Gary Smith (ice hockey)

Gary Edward " Suitcase " Smith ( born February 4, 1944 in Ottawa, Ontario ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goalie who from 1965 to 1980 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Oakland Seals California Golden Seals or, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota North Stars, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League and the Indianapolis Racers and also the Winnipeg Jets in the World Hockey Association played.

Career

During his time at the junior Toronto St. Michael's Majors in 1964 he was able to win the Memorial Cup.

After working at the Victoria Maple Leafs in the WHL, the Tulsa Oilers in the CPhl and the Rochester Americans in the AHL, he came in the 1965/66 season for his debut in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In two seasons, he allowed five games in Toronto dispute that, but with 14 goals conceded and without victory, he could not prevail.

When NHL Expansion Draft 1967, Oakland Seals brought him in their squad. In the first year he was behind Charlie Hodge number 2 in the goal of the new team, but from the 1968/69 season he exchanged the role of the experienced veteran. In the 1970/71 season he was in 71 games in goal for the Seals, a brand that until then had not yet reached a goalkeeper. After 48 defeats, most who suffered a goalkeeper ever in the history of the NHL in a season, he moved to the 1971/72 season with the Chicago Blackhawks. There he was behind Tony Esposito back-up goalkeeper, with which he could win the Vezina Trophy. To oblige Dale Tallon of the Vancouver Canucks, Smith had to switch to the Canucks.

Three years he was a goalkeeper in Vancouver, but after joining the Minnesota North Stars, he sat in the 1976/77 season often back on the bench. So he signed with the Washington Capitals as a free agent. Before the end of the season, he returned to Minnesota, but played mostly for the Fort Worth Texans in the Central Hockey League.

A new challenge was to bring to the Indianapolis Racers of the change to the WHA. Here he was with the young Wayne Gretzky on the team. After the team was disbanded, he moved to the Winnipeg Jets. The team reached the finals series to the Avco World Trophy. Here he met Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers. With the Jets, they won the title, but the last goal in the history of the WHA scored Dave Semenko and Smith was the goalkeeper beaten.

With the Jets, he returned to the NHL and ended after one season of his career.

His father Des Smith had won the Boston Bruins the Stanley Cup, his brother Brian played 105 games in the NHL and WHA.

Statistics

Sporting successes

  • Memorial Cup: 1964
  • Avco World Trophy: 1979

Personal Awards

  • Vezina Trophy: 1972, together with Tony Esposito
  • Participate in the NHL All-Star Game: 1975

Records

  • 48 defeats in a season (NHL 1970/71 )
Toronto Marlboros Western Hockey League (1952–74) 1965–66 NHL season 1967 NHL Expansion Draft Charlie Hodge (ice hockey) 1968–69 NHL season 1970–71 NHL season 1971–72 NHL season 1976–77 NHL season 1978–79 WHA season George Hainsworth Tiny Thompson Roy Worters Lorne Chabot Normie Smith Dave Kerr Turk Broda Johnny Mowers Bill Durnan Al Rollins Harry Lumley (ice hockey) Jacques Plante Johnny Bower Glenn Hall Gump Worsley Eddie Giacomin Gilles Villemure Michel Larocque (ice hockey, born 1952) Don Edwards (ice hockey) Richard Sévigny Billy Smith (ice hockey) Pete Peeters Tom Barrasso Pelle Lindbergh John Vanbiesbrouck Ron Hextall Grant Fuhr Patrick Roy Jim Carey (ice hockey) Martin Brodeur Miikka Kiprusoff Tim Thomas (ice hockey) Ryan Miller Henrik Lundqvist Sergei Bobrovsky
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