Art Smith (ice hockey defenseman)

Art Smith is an American retired ice hockey defenseman who was an All-American for Clarkson during its undefeated season in 1955–56.[1]

Not to be confused with Art Smith (ice hockey).
Art Smith
Born Walpole, Massachusetts, USA
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Defenseman
Shot Right
Played for Clarkson
Playing career 1952–1956

Career

Smith began attending Clarkson College of Technology in the fall of 1952 and, because the team did not yet support a freshman team, he joined the varsity squad straight away. Over the course of his college career, Smith never contributed much to the offense but he was a key player on the defensive side of the puck. In his first two seasons the team finished with decent records, but as a junior Smith saw the Golden Knights set a program record with 18 wins in 22 games. Unfortunately, St. Lawrence had won the Tri-State League that season so Clarkson did not receive a bid to the 1955 NCAA Tournament.

In his senior season Smith helped Clarkson produce what is recognized as the first undefeated season in NCAA history. Clarkson finished the year with a 23–0 record and was named as an AHCA Second Team All-American.[2] With their unblemished record the team was offered a bid to the NCAA Tournament but there was a rather sizable condition; because the NCAA limited athletes to just three years of varsity play, the eight 4-year players on the team (including Smith) would not be able to participate in the tournament. Head coach Bill Harrison left it up to the team to decide what they wanted to do and the players unanimously decided that if some of them couldn't play none of them would play.[1]

Smith graduated in 1956 and joined the US national team for the upcoming World Championships. That fall there was a revolution in Hungary that was violently suppressed by the Soviet Union and, because the tournament was to be held in Moscow, both the United States and Canada boycotted the tournament.[3]

He was inducted into the Clarkson Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.[4]

Statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1952–53 Clarkson Tri-State League 19123— —————
1953–54 Clarkson Tri-State League 17459— —————
1954–55 Clarkson Tri-State League 2131619— —————
1955–56 Clarkson Tri-State League 232810— —————
NCAA totals 80103141— —————

Awards and honors
Award Year
AHCA Second Team All-American 1955–56 [2]

References
  1. "Clarkson Hockey's Perfect Season - 1955-56". Clarkson Golden Knights. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  2. "1955-1956 All-American Team". The American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
  3. Duplacey, James (1998). Total Hockey: The official encyclopedia of the National Hockey League. Total Sports. pp. 498–528. ISBN 0-8362-7114-9.
  4. "Clarkson to Induct Five into 2010 Athletic Hall of Fame". Clarkson Golden Knights. April 13, 2010. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
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