Normie Smith

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Norman "Normie" Smith (born March 18, 1908 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada - 1988) was a Vezina-winning goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings. Smith shut-out the Montreal Maroons in the NHL's longest game, a 176-minute, 30-second affair, on way to a Stanley Cup championship in 1936. After suffering an arm injury, he slumped in 1937-38 and the Red Wings finished last. During a game in 1939, he didn't show up, causing a rift with Jack Adams. He was then traded to Boston, where there was no way he would beat out Frank Brimsek, and he was sent to the minors. Normie Smith retired rather than report to the minor leagues. He came back briefly when World War II robbed the NHL of players and played some for Detroit.