Normie Smith
Encyclopedia
Norman "Normie" Smith was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for Montreal Maroons and Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League
.
was sent flying into the Maroons net and knocked off Smith. Smith was injured so badly that he was out for the rest of the season. Smith spent the next 2 seasons in the minor 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 the NHL
's longest game, a 176-minute, 30-second affair, on 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 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 Detroit Red Wings
when World War II
left a vacuum of players in the NHL.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.
Rookie career
Smith enjoyed much success in his rookie years with the Montreal Maroons. He played 20 games with the Montreal Maroons in 1930-31 before Howie MorenzHowie Morenz
Howard William Morenz was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre for three National Hockey League teams: the Montreal Canadiens , the Chicago Black Hawks, and the New York Rangers...
was sent flying into the Maroons net and knocked off Smith. Smith was injured so badly that he was out for the rest of the season. Smith spent the next 2 seasons in the minor 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.
NHL career
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 MaroonsMontreal Maroons
The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
in the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's longest game, a 176-minute, 30-second affair, on way to a Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
championship in 1935-36
1936 Stanley Cup Finals
-Detroit: "City of Champions":When the Lions won the 1935 NFL Championship Game, the City of Detroit was mired in the Great Depression, which had hit Detroit and its industries particularly hard...
. His 92 saves in that same game are also a NHL record. Smith helped Detroit repeat as Stanley Cup Champions in 1936-37
1936-37 NHL season
-NHL awards:The "Rookie of the Year" award now had a trophy, the Calder Trophy, for the first time.-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Debuts:...
and won the Vezina Trophy
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
that same year. After suffering an arm injury, he slumped in 1937-38
1937–38 NHL season
-European tour:After the Stanley Cup final finished, the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens played a nine-game exhibition series in Europe, becoming the first NHL teams to play outside North America. Six games were played in England, three in France...
and the Red Wings finished last. During a game in 1938-39, he didn't show up, causing a rift with 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 Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
when World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
left a vacuum of players in the NHL.
Awards and achievements
- Vezina TrophyVezina TrophyThe Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
(19371936-37 NHL season-NHL awards:The "Rookie of the Year" award now had a trophy, the Calder Trophy, for the first time.-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Debuts:...
). - NHL First All-Star TeamNHL All-Star TeamThe NHL All-Star Teams were first named at the end of the 1930–31 NHL season, to honor the best performers over the season at each position.Representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for the All-Star Team at the end of the regular season.The career leaders in citations are...
goalie (1937). - Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Championship (19361936 Stanley Cup Finals-Detroit: "City of Champions":When the Lions won the 1935 NFL Championship Game, the City of Detroit was mired in the Great Depression, which had hit Detroit and its industries particularly hard...
, 19371937 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 1937 Stanley Cup Finals NHL championship series was contested by the defending champion Detroit Red Wings and the New York Rangers in their fifth Final series appearance. Detroit would win the series 3–2 to win their second and second-straight, Stanley Cup....
). - Holds NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
record for most saves in a game (92).
Regular season
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929-30 | Toronto Willys | TMHL | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 560 | 19 | 1 | 2.04 |
| 1930-31 | Windsor Bulldogs | IHL | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 430 | 16 | 1 | 2.23 |
| 1931-32 1931-32 NHL season -NHL awards:Howie Morenz won the Hart Trophy for the second time in his career. Joe Primeau won the Lady Byng, the one time he would win the trophy in his career... |
Montreal Maroons Montreal Maroons The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
21 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 1267 | 62 | 0 | 2.94 |
| 1931-32 | Windsor Bulldogs | IHL | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 890 | 36 | 3 | 2.43 |
| 1932-33 | Windsor Bulldogs | IHL | 42 | 14 | 22 | 6 | 2520 | 120 | 2 | 2.86 |
| 1933-34 | Quebec Castors Quebec Castors The Quebec Castors or Quebec Beavers were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec from 1926 until 1935. They were members of the Canadian-American Hockey League.-History:... |
Can-Am Canadian-American Hockey League The Canadian-American Hockey League, popularly known as the Can-Am League, was a professional ice hockey league that operated from 1926 to 1936. It was a direct ancestor of the American Hockey League.... |
32 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 2009 | 64 | 3 | 1.91 |
| 1934-35 1934-35 NHL season -NHL awards:Eddie Shore won the Hart Trophy for the second time in his career. Frank Boucher won the Lady Byng for the seventh and final time in his career, and his third consecutive time... |
Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... |
NHL | 25 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 1550 | 52 | 2 | 2.01 |
| 1934-35 | Detroit Olympics Detroit Olympics The Detroit Olympics were a minor league hockey team located in Detroit, Michigan that was a member of the Canadian Professional Hockey League 1927-29 and the International-American Hockey League 1929-36. The team played all of their home games at the Detroit Olympia... |
IHL | 26 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 1630 | 53 | 4 | 1.95 |
| 1934-35 | Windsor Bulldogs | IHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 3 | 0 | 3.00 |
| 1935-36 1935-36 NHL season -NHL awards:Eddie Shore won his second consecutive Hart trophy. Frank Boucher's run of seven Lady Byng trophy awards came to an end as Doc Romnes won the award... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 48 | 24 | 16 | 8 | 3030 | 103 | 6 | 2.04 |
| 1936-37 1936-37 NHL season -NHL awards:The "Rookie of the Year" award now had a trophy, the Calder Trophy, for the first time.-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Debuts:... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 48 | 25 | 14 | 9 | 2980 | 102 | 6 | 2.05 |
| 1937-38 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 47 | 11 | 25 | 11 | 2930 | 130 | 3 | 2.66 |
| 1938-39 1938-39 NHL season The 1938–39 NHL season was the 22nd season of the National Hockey League . Seven teams each played 48 games. The Boston Bruins were the Stanley Cup winners as they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs four games to one in the final series.-League business:... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 240 | 12 | 0 | 3.00 |
| 1938-39 | Pittsburgh Hornets | IAHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 5 | 0 | 5.00 |
| 1943-44 1943-44 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 300 | 15 | 0 | 3.00 |
| 1944-45 1944-45 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 3 | 0 | 3.00 |
| NHL totals | 199 | 81 | 83 | 35 | 12,357 | 479 | 17 | 2.33 | ||
| IHL totals | 90 | 42 | 33 | 15 | 5530 | 228 | 9 | 2.47 | ||
Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930-31 | Windsor Bulldogs | IHL | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 390 | 11 | 0 | 1.69 |
| 1931-32 | Windsor Bulldogs | IHL | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 380 | 8 | 3 | 1.11 |
| 1932-33 | Windsor Bulldogs | IHL | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 360 | 18 | 0 | 3.00 |
| 1934-35 | Detroit Olympics | IHL | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 5 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 1934-35 | Windsor Bulldogs | IHL | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 130 | 9 | 0 | 4.15 |
| 1935-36 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 538 | 12 | 2 | 1.34 |
| 1936-37 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 282 | 6 | 1 | 1.28 |
| NHL totals | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 820 | 18 | 3 | 1.32 | ||
| IHL totals | 25 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 1560 | 51 | 3 | 1.96 | ||