IMAGE INFORMATION
EditAlexander "Boots" Smith - Born April 2, 1902 in Liverpool, England – Died November 29, 1963 in Ottawa, Ontario was a English/Canadian ice Hockey defenceman and coach.
Smith played senior Hockey in the Ottawa City Hockey League for the Ottawa Gunners (1922–23), Ottawa Collegiate (1923-24) and the Ottawa Rideaus (1924–25).
The NHL Ottawa Senators signed Smith as a free agent on February 10, 1925 and he made his NHL debut the next day, February 11th vs Montreal Canadiens at The Forum in a 10-3 Montreal win.
Smith scored his 1st NHL goal vs George Hainsworth of the Montreal Canadiens on December 4, 1926 at 19:20 of the 3rd period at Ottawa Auditorium in a 4-1 Ottawa win.
Smith had a solid 1926-27 season, scoring 4 goals, along with his solid defensive play, helped the Senators win the 1927 Prince of Wales Trophy, 1927 O'Brien Trophy.....both awarded as NHL playoff champions that season, and they won the 1927 Stanley Cup championship.
Smith had a career year for scoring as a pro in 1927-28, with 9 goals (4 assists).
When the Senators suspended operations for a season in 1930-31, Smith was picked up by the Detroit Falcons for 1931-32 season in Dispersal Draft, September 26, 1931.
Smith was back in Ottawa one season later. He was traded to the Boston Bruins for future considerations (Earl Roche) in 1933 and then traded to the New York Americans on October 18, 1934 for his last season in the NHL, 1934-35.
Alex Smith played in a total of 443 NHL games, scoring 41 goals and 51 assists and 645 penalty minutes He played in 19 NHL playoff games, picking up 2 assists..
Smith played 2 more seasons, one with the IHL Rochester Cardinals in 1935-36, and finished his playing career in the International-American Hockey League with the Springfield Indians in 1936-37.
After retirement, Smith turned to coaching. He coached the New York Rovers from 1939 to 1941, the Ottawa Commandos in 1942-43 and guided the Commandos to the 1943 Allan Cup championship, and finished his coaching back with the Ottawa Senators in 1945-46.
Alexander (Boots) Smith was inducted into the Lisgar Collegiate Institute Athletic Wall of Fame in 2009.