After wrapping up his University of New Hampshire career in 2015, Casey DeSmith has slowly climbed up the professional ladder in the Pittsburgh Penguins' organization.
That peaked in 2017-18 with 14 appearances for the Penguins, and now the Rochester, N.H., native will look to carry his impressive form forward. He's one for New Englanders to keep an eye on, too, as DeSmith originally made a name for himself in the prep ranks at Berwick Academy and Deerfield Academy. Then he became a three-year starter in Hockey East, biding his time in the lower divisions before jumping into the NHL.
With NEHJ's Leo Scaglione, DeSmith talks everything from early goaltender memories to his first NHL appearance.
NEHJ: Why did you choose to be a goaltender?
DeSmith: “My memory is a little foggy, but this is what I’m told: I was 8 years old and in my second year of Mites, with the Rochester (N.H.) Blackhawks, a hometown youth team, and my dad (Gary) was the coach. I loved scoring goals — I was the leading scorer on the team — but then I went in net because we were short a goalie, and I loved playing the whole game. I didn’t like getting off the ice. It’s kind of selfish of me; I wanted more playing time. And I liked the gear. That’s why I switched.”
NEHJ: What’s your most memorable goalie experience as a youngster?
DeSmith: “When I was at Pee-Wee, I was on the Seacoast Spartans with (now-Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman) Brian Dumoulin (Biddeford, Maine), and we were down 3-2 to Mid-Fairfield in the final game of regionals to go to nationals. We pulled the goalie — myself — and Brian passed it up to Matt Tucceri (Kennebunk, Maine), who skated down with three seconds left and went bar-down to tie it, and we went on to win in overtime. All the Mid-Fairfield parents were already booking hotels and stuff, and then we ended up going to nationals. That was definitely the most memorable one.”
What is your most memorable moment from your three seasons (2011-14) playing at the University of New Hampshire?
DeSmith: “Frozen Fenway in 2012; it was my second start, in front of 38,000 people at Fenway Park against our rival, the University of Maine. My first start is up there, but Frozen Fenway was the coolest.”
You set the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ (American Hockey League) record for most saves in a playoff game, with 59 (on 63 shots) in a double-overtime win at the Providence Bruins in Game 3 of the first round in 2016. What was going through your mind as all that rubber is being shot at you?
DeSmith: “That was just fun. That’s all it was. It was a lot of shots. At that point, we were up 2-0 in the series, at their barn, so to get it to overtime and then double overtime, it felt like we were playing with house money. The pressure was off everybody, including myself, so I was out there just having fun. My family was there watching, and I knew that. Getting peppered with all of those shots is a goalie’s dream come true. That was the longest game of my career, and thankfully we won.”
Your first two National Hockey League appearances came in relief this past season, at the Winnipeg Jets and vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs. How did you feel that first time when your coach tapped you on the shoulder and told you to go in net?
DeSmith: “I wish he tapped me on the shoulder! I was actually in the tunnel. We sit in the tunnel in Winnipeg, and he waved his hands. After that, I looked in the tunnel for my gear, but apparently it was on the bench. As I’m wandering around looking for it, one of the equipment guys runs by me on the way to the locker room and yells to me that it’s on the bench. I didn’t get out there for at least 30 to 45 seconds until after they called me.
“When I finally got out there, I was still all frazzled about that, and then the Jets came down and scored 11 seconds later. Blake Wheeler was on a breakaway and the puck went post and in. I’m thinking, ‘Well, it can’t get any worse from here!’ That was the most nervous I’ve been in my hockey career. But when that first goal went in the nerves dissipated a little bit just because we got that out of the way. It was very memorable for many reasons!”
You weren’t in a tunnel when you found out you were making your first NHL start, which was on Jan. 18 at the Los Angeles Kings; you knew all day. What was that day like for you?
DeSmith: “That was much more relaxing. I liked knowing that I was going to play, get the start, and that it was my game. Entering the game in relief is tough for anybody. It’s not the same as starting. You don’t get the warm-up shots that you usually get. You get in there and you’re cold. A lot of times you skate hard that morning. There’s a lot that goes into a relief appearance. Getting that start, I was much more comfortable, for sure. I made a big save early, and that gave me a ton of confidence for the rest of the game.”
What did it mean to win it?
DeSmith: “Everything. Winning my first start felt really good. It raised that level of feeling that I belong in this league.”
Key Facts
- Teams: Pittsburgh Penguins; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL); Wheeling (ECHL); UNH; Indiana (USHL); Berwick Academy; Deerfield Academy
- Hometown: Rochester, N.H. | Position: Goaltender | Catches: Left | Size: 6-0. 181 | Age: 26
- Notable: Posted 48-36-8 record with 2.32 GAA, .923 save percentage, 9 shutouts in 97 games in 3 seasons (2011-14) at University of New Hampshire. Played with Wheeling (ECHL) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) before being promoted to NHL during 2017-18 season and making debut, in relief, with Pittsburgh on Oct. 29 at Winnipeg. Won first NHL game in first NHL start (3rd appearance) on Jan. 18 at Los Angeles. Finished first NHL campaign with 6-4-1 record, 2.40 GAA, .921 save percentage, 1 shutout in 14 contests. Prior to college, played at Berwick Academy and Deerfield before playing two seasons with Indiana (USHL).
Favorites
- Food: “Buffalo chicken tenders”
- TV show: “ ‘The Office,’ not even close.”
- Movie: “Miracle”
- Actor: Heath Ledger
- Musician: Florida Georgia Line
- Book: “Lone Survivor” by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson
- Vacation spot: “Turks and Caicos, with my family.”
- Road college rink: University of Maine (Harold Alfond Sports Arena)
- Non-hockey athlete: Roger Federer
- Sport other than hockey: Disc golf
Equipment
- Glove: CCM
- Blocker: CCM
- Pads: CCM
- Stick: Warrior
- Skates: Bauer
