Olympic gold medalist Mike Smith surprises students at Prince Charles PS

Jun 05, 2014

Students at Prince Charles Public School in Verona had no idea that Canadian Olympic gold medalist and NHLer Mike Smith would be joining them when they gathered in the school’s gym for a meeting about their upcoming Relay for Life event.

The surprise visit on May 30 was organized

by grade one/two teacher, Lisa Cousins-Badour, who knows the Smith family well and used to baby-sit Mike when he was a youngster. The students were delighted when Mike appeared at the side door of the gym with his Olympic gold medal in hand.

Smith, who plays in the NHL with the Phoenix Coyotes, was goalie number three for the Canadian Olympic team at the 2014 games in Sochi, where the team won Olympic gold. Students had a chance to see both Mike and his medal up close as he made his way through the crowd of overjoyed students, who requested autographs and photos with the former PCPS student.

Smith got his start in hockey playing floor hockey as a young student at PCPS. He fielded numerous questions from the students, who asked him how he felt at the Sochi games; how the experience changed him; when he began playing hockey; about his musical tastes and more. Smith answered the questions with honesty and charm and had special advice for the youngsters: “My advice to you kids is this - no matter what you like to do, be it art, sports, music, whatever, always remember that if you put your mind to it, work hard, set your goals and stick to them, anything is possible.”

Smith had skyped with PCPS students prior to Sochi and he said that he never tires of visiting with students at his former school. Since his return home after the regular NHL season, he has been busy meeting with fans who want to visit with him and see his Olympic medal. “Every time I come back here the kids are more excited than the last time and to be here now with a gold medal around my neck is a real dream come true.”

Mike is not the only Olympian in his family. His wife Brigitte skied at both the Turin and Vancouver Olympics and her mother skied at the Sapporo games in Japan. However, he said humorously that he is the only member of the family with the “official gold medal bragging rights”.

Smith got his start in the NHL with the Dallas Stars and has played most recently as goalie with the Phoenix Coyotes. He said that this past NHL season with the Coyotes was a bit of a disappointment. “We missed the playoffs and a chance to compete for the cup, which of course is the goal. But we had some injuries; we just couldn't find our consistency and lacked a couple of points at the end of the season, but next year is a new year.”

Before last season ended Smith extended his contract with the Coyotes to stay on for another six years, which he said will be beneficial to his young family. He and his wife Brigitte have two young sons and a third baby is on the way. Smith said that being a part of the Olympic team was a dream come true and over the next four years he hopes to improve his game so that he may reach his ultimate goal of playing at the next Olympic games.

However, he did say that even if he does not get another opportunity to play at the Olympics, his experience at Sochi will be an experience that he will never forget.