SmithR_Panel_FNL Design & layout by Quench Design & Communications Inc. | Port Hope | www.quenchme.ca Ron Smith National Hockey League The Honourable Ron Smith, twice elected as mayor of his home town, Port Hope, was once Ron Smith, the Cobourg Cougar - but just for the 1968-69 season. The next year, at just 16 years old, he was playing defence with the St. Catharines Black Hawks of the Ontario Hockey League and the Sorel Epeviers (Sparrowhawks) of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Next stop was Cornwall, a very good move for Smith. There he helped the Royals go from a last place finish the previous year to a first place finish in the league standings. After winning the playo�s, the Royals advanced to the prestigious Memorial Cup. There they outfought a strong Peterborough Petes team, winning in the final by a score of 2-1, and were crowned Canadian Junior Hockey Champions. During that season, Smith contributed 35 points in the regular season and another 7 during the playo� run. Smith was selected by the New York Islanders in the 4th round, 49th overall in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. He must have had high hopes, but they don't always work out! He did play 11 games for the expansion Islanders, totalling 1 goal and 1 assist and 14 minutes in penalties. But most of that season was spent with the New Haven Nighthawks, the Islanders' a�liate team in the American Hockey League. There he totalled 6 goals and 11 assists in 53 games. In 1973 Smith switched over to Forth Worth of the Central Hockey League. He played there for two seasons before moving to Sweden to play for the Bodens BK. In 1976 he returned to North America for one final season, this time with the Erie Blades where he played 8 games before retiring as a professional player. In 1993 Ron Smith returned to the NHL as head coach of the New York Rangers, and then finally returned home to serve as Port Hope's mayor for two terms, 1994-2000. Hockey Player - Politician Ron Smith and Town Hall 1995 Photo courtesy of the Port Hope Archives Photo courtesy of the Port Hope Archives