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One of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization's top goalies heads to France on a new deal
Photo credit: The Hockey News
A top goalie in the Penguins organization, currently playing for the Wheeling Nailers, Jake Smith, has left the team and signed a new contract overseas in France.
Italian-Canadian goalie Jacob Smith has said goodbye to the Penguins organization to join the Ducs d'Angers in France, with a scorching performance in the ECHL.
The honors that Jake Smith received in November
Now 30, goalie Jacob Smith was named Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Month for November after posting a record of 7-0-1 with a 1.72 GAA and a save percentage of .943 with the Wheeling Nailers in ECHL action.
His seven victories were a league-leading total and marked the fourth time a goalie in Wheeling history won each of his first seven decisions.
Smith allowed two or fewer goals in seven of his eight starts, including a season-best 36 saves leading a 3-1 win over Reading on November 22.
He recorded consecutive victories over Greensboro and Maine, and individual wins in series with Reading, Toledo, and Cincinnati.
This is his second ECHL award this year, following Goaltender of the Week honors for November 10-16, and he is the seventh Wheeling goaltender all-time to win Goaltender of the Month, the first since Sean Maguire in January 2017.
Why Jake Smith decided to sign in France
His latest transfer is in light of a concussion suffered by Angers' starting goalie Matt O'Connor, whose return is yet to be determined. Smith will make his first appearance in a French Cup quarter-final match against Rouen on Wednesday.
Although moving out of the Penguins organization, his excellent November performance has cemented Smith's status in the ECHL among the elite goaltenders, and expectations are high for his first appearance in France.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 15 | 122 ANSWERS One of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization's top goalies heads to France on a new deal Will you miss having Jake Smith in the Penguins' system? | ||
| Yes | 29 | 23.8 % |
| No | 93 | 76.2 % |
| List of polls | ||