Man of the Day 4/7: Mike Smith

Mike Smith

Born March 22, 1982 (age 30) in Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Goaltender for the Phoenix Coyotes

Smith started out playing for his hometown team the Kingston Frontenacs, where he played backup to Andrew Raycroft, another current NHL netminder. During his OHL time, he became the only goalie to record a shutout, score a goal AND get a fighting major–all in the same game. Talk about active netminding. Drafted in 2001 by Dallas, he spent one year more in the “O” before making the major jump. At first he spent time in Dallas’ AHL and ECHL farm system, working hard and getting experience, before 2006 when he attended Stars’ training camp. He made it and was given the backup position to Marty Turco. (When first adjusting to Dallas, he roomed up with Turco and his family. Aww!) In his very first regulation NHL game, he put together a shutout against the team for which he now plays.

Hey, here he is with Jason LaBarbera! Goalie on goalie love.

Next up for Smith was a trade to Tampa Bay in February 2008, while he was still in his rookie season. He pitched a 3-0 shutout against the Rangers and thus became the third rookie goalie in history to get a shutout for two different teams in the same season. Sadly, he suffered a concussion that shut him down for a while near the end of 2008-09. Tampa Bay waived him in February 2011, he cleared and went to their Norfolk affiliate in the AHL, but returned later to back up Dwayne Roloson in the 2011 playoffs. He made an appearance in game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Bruins. But after that season, he signed with Phoenix (he likes to play in warm climates!) and stops pucks in the desert. Very recently, he stopped all 54 shots he faced in a 2-0 win over Columbus–and he also assisted on the Coyotes’ last goal of the regular season. Good luck in the playoffs, Smith!

I'm just going to look at this for a while because of reasons.

-Emma