Gary Smith

Gary Edward Smith (born February 4, 1944) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey goaltender, was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on February 4, 1944. Gary is a son of Des Smith and brother of Brian Smith, both former National Hockey League (NHL) players. Gary played for numerous clubs, including the Chicago Black Hawks, Oakland Seals, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets. He was the co-winner of the Vezina Trophy in the 1971–72 NHL season.

Gary Smith
Smith with the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, circa 1962
Born	(1944-02-04) February 4, 1944 Ottawa, Ontario, CAN
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
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)
Playing career	1965–1980

Playing career

Gary Smith won a Memorial Cup with the junior Toronto Marlboros in 1964. Entering the NHL with the Toronto 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.

He eventually earned the nickname "Suitcase" Smith because of the large number of teams he played for. After playing with the not very good California Golden Seals from 1967 to 1971, 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 1971–72 Vezina Trophy with Tony 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 good season with the Vancouver Canucks, with 72 games played and six shutouts.

Smith later played in the World Hockey Association, and was a teammate of Wayne Gretzky while playing for the Indianapolis Racers. He would be part of the Winnipeg Jets' 1979 Avco World Trophy championship.

Gary Smith’s last coach in Winnipeg was Tom McVie, who coached Smith the previous season while both were with the Washington Capitals.

The Jets played the Edmonton Oilers, led by Wayne Gretzky. When Wayne Gretzky went to his first game at Maple Leaf Gardens, Gary Smith was one of the goalies in the game. The Maple Leafs played the California Seals and Smith was the Seals' goalie.

Gary Smith gave up the last goal in WHA history to Dave Semenko.

Career statistics

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1965–66	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		3	0	2	0	118	7	0	3.56	.899
1966–67	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		2	0	2	0	115	7	0	3.65	.892
1967–68	Oakland Seals	NHL		21	2	13	4	1129	60	1	3.19	.907
1968–69	Oakland Seals	NHL		54	21	24	7	2993	148	4	2.97	.905
1969–70	Oakland Seals	NHL		65	19	34	12	3762	195	2	3.11	.913
1970–71	California Golden Seals	NHL		71	19	48	4	3975	256	2	3.86	.885
1971–72	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		28	14	5	6	1540	62	5	2.42	.911
1972–73	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		23	10	10	2	1340	79	0	3.54	.887
1973–74	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		66	20	33	8	3632	208	3	3.44	.894
1974–75	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		72	32	24	9	3823	197	6	3.09	.895
1975–76	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		51	20	24	6	2864	167	2	3.51	.882
1976–77	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		36	10	17	8	2090	139	1	3.99	.881
1977–78	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		3	0	2	1	180	9	0	3.00	.867
1977–78	Washington Capitals	NHL		17	2	12	3	980	68	2	4.16	.907
1978–79	Indianapolis Racers	WHA		11	0	10	1	664	61	0	5.51	.848
1978–79	Winnipeg Jets	WHA		11	7	3	0	626	31	0	2.97	.889
1979–80	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		20	4	11	4	1073	73	0	4.08	.873

References

• Cox, Damien; Stellick, Gord (2004). 67: The Maple Leafs, Their Sensational Victory, and the End of an Empire. John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 0-470-83400-5.
• Willes, Ed (2004). The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association. Toronto, ON: McLelland and Stewart. ISBN 0-7710-8947-3.

• Gary Smith's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database