Prince Charles PS Howls for Mike

May 10, 2012

Photo: Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith's family attends the “Howl for Mike” event held at PCPS, l-r front, Liam, Amanda and Mike's brother Brad Smith, back row, l-r, Mike's grandmother Norma and his parents Ron and Ingrid Smith

During school hours students are not normally encouraged to howl at the top of their lungs, but that was the case at PCPS gym on May 3 where a frenzy of NHL mania gripped both students and staff and the entire community.

Organized by PCPS grade 2 teacher, Lisa Cousins-Badour and parent council president Nicki Gowdy, the “Howl for Mike” event was held to cheer on PCPS alumnus and Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith. Mike grew up in Verona, graduated from PCPS, and attended Sydenham High School. He played in the Ontario Hockey League with Kingston and Sudbury, and five years ago was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the NHL. He was traded to Tampa Bay in 2007, and played in about half of the team’s games for two years. In the 2010/11 season he was relegated to back up duty.

By his own admission, about a year ago he was not sure he would play another game in the NHL. But h was picked up by Phoenix, and he ended up playing in 67 games this year, the most of any season in his career, and his goals against average was tied for the best in the League among full time goalies.

In the playoffs he has been better yet, and has been given much of the credit for the surprising 4-2 series win by the Phoenix Coyotes over the higher ranked Chicago Black Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.

At the time of the rally at Prince Charles last Thursday, the Coyotes held a 2-1 series lead over Nashville in the second round, having just been shut out 2-0 in game three after winning the first two games

Photo: Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith's grade eight grad photo that hangs in the hall at PCPS in Verona.

During the rally Ms. Badour, a long-time family friend of the Smiths, spoke of how two years ago Mike returned to the school to address the grade eight graduates and inspire them with his words. “He told the kids that no matter what their dream, they should get an education, strive for their dream and remember that their friends and family and community will always be there to back them.”

Mike’s parents Ron and Ingrid, along with his grandmother Norma, his brother Brad and family, wife Amanda and son Liam, all attended the event at PCPS.

The family was thrilled by the outpouring of community support for Mike, and amid the hooting, hollering and sign waving, Ron Smith said, “I know Mike would really appreciate this too and I know that he is aware of all of the support for him here in the community and we want to thank the community for that.”

Brad Smith said that Mike has been playing his personal best. “He's set some personal goals for himself this year and the numbers show that in almost every single category he's playing his best ever.” An even greater thing the whole family agrees on would be to be able to make another trip down to Phoenix. Ron and Ingrid had just returned to Verona from Phoenix after watching Mike and the team beat Nashville at both games there. Ron has been in touch with his son nearly every single day since the playoffs began and said, “It was really exciting to be there to see that.”

Many at the school are hoping to see the Stanley Cup make the trip to Verona.

Brad said that is “something Mike would do everything in his power to see happen.” Until then, PCPS and the entire Verona community will continue to howl for Mike.

Since the rally last Thursday, things have only gotten better for Mike Smith and the Coyotes.

Smith registered a shut out on Saturday night, May 5, turning back 25 shots in the Coyotes' 1-0 victory. On Monday night, May 7, the Coyotes clinched the series with a 2-1 win. Mike Smith stooped 32 of 33 shots in the final game. In the playoffs he has stopped 379 out of 400 shots that he has faced.

The lead sentence in the Globe and Mail article about Monday’s game said it all : “Relying again on their grit and the superb goaltending of Mike Smith, the Coyotes beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 on Monday night to earn their first trip to the conference finals in 33 years as an NHL franchise.”

If the Coyotes do the unthinkable and win the next two rounds, Mike Smith will likely be a shoo-in for the Conn Smythe trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs.

It’s a bit early to talk about winning it all, however, as Smith himself cautioned when interviewed immediately after Monday night's game.

“We’re only halfway there,” he said. He has dubbed his team’s style of play as “Coyote Ugly”

Given everything that has happened since the end of last season, it’s fair to say Mike Smith is a bit more than halfway to being the comeback player of the year.