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Billy Smith

Born:December 12, 1950Draft:1970 Kings 59th Overall
Hometown:Perth, OntarioPosition:G
Known For:Hall of FameCatches:Left
National Team:Canada

William John Smith (born December 12, 1950) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He won four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders. In 2017 Smith was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.

Smith was the first NHL goaltender to be credited with scoring a goal. On November 28, 1979, in a game between the Islanders and the Colorado Rockies, the Rockies’ goaltender left the ice for an extra attacker after a delayed penalty call was called on the Islanders. The puck deflected off of Smith’s chest protector into the corner. Rockies rookie Rob Ramage picked up the puck and accidentally made a blind pass from the corner boards in the opposing zone to the blue line. Nobody was there to receive the pass, and so the puck sailed all the way down the length of the ice and into the Rockies’ net. As Smith had been the last Islanders player to touch the puck, he was credited with the goal.

Billy Smith
Billy Smith #31 of the New York Islanders defends the goal during a home game, Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York, March 1982. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)

Billy Smith Statistics

Deeper Dive

Achievements

  • AHL Calder Cup Championship — 1971
  • NHL All-Star Game — 1978
  • NHL All-Star Game MVP — 1978
  • NHL First Team All-Star — 1981-82
  • Vezina Trophy Winner — 1981-82
  • Conn Smythe Trophy Winner — 1982-83
  • William M. Jennings Trophy Winner — 1982-83
  • Stanley Cup Champion — 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
  • No. 31 Jersey Retired by Islanders — February 20, 1993
  • Inducted Into Hockey Hall of Fame — 1993
  • Inducted into Perth (Ontario) and District Hall of Fame — 2016

Sources