In 2017, Charlie Smart joined the Newcastle Northstars off the back of a season with the Sydney Ice Dogs. Suiting up as goaltender to support Dayne Davis, Charlie has been a fan favourite in Newcastle ever since.
Like many Australian kids, Smart found out about hockey after watching The Mighty Ducks movies. Having three older brothers, whenever the boys played hockey he found himself being “stuck in the net” by default of being the youngest.
Prior to ice hockey, Charlie and his three brothers played roller hockey and switched to the ice when he was 14 years old. In 2012, Smart had the opportunity to move to Canada and complete two years of high school at the Ontario Hockey Academy, going on to play in junior leagues throughout the United States of America.
He tells how the journey in Canada and the USA was tough – it was prior to the popular social media platforms, and he had to collate his own videos and email teams to express his interest. Smart says trying to get your foot in the door in the North American leagues is “cutthroat,” especially being an Australian, having to prove himself, but also that Aussies can play ice hockey! Being away from family and friends at a young age, Smart says, “you grow up fast and are doing things that most 17-year-olds aren’t doing at that age.”
When in the USA, Smart played in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) for the New Hampshire Fighting Spirit, the St Louis Jnr Blues in Missouri and the Bozeman Ice Dogs in Montana. During the holidays, Smart would travel back to Australia and play in the Western Australia Super League (WASL) and the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) for Adelaide Adrenaline and Sydney Ice Dogs (Fun fact: Smart played with fellow Northstar Wehebe Darge in Adelaide.)
Coming to Newcastle, Smart was spending winter here for hockey and summer in Perth; however, he moved here permanently in 2022, transferring to the University of Newcastle, where he is studying Sports Science. In addition to his studies, he also coaches kids in camps and tournaments across Australia with NSA, with his previous teammate, John F Kennedy.
Smart has also suited up in the green and gold seven times, playing for Australia in the U18, U20 and Senior Men’s teams, and winning gold (2016), silver (2017, 2018) and bronze (2015, 2019).
This year Smart celebrated ten years in the AIHL and achieved the milestone of 150 games on August 17
th in Brisbane, a huge feat for a goaltender. He credits his family for their unwavering support, especially his dad, who would drive him an hour to practice, wait and then return him home, three times a week! Now, he talks to his Dad after every game. His mum, on the other hand, doesn’t want to watch hockey because “being a goalie mum is especially hard!”
We look forward to seeing Smart back in the red and blue in 2026!
