Bridgeport Islanders Goalie Gets Shutout In First Game Back After 7 Year Hiatus From AHL

Jeremy Smith made it to the NHL briefly for what was a 10 game stint with the Colorado Avalanche during the 2016/17 season. In those 10 games and some 546 minutes of ice time, Smith posted a triple 8 save percentage. Since then he has chased that high of being back at the NHL level.

Smith was the Bridgeport Islanders (then Sound Tigers) starting goal tender in 2018, racking up a very respectable 2.92 GAA and a .902 save percentage. Since 2018/19 the Michigan native has been in the KHL, playing for the Red Stars.

Sunday, February 1st, marked the return of Jeremy Smith to the AHL scene in Bridgeport. Now 36, Smith arrived at what was a very different scene for Bridgeport hockey – a team that has their 2026/27 plans surrounded by relocation rumors to Hamiliton, Ontario.

Smith got the call to start in what was his first AHL game in 2,749 days, seven year gap. Smith last appeared in the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs on April 20th, 2019, stopping 32-out-of-34 shots. 

If he was nervous, well it never showed. Smith kept a poker face under his goalie mask. Smith was tasked with keeping the Springfield Thunderbirds at bay to end what was a three-game weekend for Bridgeport.

Blocked shot after blocked shot. Meanwhile the Islanders offense was on a scoring frenzy.

By the 60th minute and the sound of the buzzer it was over. The Bridgeport Islanders won 4-0 in what was a 21-save shutout by Jeremy Smith, which even featured an assist. This was Smith’s first shutout in North America since March 17th of 2019.

The veteran netminder still showed that he had it.

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