Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Smith to back up Luongo against Austria Friday

Ice Hockey - Winter Olympics Day 5 - Canada v United States

during the Women’s Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A game on day five of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Shayba Arena on February 12, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Bruce Bennett

We already knew Roberto Luongo was getting the start against Austria on Friday, but we didn’t know who would be backing him up until now.

Coach Mike Babcock told reporters following Canada’s 3-1 victory against Norway that Mike Smith would back up Luongo against Austria and give him a chance to suit up in his first Olympic game.

Finding a way to get all three goalies the opportunity to play (or at least suit up) is one of Babcock’s trickier jobs. Smith is clearly the No. 3 behind Carey Price and Luongo, but being a backup means always having to be ready just in case.

Against a team like Austria, Smith is most likely there in case Luongo gets hurt. If Smith has to come into the game based on Luongo’s performance, Babcock might have bigger problems to wrangle.

Follow @JoeYerdonPHT