Billy Smith (ice hockey)
William John "Billy" Smith ( born December 12, 1950 in Perth, Ontario ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played from 1971 to 1989 for the Los Angeles Kings and New York Islanders in the National Hockey League.
Career
Smith played during his junior time at the Cornwall Royals in the QMJHL. In the NHL Amateur Draft 1970 it chose the Los Angeles Kings in the fifth round as 59th out. In the American Hockey League, he played in the farm team for the Springfield Kings before he came to his first five appearances in the NHL in the 1971/72 season.
In the Expansion Draft, the New York Islanders Smith had brought from the Los Angeles Kings. Still in 1975, he was replaced after three defeats and substitute Glenn Resch brought the team back into the series. The early 1980s were then his playoff years. After an average regular season he flourished. His style of play, where he worked a lot with his bat, led the Islanders from 1980 to 1983 four consecutive Stanley Cup win. A sensation he had made on November 28, 1979, when he was the last player on the puck in a game against the Colorado Rockies before Rob Ramage played it into his own goal. When he finished his career in 1989, he was with 88 wins in the playoffs, the most successful goalkeeper and was only some years later overtaken by Patrick Roy.
After his playing career, he worked as an assistant and goalkeeper coach for the Florida Panthers.
He was honored with induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993.
NHL stats
Sporting successes
- Stanley Cup in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983
Personal Awards
- NHL First All-Star Team: 1982
- Vezina Trophy: 1982
- Conn Smythe Trophy: 1983
- MVP in the NHL All-Star Game: 1978