Mike Smith (hockey)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other people by this name, see Michael Smith.


Position Goalie
Catches Left
Height
Weight
ft 3 in (1.91 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
NHL Team Dallas Stars
Nationality Flag of Canada Canada
Born March 22, 1982,
Kingston, ON, CAN
NHL Draft 161st overall, 2001
Dallas Stars
Pro Career 2002 – present

Mike Smith (born March 22, 1982 in Kingston, Ontario) is a Canadian hockey goaltender playing in his rookie season for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League. In his first-ever regulation NHL game on October 21, 2006, Smith stopped 22 shots to post a shutout against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Smith began his hockey career in 1999 playing for his hometown Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL. That season he played 15 games while backing up future NHL player Andrew Raycroft (currently with the Toronto Maple Leafs).

After the start of the 2000-2001 season, Smith moved to Sudbury Wolves where he played 43 games registering a 2.52 GAA and 0.913 save percentage in the regular season. The Wolves made it to the second round of the playoffs that year with Smith in net.

In 2001, Mike Smith was drafted by Dallas in the fifth round, 161st overall, and continued to play in Sudbury, again taking the Wolves into the post-season. Their playoff run ended in five games as the Barrie Colts won the series 4-1.

The subsequent season saw Smith's departure from the junior leagues when he split the season between Lexington of the ECHL and Utah of the AHL. He played only 11 games in Utah backing up Jason Bacashihua and Corey Hirsch. For 2003-2004, Utah added Dan Ellis to their roster, with whom Smith split back up duties, again to Bacashihua. Smith went to play for the Houston Aeros in 2004-2005 sharing the net almost equally with Josh Harding, putting up a 0.915 save percentage and 2.42 GAA.

Smith joined the Iowa Stars for their inaugural season in 2005-2006. The Stars played Smith and Dan Ellis back and forth for much of the season until Smith appeared to take much of the netminding responsibilities late in the season. A Stars rally in the stretch secured the final Western Conference playoff spot. Smith started in every game of the seven-game series against the Milwaukee Admirals which Milwaukee ultimately won.

Smith underwent shoulder surgery during the off-season for an injury he sustained during Iowa's 2005-2006 season. After a faster-than-expected recovery, Smith attended the Dallas Stars' training camp in the fall of 2006, and was awarded the backup goaltender position behind Marty Turco.

[edit] External links