Halifax’s hockey fans love their team—the Halifax Mooseheads—and having a retired NHL star as the owner is a huge bonus. His illustrious NHL career ended in 1993 but Bobby Smith remains the most recognized hockey figure in Metro. For years, Smith was best known to hockey fans for scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal for the Montreal Canadiens in 1986. After retiring, he served as general manager of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes but yearned to be involved in the sport at the major-junior level.

When the Mooseheads needed new owners in 2004, he pounced. The team competes in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (where players range in age from 16 to 21). It’s the league where future stars like Martin Brodeur and Sidney Crosby got their start. Halifax hockey fans have quickly warmed to Smith’s hands-on ownership style—the team draws league-leading crowds to every home game at the Halifax Metro Centre on Duke Street. Recently, Smith sat down with Where Halifax magazine to discuss the sport.

How are the Halifax Mooseheads doing this year?

We have some very interesting young players. We have four who were 16-year-olds last season and they develop so fast at that age. And everyone is curious to see how Jakub Voracek will adapt. [The Czech forward was the Mooseheads’ first pick, and first overall, in the CHL import draft.]. That’s one of the great things about major-junior hockey. They’re different players every year and it’s interesting to see how all this talent comes together.

Do you get to spend much time with the team?

I travel a bit with the team. I’ll be making a road trip to Gatineau and Rouyn-Noranda and that region with them this year. And I try to see as many home games as I can. I like to lace up the skates and get out on the ice with them when I can, too. I’m doing more of that this year. I’m going to the team practice later today, actually.

Former NHL star Bobby Smith owns the Halifax Mooseheads.

Do fans see you more as Bobby Smith the hockey player or Bob Smith the team owner?

In Halifax, I’m definitely the guy who owns the team. Fans are always very interested in the product. When they see me, they want to know how the team is going to do. But if I’m recognized in an airport in, say Toronto, I’m the player. Then the first thing they do is identify themselves as Canadiens fans or not. [Laughs] They say “I love the Canadiens and remember when you...” or “I’m a Bruins fan and I hated you!” Canadiens fans recognize me the most—there aren’t as many Minnesota fans out there.

A lot of Canadiens fans had a hard time forgiving you for that goal you scored for Minnesota that put Montreal out of the playoffs in 1980 and ended their run for a fifth consecutive Stanley Cup.

[Laughs] Oh yeah, that still comes up once in a while!

Looking back on your career, what else stands out?

I got to go to work at the Montreal Forum every day. I played in the Stanley Cup finals four times. Scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal in 1986 was very special—only one player gets to do that each year. I enjoyed the game when I was playing. Even as a player, I watched every game I could. I appreciated how good it was even when I was doing it...