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
Gary Smith TSMM.png
Smith with the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, circa 1962
Born (1944-02-04) February 4, 1944 (age 80)
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 19651980

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.[1]

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[4]

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.
  1. [Cox]
  2. [Cox], pg. 79
  3. [Willes], pg.240
  4. 4.0 4.1 [Willes], pg. 241