minority hockey program. I am a minority. For them to see someone that looks like them playing down the street, I think that would be a positive and show them that if that’s something they really want to do they can get to this level if they put their mind to it and work hard. If one kid looks up to me and it changes their life and that they end up playing in the NHL or like I said getting a scholarship, I did my job I think.”