Al Smith (ice hockey)

Allan Robert Smith
Born	(1945-11-10) 10 November 1945 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died	7 August 2002(2002-08-07) (aged 56)
Occupation	Professional ice hockey goaltender
Years active	1966–1981

Allan Robert Smith (November 10, 1945 – August 7, 2002) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. After competing in junior leagues, Smith joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League during the 1965-66 season. Over three seasons, he played ten NHL games, mostly spending time in minor leagues such as the Central Professional Hockey League. From 1969 to 1971, he served as the starting goalie for the Pittsburgh Penguins, followed by a season with the Detroit Red Wings.

In 1972, Smith moved to the World Hockey Association by signing with the New England Whalers. His first season there saw him achieve a 31–19–1 record and guide the team to the Avco World Trophy, winning 12 of 15 playoff contests. After two additional seasons with the Whalers, he joined the Buffalo Sabres in 1975 but saw limited ice time before retiring in 1977. That same year, he returned to the Whalers and was awarded the Ben Hatskin Trophy after compiling a 30–20–3 record with a 3.22 goals-against average. Smith continued for two more seasons before being traded to the Colorado Rockies in 1980, where he concluded his career with nine victories in 36 games. Across 491 professional appearances, he amassed a record of 214–197–51.

Minor-pro career

Smith began his junior hockey journey in 1961 playing for the Toronto Marlboros, then spent the 1962 season with the Lakeshore Bruins of the OHA before returning to the Marlboros for the 1964–65 campaign.

Toward the end of the 1965–66 NHL season, he made two appearances for the Toronto Maple Leafs, securing one win and maintaining a goals-against average of 1.94. In 1966, Smith was sent to Toronto’s affiliate team located in Victoria, British Columbia, where he started in 56 games. Additionally, he participated in six playoff matches for the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League (WHL), recording a 2.61 GAA and one shutout, and played once for the San Francisco Seals during their WHL playoff run.

Between 1967 and 1969, Smith appeared in 85 games across various minor league teams including the Tulsa Oilers, Rochester Americans, and Baltimore Clippers. On June 11, 1969, he was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins from Toronto through the NHL Intra-League Draft.

Professional career

Smith’s NHL journey commenced with the Toronto Maple Leafs. During the 1965-66 season, after leaving the Toronto Marlboros, he took employment with a hospital supply company. His NHL debut came on February 20, 1966, featuring briefly; three days later he relieved Gary Smith and backstopped a 3–2 victory over the Chicago Black Hawks, limiting star player Bobby Hull to just one goal. That season, Smith played only two games and was among five goaltenders used by Toronto during the 1966–67 regular season. He made one further appearance on December 31, 1966, suffering a 5–1 loss against Chicago. Called up as backup to Terry Sawchuk during the 1967 Stanley Cup Finals due to an injury to starter Johnny Bower, Smith qualified to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup but ultimately was left off.

A highlight of Smith’s tenure with Toronto was his participation in the 1968 NHL All-Star Game, where he replaced Bruce Gamble and stopped thirteen out of fourteen shots faced. Subsequently, he was selected by Pittsburgh in the intraleague draft.

Throughout his NHL career, Smith also played for teams including the Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Hartford Whalers, and Colorado Rockies. A significant episode occurred on February 13, 1977, when Smith suddenly resigned from the Buffalo Sabres. Scheduled to start in place of injured goalie Gerry Desjardins against the Minnesota North Stars, he was informed less than an hour before puck drop that GM Punch Imlach directed coach Floyd Smith to start Don Edwards instead. Following the national anthem, Smith left his bench area, saluted owners Seymour and Northrup Knox, and departed.

Smith later competed in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the New England Whalers, earning distinction as WHA’s top goaltender in 1978 and securing third-team WHA All-Star honors two consecutive years. Despite his strong play, he was controversially excluded from Team Canada’s roster for the 1974 Summit Series versus Soviet Union WHA All-Stars. His professional career spanned from 1966 until his retirement in 1981.

Transaction history

On June 11, 1969, Pittsburgh acquired Smith from Toronto through the NHL intraleague draft. Subsequently, on June 8, 1971, Detroit claimed him from Pittsburgh in the same type of draft. Later, on February 12, 1972, Smith was picked by the New England Whalers during the World Hockey Association General Player Draft.

Detroit traded Smith to Buffalo in exchange for future considerations on March 10, 1975. He then signed with New England as a free agent on August 15, 1977. Prior to the expansion draft held on June 9, 1979, the Whalers maintained his NHL rights. Ultimately, New England sold his rights to the Colorado Rockies for cash on September 4, 1980.

Post-career

Smith concluded his professional playing days after appearing in 37 games with the Colorado Rockies in 1981. Following retirement, he worked in various roles including automobile sales in Vancouver and fruit picking in British Columbia. Additionally, before moving back to Toronto, he was employed as a sales representative for Reuters.

Maintaining ties with former WHA colleague Larry Pleau enabled Smith to attend NHL games during Pleau’s coaching period with the Hartford Whalers. Upon returning to Toronto, Smith turned to writing with an emphasis on sports narratives. His 1997 novel The Parade has Passed centers on a WHA forward attending his coach’s funeral. He also authored a play titled Confessions to Anne Sexton and began drafting a novel called The Tragedy of Lake Tuscarora. To support himself financially, Smith drove taxis for Beck Taxi, often ferrying old acquaintances and ex-teammates.

In 1998, Smith invested $34,000 sourced from his NHL pension into staging Confessions to Anne Sexton at Toronto’s Alumnae Theatre. The production portrayed a former goalie exploring an Impressionist art exhibition in New York City. Although only seventeen people attended the opening night, the play ran for three weeks.

During his final months, Smith spent time with Jim Keon—brother of teammate Dave Keon—and continued working on The Tragedy of Lake Tuscarora. According to his son Adam, despite lacking formal literary training, fourteen pages of the manuscript were notably impressive. Smith passed away in 2002 due to pancreatic cancer.

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season										Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1961–62	Toronto Marlboros	OHA		1	—	—	—	60	4	0	4.00	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1962–63	Lakeshore Bruins	MetJHL		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1963–64	Lakeshore Bruins	MetJHL		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1964–65	Lakeshore Bruins	MetJHL		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1964–65	Toronto Marlboros	OHA		3	—	—	—	180	20	0	6.67	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1965–66	Toronto Marlboros	OHA		22	—	—	—	1320	92	—	4.15	—		14	—	—	840	37	0	2.61	—
1965–66	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		2	1	0	0	62	2	0	1.92	.935		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		1	0	1	0	60	5	0	5.00	.857		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	Victoria Maple Leafs	WHL		56	24	26	5	3375	180	6	3.20			—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	Vancouver Canucks	WHL		—						6	1	4		345	15	1	2.61
1966–67	California Seals	WHL		—						1	0	1		60	4	0	4.00
1967–68	Tulsa Oilers	CPHL		40	23	12	5	2278	126	0	3.32	.893		4	2	240	11	0	2.75
1968–69	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		7	1	2	331	16	0	2.90	.908

Awards and distinctions

Notable recognitions:

• Participated in the National Hockey League All-Star Game in 1968
• Selected for the World Hockey Association All-Star Games during the 1972–73, 1973–74, and 1974–75 seasons
• Earned a spot on the World Hockey Association All-Star Third Team in both 1972–73 and 1973–74
• Recipient of the Ben Hatskin Trophy as the top WHA goaltender for the 1977–78 season
• Included in the World Hockey Association All-Star First Team for 1977–78
• Honored as a founding inductee into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame in 2010