Normie Smith
| Normie Smith | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
March 18, 1908 Toronto, ON, CAN |
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| Died | February 2, 1988 (aged 79) Stuart, FL, USA |
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| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | ||
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for |
Detroit Red Wings Montreal Maroons |
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| Playing career | 1931–1945 | ||
Norman Eugene Smith (March 18, 1908 – February 2, 1988) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Maroons and the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League.
Smith enjoyed much success in his rookie years with the Montreal Maroons. He was playing his 20th game for the Maroons in 1930-31 when Howie Morenz was sent flying into the Maroons net and knocked off Smith, who was so badly injured that he was out for the rest of the season. Smith spent the next 2 seasons in the minors working on his rebound-control and all-around game. It was there in the minors that Smith started wearing his distinctive cap to stop the glare of the overhead lights from blinding him.
In 1934, Smith was signed by the Detroit Red Wings. There, Smith played one of the most remarkable games ever in NHL history. He shut-out the Montreal Maroons in the NHL's longest game, a 176-minute, 30-second affair, on the way to a Stanley Cup championship in 1935-36. His 92 saves in that same game are also a NHL record. Smith helped Detroit repeat as Stanley Cup Champions in 1936-37 and won the Vezina Trophy that same year. After suffering an arm injury, he slumped in 1937-38 and the Red Wings finished last. During a game in 1938-39, he didn't show up, causing a rift with coach 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 returned to play briefly with the Red Wings when World War II left a vacuum of players in the NHL.
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