Allan Robert (Al) "The Bear" Smith

Last updated

BIOGRAPHY

BORN: Toronto, Ontario, November 10, 1945.
HEIGHT: 6'1"
WEIGHT: 200 lbs.
UNIFORM #: 31 (Buffalo).
CATCHES: Left
LAST AMATEUR TEAM: Toronto Marlboros OHA
STYLE: Standup.
STRENGTHS: Likes to handle the puck and roam from his crease area.
WEAKNESSES:

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:

"Al Smith is many things to many people. To fans, he is the faceless security guard, patrolling that critical hockey area known as the net. To teammates, his jack-in-the-box sense of humor helps keep the club loose during the long hockey winter. For you just never know when the ebullient Smitty will spring a hilarious line or a well-timed practical joke on fellow Whalers. But to the total Whaler community, Al Smith is a brilliant goaltender. A third team WHA All-Star for two consecutive years, many astute hockey men felt Al was robbed when snubbed by Team Canada. He's that good." (New England Whalers 1974/75 Yearbook)

TRANSACTIONS:

Claimed (from Toronto) by Pittsburgh Penguins in National Hockey League intraleague draft, June 11, 1969.
Claimed (from Pittsburgh) by Detroit Red Wings in National Hockey League intraleague draft, June 8, 1971.
Selected by New England Whalers in 1972 World Hockey Association General Player Draft, February 12, 1972.
Traded by Red Wings to Buffalo Sabres for future considerations, March 10, 1975.
Signed as free agent by New England Whalers, August 15, 1977.
National Hockey League rights retained by Whalers prior to expansion draft, June 9, 1979.
Traded by Whalers to Colorado Rockies for cash, September 4, 1980.

ACCOLADES:

Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1968.
Played in World Hockey Association All-Star Game, 1972-73.
Named to World Hockey Association All-Star Third Team, 1972-73.
Played in World Hockey Association All-Star Game, 1973-74.
Named to World Hockey Association All-Star Third Team, 1973-74.
Played in World Hockey Association All-Star Game, 1974-75.
Winner, Ben Hatskin Trophy (Top WHA Goaltender), 1977-78.
Named to World Hockey Association All-Star First Team, 1977-78.

INJURIES:

RECORDS:

FIRSTS:

MISCELLANEOUS:

DID YOU KNOW?

Al used to be known for his combatitive attitude towards opposition forwards, but has clamed down consderably in the past few years. "Before I used to hit them, now I try to talk them out of it," he jokes. (Buffalo Sabres Media Guide 1976-77).
At one point in his career, Al was the editor of a lacrosse magazine. (New England Whalers 1974/75 Yearbook, p. 47)

SEASON RECORDS:

REGULAR SEASON
Year  Team                       GP    Min   W   L   T    GA    GAA   Shots    Sv%   ShO   G   A   PiM     S/60    PERS
61-62 Toronto Midget Marl. MTHL
      Toronto Marlboros MTJHL     1     60                 4   4.00                    0
62-63 Lakeshore Bruins OHA-B
63-64 Lakeshore Bruins OHA-B
64-65 Lakeshore Bruins OHA-B
      Toronto Marlboros OHA       3    180                20   6.67                    0
65-66 Toronto Marlboros OHA      22   1320                92   4.15                    0   0   0     2
      Toronto Maple Leafs NHL     2     62   1   0   0     2   1.94                    0   0   0     0
66-67 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL     1     60   0   1   0     5   5.00                    0
      Victoria Cougars WHL       56   3375  24  26   5   180   3.20                    6   0   1     6
67-68 Tulsa Oilers CHL           40   2278  22  12   5   126   3.32    1179   .893     0   0   0     0
68-69 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL     7    335   2   2   1    16   2.87                    0   0   0     0
      Tulsa Oilers CHL            8    480                22   2.87                    0   0   0     0
      Rochester Americans AHL    34   1979  13  12   7   114   3.46                    2   0   0     5
69-70 Baltimore Clippers AHL      3    180                 8   2.67                    0   0   0     0
      Pittsburgh Penguins NHL    46   2555  15  20   8   129   3.03                    2   0   0    20
70-71 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL    46   2472   9  22   9   128   3.11                    2   0   0    41
71-72 Detroit Red Wings NHL      43   2500  18  20   4   135   3.24                    4   0   4    23
72-73 New England Whalers WHA    51   3059  31  19   1   162   3.18    1535   .894     3   0   1    39
73-74 New England Whalers WHA    55   3194  30  21   2   164   3.08    1569   .895     2   0   3    33
74-75 New England Whalers WHA    59   3493  33  21   4   202   3.47    1725   .883     2   0   0    18
75-76 Buffalo Sabres NHL         14    840   9   3   2    43   3.07     360   .881     0   0   0     0
76-77 Buffalo Sabres NHL          7    265   0   3   0    19   4.30                    0   0   0     0
77-78 New England Whalers WHA    55   3246  30  20   3   174   3.22    1510   .885     2   0   3     4
78-79 New England Whalers WHA    40   2396  17  17   5   132   3.31    1124   .883     1   0   3    35  
79-80 Springfield Indians AHL     2    120   1   1   0     6   3.00      78   .923     0   0   0     0
      Hartford Whalers NHL       30   1754  11  10   8   107   3.66                    2   0   1    10
80-81 Colorado Rockies NHL       37   1909   9  18   4   151   4.75                    0   0   2    51
TEN (10) NHL SEASONS            233  12752  74  99  36   735   3.46                   10   0   7   145
FIVE (5) WHA SEASONS            260  15389 141  98  15   834   3.25                   10   0  10   129

POST-SEASON
Year  Team                       GP    Min   W   L   GA    GAA   Shots    Sv%   ShO   G   A   PiM     S/60    PERS
65-66 Toronto Marlboros OHA      14    840           37   2.61                    0
66-67 Vancouver Canucks WHL       6    345   1   4   15   2.61                    1   0   0     0
      California Seals WHL        1     60   0   1    4   4.00                    0   0   0     0
67-68 Tulsa Oilers CHL            4    240   2   2   11   2.75                    0   0   0     7
69-70 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL     3    180   1   2   10   3.33                    0   0   0     0
72-73 New England Whalers WHA    15    909  12   3   49   3.23                    0   0   1    12
73-74 New England Whalers WHA     7    399   3   4   21   3.16                    1   0   0     0
74-75 New England Whalers WHA     6    366   2   4   28   4.59                    0   0   0     2
75-76 Buffalo Sabres NHL          1     17   0   0    1   3.53                    0
77-78 New England Whalers WHA     3    120   0   2   14   7.00                    0   0   0     0
78-79 New England Whalers WHA     4    153   1   2   12   4.71                    0   0   0     0
79-80 Hartford Whalers NHL        2    120   0   2   10   5.00                    0   0   0     0
THREE (3) NHL POSTSEASONS         6    317   1   4   21   3.97                    0
FIVE (5) WHA POSTSEASONS         35   1947  18  15  124   3.82                    1   0   1    14

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