Mike Smith (ice hockey, born 1982)
A fiery and athletic goaltender known for his puck-handling daring and one of the few NHL goalies to ever score a goal.
Born 1982 (age 44)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: March 22·Millennials
Biography
Mike Smith played hockey with a distinctive swagger, a 6'5" presence in the net who acted as a third defenseman. His career was a rollercoaster of spectacular saves and occasional gambles, defined by a unique willingness to play the puck far from his crease. After backing up in Dallas and Tampa, he found his starring role with the Phoenix Coyotes, backstopping them to a Western Conference Final in 2012 with a performance that seemed to will the team forward. Smith’s most famous moment came in 2014, when he launched a puck the length of the ice into an empty net, joining an exclusive club of goal-scoring goaltenders. His later years saw him evolve into a veteran leader for Calgary and Edmonton, his competitive fire undimmed, before retiring as one of the most entertaining and unorthodox players of his era.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Mike was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mike Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Mike's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored a goal by shooting into an empty net from his own crease for the Phoenix Coyotes in 2014.
- Backstopped the Phoenix Coyotes to the 2012 Western Conference Finals, posting a .944 save percentage in the second round.
- Won an Olympic gold medal with Team Canada as a member of the squad at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.
- Was selected to two NHL All-Star Games (2015, 2018).
Did You Know?
He is one of only 13 goaltenders in NHL history to be credited with a goal.
He played junior hockey for the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL and was a teammate of current NHL executive Steve Staios.
Smith was known for using specially designed goalie pads that had more flexible thigh rises to aid his athletic style.
“I play the puck because I see the whole game, not just my net.”
