Casey DeSmith

Casey DeSmith
DeSmith with the Penguins in 2017
Born (1991-08-13) August 13, 1991
Rochester, New Hampshire, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2015–present

Casey DeSmith (born August 13, 1991) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] He holds the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins record for most saves in a playoff game. DeSmith was named to the AHL's 2016–17 All-Rookie Team and was a co-recipient of the 2017 Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award.[2]

Personal life

DeSmith was born on August 13, 1991, in Rochester, New Hampshire, to Gary and Patrice DeSmith.

Playing career

Junior

DeSmith played junior hockey in the NEPSAC league for Berwick Academy from 2006 to 2008. After one season with Deerfield Academy, he joined the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League, where he earned a 0.911 save percentage, a 2.80 GAA, and three shutouts in 64 regular season games.[3]

College

DeSmith studied business at the University of New Hampshire, where he played hockey for the Wildcats from 2011 to 2014. In his first season, he compiled a 9–10–1 overall record. He earned his first college career shut-out on January 11, 2011. At the end of his first season, he had a 2.33 GAA while earning a 0.926 save percentage. He recorded 30 or more saves on ten separate occasions throughout the regular season. He had a career high 50 saves in the Hockey East quarterfinals against Boston University on March 11, 2012. He was named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week for the week of February 6, 2012, was named Hockey East Rookie of the Week for the week of January 11, 2012. He was also twice honored as the Service Credit Union Student-Athlete of the Week for the week of February 13, 2012 and for the week of March 5, 2012. He was later named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team for the 2011–12 season.[4][5]

Professional

On June 30, 2015, DeSmith signed a contract with an ECHL team, the Wheeling Nailers, after the NCAA denied a transfer waiver to play a senior season of college hockey. He began his professional career later that year. He would appear in just thirteen total games with the Nailers' 2015-16 Eastern Conference Championship team, posting a 5–2–2 record, a 2.55 goals against average, and a 0.915 save percentage.[5]

On January 3, 2016, DeSmith was loaned to the Nailers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He played his first game for the WBS Penguins on December 26, 2015, against the Hershey Bears, stopping all seven shots he faced during his 20 minutes of play. He earned his first win in his first career AHL start on January 3, 2016, against the Hartford Wolf Pack, stopping 22 of 24 shots. He got his first shutout on April 1, 2017, making twenty-six saves against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.[6][5]

DeSmith started the three final games of the 2015–16 AHL season. He won all three games with a 0.950 save percentage. He won his first professional playoff game during the Calder Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016, against the Providence Bruins. Three days later, he set a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton record for most saves in a playoff game facing 59 shots. The double overtime win clinched the Penguins' fourth division crown as the #1 ranked team in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference. The Penguins would ultimately fall to the Hershey Bears.[6][5]

On July 4, 2016, DeSmith signed a contract directly with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He would play in 29 games for the Penguins during the 2016–17 season. He finished the regular season at the top of the AHL with a 2.01 goals against average and a 0.926 save percentage. He started all five playoff games for the Penguins after partner Tristan Jarry was called up to Pittsburgh during the 2016-17 Stanley Cup playoffs. He and Jarry would end the season as the best goaltending tandem in the AHL. The duo was awarded the 2017 Harry "Hap" Holmes Award. DeSmith was voted by coaches, players and media in each of the league's thirty teams to the AHL's 2016-17 All-Rookie Team along with teammate Jake Guentzel. After the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton season ended, DeSmith returned to Pittsburgh and served as a "Black Ace" during the Pittsburgh Penguins' 2017 Stanley Cup run.[2][7][5]

DeSmith warms up with Sidney Crosby prior to a game in 2017.

On July 1, 2017, DeSmith signed his first NHL contract (one-year, two-way) with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He started the 2017–18 AHL season with a 3–0 record with a 0.98 goals against average, a 0.965 save percentage, and one shutout. He ranked second in the AHL in goal-against average and third in save percentage. On October 23, 2017, executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford announced that the Penguins had recalled DeSmith from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He played his in first NHL game on October 29, 2017 against the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place after head coach Mike Sullivan pulled starting goaltender Matt Murray in the first period. In doing so, he became the 62nd former Nailer/Thunderbird to reach the NHL and the first member of the 2015-16 Eastern Conference Championship team to reach the NHL.[8] 10 seconds into DeSmith's NHL debut, he faced his first career shot, a goal by forward Blake Wheeler. In the end, DeSmith made twelve out of fifteen saves in a little over forty minutes of play. He made his first NHL save against forward Patrik Laine.[9][10] On October 30, 2017, he was reassigned back to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.[11]

DeSmith was recalled on November 28, 2017, to play backup to Tristan Jarry after starting goalie Matt Murray was injured.[12] In a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on December 9, he filled in for Jarry in the second period marking his second NHL appearance.[13] Despite his efforts, the Penguins ended up losing 3–4. He was reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a game later as Murray was activated from injured reserved.[14]

DeSmith was again recalled to the Penguins on January 12, 2018. On January 18, 2018, DeSmith made his first NHL start and earned his first NHL win, stopping 28 of 29 shots in a 3–1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.[15] Despite his success, he was reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on February 4, 2018.[16] On February 26, Pittsburgh recalled DeSmith, once again switching with Jarry for the backup goaltender position.[17] He recorded his first career shutout on April 6, 2018, to help the Penguins clinch home ice advantage for Game 1 of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.[18]

Allegations

In 2014, DeSmith was faced with allegations regarding domestic abuse while attending the University of New Hampshire.[19][20] He was suspended from the New Hampshire Wildcats as a result.[19][21]

DeSmith pleaded not guilty to every charge against him on December 4, 2014, with the exception of a disorderly conduct violation.[22] He was sentenced to pay a $124 fine.[22] He also signed a diversion agreement that included community service, which lead to all charges being formally dismissed after twelve months.[22]

Records

  • Most saves in a playoff game (59), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2009–10 Indiana Ice USHL 271111114347603.18.8978434121702.48.922
2010–11 Indiana Ice USHL 372213221749232.54.9204222291012.63.929
2011–12 U. of New Hampshire HE 22910112855012.33.926————————
2012–13 U. of New Hampshire HE 381910722048252.23.924————————
2013–14 U. of New Hampshire HE 372016021488632.40.920————————
2015–16 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 135226112602.55.915————————
2015–16 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 62203091001.94.9259545412212.44.919
2016–17 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 29215117315812.01.9265233031402.78.916
2017–18 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 27168315627122.73.910————————
2017–18 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 146417012812.40.921————————
NHL totals 146417012812.40.921————————

Awards and honors

Award Year
College
HE Rookie of the Week (January 11) 2012
HE Defensive Player of the Week (February 6) 2012
Service Credit Union Student-Athlete of the Week for February 13 and March 5 2012
HE All-Rookie Team 2012
AHL
All-Rookie Team 2017
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award (with Tristan Jarry) 2017 [6]

References

  1. ↑ "Casey Desmith Stats and News". NHL.com.
  2. 1 2 "PENGUINS CASEY DESMITH AND JAKE GUENTZEL NAMED TO AHL'S ALL-ROOKIE TEAM". Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  3. ↑ "Casey DeSmith". Elite Prospects.com. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  4. ↑ "Casey DeSmith - 2011-12". Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Casey DeSmith". theahl.com. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  6. 1 2 3 "PITTSBURGH RECALLS CASEY DESMITH | Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins". Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. 2017-10-23. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  7. ↑ "Goaltender DeSmith returns to WBS Pens - Times Leader". www.timesleader.com. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  8. ↑ "Casey DeSmith Becomes 62nd Former Nailer to Reach NHL". wheelingnailers.com. October 29, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Pittsburgh Penguins - Winnipeg Jets - October 29th, 2017". NHL.com. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  10. ↑ "Casey DeSmith was thrilled to make his NHL debut, even if it wasn't the best scenario". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  11. ↑ "Penguins Recall Tristan Jarry, Reassign Casey Desmith". Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  12. ↑ Harrison, Doug (28 November 2017). "Pens goalie Matt Murray out 'week to week' with lower-body injury". CBC.ca. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  13. ↑ Kasan, Sam (9 December 2017). "Snap Shots: Leafs 4, Pens 3". NHL.com. Pittsburgh Penguins. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  14. ↑ "Penguins Activate Matt Murray from IR; Re-Assign Casey DeSmith to WB/S". NHL.com. Pittsburgh Penguins. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  15. ↑ Werner, Sam (January 18, 2018). "Casey DeSmith wins first NHL start as Penguins beat Kings, 3-1". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Penguins Recall Tristan Jarry". NHL.com. Pittsburgh Penguins. February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Penguins Recall Goaltender Casey DeSmith". NHL.com. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  18. ↑ "Penguins top Senators to earn home-ice in 1st round". sportsnet.ca. April 6, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  19. 1 2 Cox, Zach (September 3, 2014). "UNH Goalie Casey DeSmith Arrested, Suspended After Alleged Domestic Dispute". NESN.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  20. ↑ Palmer, Morgan (September 3, 2014). "UNH goalie charged with assault, resisting arrest". fosters.com. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  21. ↑ "DeSmith no longer on New Hampshire roster". uscho.com. November 19, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  22. 1 2 3 Palmer, Morgan (December 6, 2014). "Ex-UNH goalie agrees to diversion,receive counseling, avoids jail". Fosters.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
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