KINGSTON - Just around this time four years ago, Mike Smith was in the minors, stopping pucks for the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League, a tad unsure on his future, wondering in moments of quiet reflection if – not when – he would ever again compete in the National Hockey League.
His club, the Tampa Bay Lightning, had added a veteran goaler during Smith’s month-long rehab from a knee injury and the latter knew he was now in a numbers game in the Big Guava.
Ratcheting the anxiety level, at times, was the fact his wife Brigitte was at home in Tampa, pregnant with their first child.
All for naught, it turns out, save for little Aksel Smith, who was bent on showing up no matter where Pops put on his pads.
Fast forward to today. Verona Mike is not only an established big-league player, he’s an Olympian-in-waiting. In fact the sole similarity to that 2010 situation in Virginia is this: Brigitte is pregnant again, child No. 3 due in July.
On Tuesday, Team Canada’s roster for the upcoming Winter Olympics hockey tournament in Sochi was released. Smith’s name was on it, meaning he joins fellow NHL cage-guarders Roberto Luongo and Carey Price, both of whom are expected to receive the lion’s share of playing minutes in Russia.
Answering the phone at home Tuesday, Smith said he was just “rolling out of the sack” when he was told the news over the phone by Doug Armstrong, St. Louis Blues general manager and member of the Team Canada management team.
“I feel very blessed and honoured for the opportunity to represent our country,” said the angular goaler who turns 32 in March. “That kind of chance comes along maybe once in a lifetime, so it’s pretty exciting.”
Smith, home from a morning skate before returning to Jobing.com Arena for Tuesday' night's game against the visiting Calgary Flames, is nearing the halfway mark of an ordinary season that includes a 15-10-8 won-loss record, 2.89 goals-against average and a .911 save-percentage. Curiously, he’s been featured on Plays of the Week (for scoring a goal in October) and Misplays of the Week (for scoring another in December, albeit this time on his own net in overtime. He backed across the goal line unaware that a deflected puck had landed in the lip of his pants).
Among goalkeeping peers on the outside looking in following Tuesday’s announcement were Washington Capitals Braden Holtby and Stanley Cup champion Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“It’s humbling when I think of the goalies who did not get picked, let alone the other two I’m in there with,” added Smith, who played in last year’s world championships in Sweden.
He admitted it was difficult not to contemplate the so-called Olympic experience while waiting to hear his fate with the national team. He’s been briefed, firsthand, for years, tales and tidbits from Brigitte, a two-time Olympic ski team member.
That the news arrived while Brigitte’s parents and grandparents were visiting the Smiths in Arizona made it extra special. Her mother, Diane Acton, competed with the Canadian downhill ski team at the 1972 Games in Sapporo.
“I’ve got some catching up to do,” quipped the son-in-law.
Meanwhile, at some of Smith’s old haunts in the north country, word spread quickly.
“He continues to make everyone out here proud,” said friend Terry Gibson, Smith’s summertime neighbour on Howes Lake. “Very few people know how hard Mike’s worked to get to this point. He deserves it.”
At the Frontenac Community Arena in Godfrey, Jim Stinson the only manager in the rink’s 38-year history, was almost as excited as the goaltender.
“Looks like Verona has its first Olympian,” Stinson proudly pointed out from the confines of the shinny barn where the goalie learned the game. Photos of Smith adorn the walls including one of the neophyte netminder strapping on goal pads.
“He’s never changed,” said Stinson, who recounted a story from last year’s lockout season, a slow day at the rink when Smith showed up with a couple of puck-shooters in tow.
“They worked him pretty good,” Stinson, 68, recalled. “Afterwards Mike asked me for a pail of slush, so he could fix the crease. I told him to forget about it, but that’s the kind of kid he is.
“We have sweaters from his different teams, but it’d be awfully nice to add a Team Canada sweater.”
Tuesday's announcement also kick-started pending travel plans for Verona Mike’s parents, Ron and Ingrid, his brother Brad as well as Brigitte’s parents, Gord and Diane – all of whom are now earmarked for Sochi.
“We had to have our applications for visas to Russia in by August,” explained Ingrid. “We weren’t sure if we’d be going, but we also were not about to take any chances.”
Good call.
Patrick.kennedy@sunmedia.ca