Alex Smart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alex Smart |
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| Born | May 25, 1918 Brandon, MB, CAN |
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| Died | April 18, 2005 (aged 86) | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 150 lb (68 kg; 10 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Left Wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Montreal Canadiens | ||
| Playing career | 1942–1953 | ||
Alexander Smart (born May 29, 1918 – died April 18, 2005) was a Canadian ice hockey player. He was a forward, which means he played in an attacking position. Alex Smart played one season for the famous Montreal Canadiens team in the National Hockey League (NHL). Most of his career was spent playing in the Quebec Senior Hockey League.
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Alex Smart's Hockey Journey
Alex Smart was born in Brandon, Manitoba, a city in Manitoba, Canada. He started playing junior hockey for two seasons with the Portage Terriers in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
In the 1937–38 season, he moved up to play in the "senior" leagues. He joined the Toronto Marlboros in the Ontario Hockey Association. He scored 23 points in just 12 games, which means he was scoring almost a goal per game! For the next three years, he played in the Montreal City Hockey League (MCHL) for teams like the Verdun Maple Leafs and the Montreal Sr. Canadiens.
In 1941–42, Alex Smart's team, the Sr. Canadiens, moved to the Quebec Senior Hockey League (QSHL). This league was connected to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Making History in the NHL
In 1943, Alex Smart was called up to play for the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL. On January 14, he made history! He became the very first player in the NHL to score a hat trick in his first-ever NHL game. A hat trick means scoring three goals in one game.
This amazing feat was later matched by only a few other players:
- Réal Cloutier of the Quebec Nordiques in 1979
- Fabian Brunnström of the Dallas Stars in 2008
- Derek Stepan of the New York Rangers in 2010
Alex Smart finished that NHL season with 5 goals and 2 assists in 8 games. This was his only time playing in the NHL.
Later Career and Retirement
After his NHL debut, Smart spent the rest of his playing career in the QSHL. He played for the Montreal Royals and the Ottawa Senators.
In the 1947–48 season, he had his best year, scoring 66 points in 47 games for the Senators. In 1949, he helped the Ottawa Senators win the Allan Cup. This trophy is given to Canada's top amateur senior hockey champions. Alex Smart retired from playing hockey after the 1950–51 season.
After Hockey
After he stopped playing hockey, Alex Smart became a scout for the Los Angeles Kings hockey team. A scout's job is to find new talented players. He also worked for Goodyear Tire for forty years.
- Alex Smart's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
- Alex Smart's biography at Legends of Hockey
