Nashville signs Plymouth goalie Smith

The Nashville Predators announced today that the club has signed goaltender Jeremy Smith to an entry-level contract.

Smith, is among the Ontario Hockey League leaders in both save percentage (.921) and shutouts (3) in his second full season with the Plymouth Whalers. The 5-foot-11, 161-pound native of Dearborn was also selected to the 2008 OHL All-Star Classic.

“We’re excited for Jeremy,” said Plymouth general manager Mike Vellucci. “He’s worked very hard to develop into one of the best goaltenders in the Ontario Hockey League.”

In 2006-07, Smith helped lead Plymouth to the 2007 OHL championship and shared the OHL’s Dave Pinkney Trophy for the best team goals-against average.

Smith, Nashville’s third choice, 58th overall, in the 2007 Entry Draft, was Team USA’s starting goalie at the 2008 World Junior Championships, posting a 4-2-0 record and a 2.40 goals-against average.

Smith also won USA Hockey’s Dave Peterson Award as the Top Junior Goaltender in the United States and made the OHL’s All-Academic Team last season and finished the season as the No. 1-rated North American goaltender by Central Scouting Services.

Photo by Walt Dmoch/Plymouth Whalers