Coyotes’ Mike Smith completely healthy after knee injury
Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith stated this week that he is completely healthy after recovering from a knee injury which sidelined him for the final ten games of the season. The loss of Smith at the end of the season had a major impact on the Coyotes chances on making it to the playoffs.
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"“Everything is good, everything is healed up 100 percent,” Smith told the Coyotes website. “This past couple of weeks I’ve really felt I’ve kind of gotten over the hump and felt better about myself. I got back into the gym this week and I’m feeling good and strong, and I’m looking forward to a new season.”"
Smith suffered a medial collateral ligament in his right knee last March during a game against the New York Rangers. Prior to the injury, Smith led all National Hockey League goalies in games at 61, starts at 60, shots against at 1,844 and saves with 1,687.
On a recent trip to his hometown of Verona, Ontario, Smith had the chance to return to where he attended elementary school and visit with students. There he showed off his gold medal he won with Team Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
"“My hometown of 1,000 people are a pretty proud town,” Smith said. “I’ve been pretty fortunate to have the support I have back home with family and friends and people I don’t even know flying flags and cheering for me, so I wanted to give back to them and show the support that they’ve given me right back to them. I think everyone in the school got to touch the medal and we got some pictures with each classroom, so it was a great day for me to show my thanks to them for the support they’ve given me.”"