Al Smith Allan Robert Smith ( November 10 , 1945 in Toronto , Ontario - August 7 , 2002 ) was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender . He died in 2002 as a result of pancreatic cancer . Minor - pro career . Smith began junior hockey in 1961 with the Toronto Marboros . In 1962 he began playing for the Lakeshore Bruins of the OHA before rejoining the Marlboros in the 1964 – 65 season . Late in the 1965 – 66 season , Smith played two games with the Toronto Maple Leafs , winning one of them and posting a 1 . 94 goals against average . In 1966 he was sent to the Maple Leaf farm team in Victoria ( also called the Maple Leafs ) on the west coast of Canada where he started 56 games . He was moved to the Vancouver Canucks for the 1967 Western Hockey League playoffs , where he played in 6 games , posting a 2 . 61 GAA and got one shutout . That year he also appeared in one game for the San Francisco Seals in the WHL playoffs . From 1967 to 1969 he played 85 games with the Tulsa Oilers , Rochester Americans , and Baltimore Clippers minor league teams before joinging the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins , claimed from the Toronto organization in the Intra - League Draft , June 11 , 1969 . Toronto Maple Leafs career . Smith started his National Hockey League career with the Toronto Maple Leafs . Smith was one of five goalies who played for the Maple Leafs during the 1966 – 67 regular season , their last Stanley Cup season . He was the back - up to Terry Sawchuk for two of the last three games in the 1967 Stanley Cup final . The official NHL Record Book and Guide does not list Smith on the Stanley Cup winning roster . Eighteen months earlier , Smith had quit the Toronto Marlboros to work for a hospital supply firm . During the 1964 – 65 season , Smith would get the opportunity to make his NHL debut for the Maple Leafs . The first game was against the Chicago Blackhawks , when he relieved Gary Smith atfter 2 : 15 of play . He backstopped the Leafs to a 3 – 2 victory and stalled Bobby Hull at 47 goals . In the 1965 – 66 season , he played one more game for the Maple Leafs . On December 31 , 1965 , he was part of a 5 – 1 losing effort against the Blackhawks . After playing only one regular season game , Smith was called up and dressed for games four and five of Stanley Cup Finals , due to Johnny Bower ' s injury . Al Smith qualfied to be engraved on the Stanley Cup , but Toronto left his name off , because he did not play in the playoffs . His other brief moment of glory for the Maple Leafs was participating in the 1968 NHL All - Star Game . He played in relief for Bruce Gamble and stopped 13 of 14 shots . He would be claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the intraleague draft , the same draft that saw the Chicago Blackhawks claim Tony Esposito from the Montreal Canadiens . NHL and WHA career . He would also play with the Pittsburgh Penguins , Detroit Red Wings , Buffalo Sabres , Hartford Whalers and Colorado Rockies . One of the most infamous moments of his career came on February 13 , 1977 when he quit the Buffalo Sabres . Reunited with former Maple Leafs coach Punch Imlach , now the Buffalo General Manager , Smith was to replace injured Sabres goalie Gerry Desjardins in a game against the Minnesota North Stars . The Sabres had also called up Don Edwards and less than an hour before gametime , Imlach ordered Sabres coach Floyd Smith to play Edwards instead . After the playing of the National Anthem , Smith stepped off the bench , saluted Buffalo owners Seymour and Northrup Knox and headed for the dressing room . Smith would also play in the World Hockey Association with the New England Whalers where he would earn the honour of WHA ' s top goaltender in 1978 . A third team WHA All - Star for two consecutive years , many people in hockey felt Smith was robbed when snubbed by Team Canada for the 1974 Summit Series between WHA All - Stars and the Russian national team . His career would last from 1966 to 1981 . Transaction history . Smith was claimed ( from Toronto ) by Pittsburgh Penguins in National Hockey League intraleague draft , June 11 , 1969 , then from Pittsburgh by the Detroit Red Wings in the intraleague draft , June 8 , 1971 . He was subsequently selected by New England Whalers in 1972 World Hockey Association General Player Draft , February 12 , 1972 . Smith would be traded by the Red Wings to Buffalo Sabres for future considerations , March 10 , 1975 then signed as free agent by New England Whalers , August 15 , 1977 . His National Hockey League rights were retained by Whalers prior to expansion draft , June 9 , 1979 . Finally he was traded by Whalers to Colorado Rockies for cash , September 4 , 1980 .