The Complete World Hockey Association
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Al Smith • Allan Robert Smith

Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
Catch: L
Born: 10 Nov 1945, Toronto ON (d. 2002)

 

Regular Season Goaltending Record (key)

year team
gp
min
ga
sho
w-l-t
gaa
a
pim
1972-73 New England
51
3059
162
3
31-19-1
3.18
3
39
1973-74 New England
55
3194
164
2
30-21-2
3.08
3
33
1974-75 New England
59
3494
202
2
33-21-4
3.47
0
18
1977-78 New England
55
3246
174
2
30-20-3
3.22
3
4
1978-79 New England
40
2396
132
1
17-17-5
3.31
3
35
Totals:
260
15389
834
10
141-98-15
3.25
12
129

Playoff Goaltending Record

year team
gp
min
ga
sho
w-l
gaa
a
pim
1973 New England
15
909
49
0
12-3
3.23
1
12
1974 New England
7
399
21
1
3-4
3.16
0
0
1975 New England
6
366
28
0
2-4
4.59
0
0
1978 New England
3
120
14
0
0-2
7.00
0
0
1979 New England
4
153
12
0
1-2
4.71
0
0
Totals:
35
1947
124
1
18-15
3.82
1
12

Shutouts

Date Opponent Home/Away Score Saves
Nov 27, 1972ClevelandHome3-024
Dec 31, 1972New YorkAway3-028
Mar 7, 1973ClevelandHome1-031
Jan 26, 1974ClevelandHome4-019
Feb 23, 1974ChicagoAway3-028
Apr 14, 1974ChicagoAway2-031
Nov 8, 1974San DiegoHome3-030
Jan 27, 1975ClevelandHome2-035
Oct 12, 1977HoustonAway3-022
Jan 28, 1978HoustonAway3-028
Dec 29, 1978BirminghamHome5-023

• Winner, Ben Hatskin Trophy (Best Goaltender), 1977-78.

 

Excerpts from Zander Hollander's Guide to Pro Hockey, 1975-76 (by Reyn Davis)

Contract devoid of any bonus clauses except one — wins ... Fancy goals-against averages and shutouts do not enthuse him as much as winning ... WHA's second busiest goaltender in 1974-75, working 59 games, winning 33 and tying 4 ... Has won more games than any other WHA goaltender, needing only six more to become the league's first 100-game winner ... Has won at least 30 games all three seasons — 31, 30 and 33, in that order ... Patron of the arts ... Whalers' poet laureate ... Should have become a member of Team Canada, but wasn't.

 

Excerpts from Zander Hollander's Guide to Pro Hockey, 1978-79 (by Reyn Davis)

The WHA's top goaltender in the 1977-78 season, posting the best goals-against aveage (3.22) and winning the most games (30) ... He was also the busiest, playing 3,246 minutes ... A WHA pioneer and Whaler original who left for awhile ... Sold garbage cans in Toronto in the summer of 1977 when he decided to postpone a planned retirement ... A poet and would-be author of a book ... Blames himself whether his team loses 10-2 or 3-2

 

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