Al Smith (ice hockey)

Allan Robert Smith (November 10, 1945 – August 7, 2002) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. Smith played in junior league hockey before becoming a goalie with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League in the 1965-66 season. He played in ten professional games in three seasons while spending most of his time with minor leagues such as the Central Professional Hockey League. He moved over to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played as the main goalie from 1969 to 1971 before spending a season with the Detroit Red Wings. In 1972, Smith vaulted to the upstart World Hockey Association with the New England Whalers. In his first season, he went 31–19–1 before leading the team to the Avco World Trophy, winning 12 of his 15 postseason games under the net. He played with the Whalers for two further seasons before moving onto the Buffalo Sabres in 1975, where he played sparingly until his sudden retirement in 1977. He returned to the Whalers later that year and won the Ben Hatskin Trophy for his goaltending that season, going 30–20–3 with a GAA of 3.22. He played goalie for another two seasons there before being sold to the Colorado Rockies in 1980, where he closed his career out with nine wins in 36 games. In 491 combined professional games as a goaltender, Smith went 214–197–51.