Ben Smith (b. 1988)

Benjamin Alexander Smith (born July 11, 1988 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina but raised in Avon, Connecticut) is an American professional ice hockey right winger. He plays in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Playing career
Smith was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks 169th overall in the 6th round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He played four seasons at Boston College.

On October 29, 2010 the Blackhawks recalled Smith from the AHL's Rockford IceHogs to make his NHL debut in a home game against the Edmonton Oilers. He scored his first NHL goal on April 8, 2011 against Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings. On April 15, 2011, Smith scored 2 goals against the Vancouver Canucks in a 4-3 loss in only his second NHL playoff game.

On Sunday, April 24, 2011, during Game 6 of the Western Conference quarterfinals, Smith scored the overtime goal on a rebound against the Vancouver Canucks' goaltender, Roberto Luongo, to force a Game 7 in Vancouver after the Canucks had previously been leading the series 3-0. The Blackhawks ended up losing Game 7 in overtime.