- Gary Smith (ice hockey)
Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position =Goaltender
caught = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 4
weight_lb = 205
played_for =Rochester Americans (AHL)Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)Victoria Maple Leafs (WHL)Oakland Seals (NHL)
Chicago Black Hawks (NHL)Vancouver Canucks (NHL)Minnesota North Stars (NHL)Fort Worth Texans (CHL)Hershey Bears (AHL)Washington Capitals (NHL)Indianapolis Racers (WHA)Tulsa Oilers (CHL)Winnipeg Jets (WHA)
league = NHL
nationality = Canada
birth_date = birth date and age|1944|2|14|mf=y
birth_place =Ottawa, Ontario , CAN
career_start = 1965
career_end = 1980Gary "Suitcase" Smith, a former professional
ice hockey goaltender, was born inOttawa, Ontario onFebruary 4 , 1944. Gary is a son of Des Smith and brother of Brian Smith, both formerNational Hockey League (NHL) players. Gary played for numerous clubs, including the Chicago Black Hawks,Oakland Seals ,Toronto Maple Leafs ,Vancouver Canucks ,Washington Capitals andWinnipeg Jets . He was the co-winner of theVezina Trophy in the1971-72 NHL season .Playing career
Gary Smith won a
Memorial Cup with the juniorToronto Marlboros in 1964. Entering the NHL with theToronto Maple Leafs in 1965, and was one of five goalies who played for the Maple Leafs during the 1966-67 regular season, their last Stanley Cup season. [[Cox] ]He eventually earned the nickname "Suitcase" Smith because of the large number of teams he played for. After playing with the dismal
California Golden Seals from 1967-71, where he set records in 1970-71 for both the most games played in a single season and most losses in a single season, his first success was sharing the 1971-72Vezina Trophy withTony Esposito while with the Chicago Black Hawks. One year later, Smith and Esposito would help the Black Hawks to the Stanley Cup final.In 1974-75, he also had a fine season with the
Vancouver Canucks , with 72 games played and six shutouts.Smith later played in the
World Hockey Association , and was a teammate ofWayne Gretzky while playing for theIndianapolis Racers . [[Cox] , pg. 79] He would be part of theWinnipeg Jets ' 1979Avco World Trophy championship.Gary Smith’s last coach in Winnipeg was
Tom McVie , who coached Smith the previous season while both were with theWashington Capitals .[Willes] , pg.240]The Jets played the Edmonton Oilers, led by Wayne Gretzky. Ironically, when
Wayne Gretzky went to his first game atMaple Leaf Gardens , Gary Smith was one of the goalie’s in the game.[Willes] , pg. 241 ] The Maple Leafs played theCalifornia Seals and Smith was the Seals goalie.Gary Smith gave up the last goal in WHA history to
Dave Semenko .Smith's had many other claims to fame, according to an interview in the Vancouver Province in 1997. In his first NHL game, Smith left his crease in an attmept to score a goal. He got to the Canadiens' blueline but then JC Tremblay came along. "He nailed me," said Smith.
In another game Smith punted the puck in Maple Leaf Gardens, almost hitting the clock.
Amother time he left the Vancouver Pacific Coliseum still wearing his goaltender uniform. "It's tough driving in your skates," he said in the same 1997 interview.
As of 1997 he was living in Vancouver and managing the racehorses he owned, including one named Broadcaster, named after his brother Brian, an Ottawa broadcaster who was murdered.
Career statistics
ee also
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List of NHL players
*List of NHL seasons
*List of WHA seasons References
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* A horse of a different color is Smith: Goalie Suitcase Gary takes a run at owning a race horse; David Banks. The Province. Vancouver, B.C.: Jul 18, 1997. pg. A.56External links
*hockeydb|5039
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