Kenton Smith

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size = 180px
position = Defence
shoots = Left
height_ft = 5
height_in = 11
weight_lb = 181
nickname =
league = EIHL
team = Manchester Phoenix
former_teams = Charlotte Checkers
nationality = CAN
birth_date = birth date and age|1979|09|10
birth_place = [Edmonton] , AB, CAN
career_start = 1995
career_end =

Kenton Smith (born September 10, 1979 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, currently playing for the Manchester Phoenix in the EIHL. He began his career in the year 1995, playing at junior level for the Calgary Hitmen, the well supported team founded by former WWE performer Bret Hart. Smith would ice for the Hitmen for five WHL seasons, establishing himself as a cornerstone of the team during that time. Smith iced in 386 games in total for the Hitmen, scoring 226 points and clocking up 527 penalty minutes, excellent numbers for a defenceman. Smith was part of the 1998-99 team which lifted the President's Cup.

Smith would start his senior career in 2000, splitting the season between the ill-fated Detroit Vipers of the IHL and the ECHL Johnstown Chiefs. In his 13 game spell with the Chiefs, Smith would help them into the post season, when he himself would feature on four occasions. His brief but promising showing with the Chiefs would ensure his return to the ECHL the following season, although for the Pensacola Ice Pilots.

Smith would impress for the Ice Pilots, and was rewarded with a call up to the AHL Springfield Falcons. He would feature in 9 AHL games before returning to play at ECHL standard. For the 2002-03 season, Smith would become a Charlotte Checkers player, and again showed his ability at ECHL level, scoring 22 points in 48 games. Despite this, Smith would move again during the off-season, this time signing for the Columbus Cottonmouths. He would feature in every one of the Cottonmouths regular season fixtures, helping out with 24 points along the way.

In 2004, Smith chose to return to the Charlotte Checkers, the beginning of a long and successful spell for both player and organisation. The Checkers would make the post-season in all four seasons which Smith spent at the club, and the player himself managed to score 125 points in 282 games. Smith did not miss a single regular season Checkers game from the start of the 2005-06 season until his departure at the end of the 2007-08 term.

In the summer of 2008, Smith was introduced to his first taste of European hockey, opting to sign for the EIHL Manchester Phoenix under head coach Tony Hand, and the contract was announced on June 10, 2008.

Career Stats

External links

*hockeydb|28631
* [http://www.manchesterphoenix.co.uk/players/149_kenton_smith Kenton Smith Personal Profile] , Manchester Phoenix Official Website.
* [http://www.manchesterphoenix.co.uk/news/s/1217_kenton_smith_checks_in_with_phoenix Kenton Smith Checks in With Phoenix] , Manchester Phoenix Official Website, 10/06/08
* [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/ice_hockey/s/1053736_kenton_gives_phoenix_steel "Kenton Gives Phoenix Steel"] , Manchester Evening News, 12/06/08