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Doug Smith (ice hockey)

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Doug Smith
Born (1963-05-17) May 17, 1963 (age 61)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for Los Angeles Kings
Buffalo Sabres
Edmonton Oilers
Vancouver Canucks
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL draft 2nd overall, 1981
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 1981–1992

Douglas Eric Smith (born May 17, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played for the Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Pittsburgh Penguins over the course of his career. He was selected second overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft.

Career

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Smith starred in the Ontario Hockey League as an underage player with his hometown Ottawa 67's and won the league's Bobby Smith Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in 1981.[1] That same season he scored 45 goals and 101 points in 54 games and was a highly touted draft prospect in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, ultimately being selected second overall after future Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk.

Smith played in 304 games with the Los Angeles Kings before a January 1986 trade sent him (along with Brian Engblom) to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Ken Baumgartner, Sean McKenna and Larry Playfair. In 162 games with the Sabres, Smith recorded 89 points. On October 3, 1988, Smith was claimed in the waiver draft by the Edmonton Oilers, splitting the 1988-89 season between Edmonton and their AHL affiliate, the Cape Breton Oilers.

In March, 1989, Smith was traded with Greg Adams to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for John LeBlanc and a 1989 fifth-round draft pick (Peter White). Smith played his final NHL game during the 1989–90 season before resuming his career in Europe.

Injury

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Smith suffered a career-ending spinal injury in 1992 during a game in the European Elite League. While chasing a puck, Smith crashed headfirst into the end boards at top speed, breaking the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae and tearing all the ligaments in the back of his neck. The prognosis was life as a quadriplegic, but Smith was able to regain the use of his limbs and teach himself to walk again.

Post-hockey

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Following his miraculous recovery, Smith became active in business and founded charitable organizations and fundraising events that have raised millions for various causes. Smith is the founder of Arc Stainless Incorporated and also travels Canada as a motivational speaker.

Personal

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He has 2 sisters, Carey and Tracy.[2]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1978–79 Nepean Raiders CJHL 24 24 17 41 18
1979–80 Ottawa 67s OMJHL 64 23 34 57 45
1980–81 Ottawa 67s OHL 54 45 56 101 61
1981–82 Ottawa 67s OHL 1 1 2 3 17
1981–82 Los Angeles Kings NHL 80 16 14 30 64 10 3 2 5 11
1982–83 Los Angeles Kings NHL 42 11 11 22 12
1983–84 Los Angeles Kings NHL 72 16 20 36 28
1984–85 Los Angeles Kings NHL 62 21 20 41 58 3 1 0 1 4
1985–86 Los Angeles Kings NHL 48 8 9 17 56
1985–86 Buffalo Sabres NHL 30 10 11 21 73
1986–87 Buffalo Sabres NHL 62 16 24 40 106
1986–87 Rochester Americans AHL 15 5 6 11 35
1987–88 Buffalo Sabres NHL 70 9 19 28 117 1 0 0 0 0
1988–89 Edmonton Oilers NHL 19 1 1 2 9
1988–89 Cape Breton Oilers AHL 24 11 11 22 69
1988–89 Vancouver Canucks NHL 10 3 4 7 4 4 0 0 0 6
1989–90 Vancouver Canucks NHL 30 3 4 7 72
1989–90 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 10 1 1 2 25
1990–91 EC VSV AUT 42 33 36 69 200
1991–92 VEU Feldkirch AUT 30 15 13 28 93
NHL totals 535 115 138 253 624 18 4 2 6 21

References

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  1. ^ "About Doug Smith". dougsmithperformance.com. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  2. ^ Ottawa Senators Alumni – Doug Smith
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Preceded by Los Angeles Kings first round draft pick
1981
Succeeded by