As a centre with average size, Smith developed a high hockey sense in his four-year outstanding career. He was awarded the Doc Seaman Memorial Trophy when he was only 17 years old, a coveted trophy given to the Western Hockey League's Scholastic Player of the Year. In 2011, he played in the Under-18 World Championship in Germany representing Canada. "The entire Kamloops Blazers organization is very proud of Colin Smith for earning this award," remarked Craig Bonner, vice-president and General Manager to Kamloops Blazers. Smith happens to be the third player to win this award for the Blazers.[2]
Smith added another feather to his cap, when he was selected by the Colorado Avalanche, becoming the fifth Blazer drafted by the Avalanche, and the first since Ray Macias in 2005.[3]
In his final year with the Blazers in the 2012–13 season, Smith was a contender throughout the season to be the WHL's leading scorer. Alongside linemate J.C. Lipon, Smith helped the Blazers set a franchise record in consecutive wins whilst earning consideration for the Canadian World Junior Squad.[4] Smith finished fourth overall in league scoring with 106 points in 72 games and was rewarded for his outstanding performance with a selection to the 2013 WHL West First All-Star Team.[5]
On July 5, 2013, it was officially announced that Smith had signed a three-year entry level contract with the Colorado Avalanche.[6] After attending the Avalanche's training camp and taking part in his first pre-season, Smith was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters for the 2013–14 season. He made his professional debut against the Abbotsford Heat in the season opener before Smith enjoying a successful rookie campaign in finishing as the only Monster to play in each game, and led the team amongst rookies with 34 points in 76 games.
During his second season with the Monsters in 2014–15, Smith received his first NHL recall by the injury stricken Avalanche on November 30, 2014.[7] On December 1, 2014, he made his NHL debut, as a centre on the fourth line, in a 4–3 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens before he was reassigned to the Monsters the following day for the remainder of the year.[8]
In the last year of his entry-level contract, Smith was reassigned to begin the 2015–16 season with new AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. Smith emerged amongst the top scorers with the Rampage and placed third with 34 points in 54 contests before he was traded by the Avalanche, along with a fourth round pick in the 2016 draft, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Shawn Matthias on February 21, 2016.[9] Smith was immediately assigned to Toronto's AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.
Despite not being tendered a qualifying offer in the off-season by the Maple Leafs, Smith opted to remain in the organization in agreeing to a one-year AHL contract with the Marlies on July 3, 2016. In the 2016–17 season, Smith was unable to retain his initial scoring rate from the last season with the Marlies. Collecting 28 points in 52 games, Smith was returned to the San Antonio Rampage in a trade in which the Marlies secured Mike Sislo on loan on March 1, 2017.[10] In his second stint with the Rampage, Smith was entrenched on the top 2 scoring lines to finish with 19 points in 21 games.
As a free agent in the off-season, Smith continued his career in the AHL by securing a one-year contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on July 6, 2017.[11] In the 2017–18 season, Smith suffered an early injury however returned to play in 35 games with the Penguins, recording 18 points. On February 14, 2018, Smith was traded by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in exchange for Joseph Cramarossa to the Stockton Heat, affiliate to the Calgary Flames.[12] In 24 games to end the regular season, Smith continued his offensive output in compiling 17 points.
At the conclusion of the season, Smith opted to leave North America as a free agent, agreeing to a one-year contract with German outfit, Eisbären Berlin of the DEL on June 28, 2018.[13] Smith had difficulty adjusting in his first European season with Berlin in 2018–19, posting just 4 goals and 23 points in 52 games.
Smith opted to continue in the DEL with a point to prove, signing a one-year deal with ERC Ingolstadt on July 19, 2019.[14] He opened the 2019–20 season, collecting 3 goals and 8 points in 17 games with Ingolstadt before leaving the club to join Kölner Haie for the remainder of the season on November 21, 2019.[15]
After a lone season with Väsby IK of the Allsvenskan, Smith continued in the second tier Swedish league by agreeing to a one-year contract with Södertälje SK on May 29, 2021.[16] Smith endured a whirlwind 2021–22 season, registering 10 points through 15 games in the Allsvenskan, before leaving to play in two short stints with Black Wings Linz in the ICE Hockey League and EHC Olten of the Swiss League.
Smith initially agreed to return to former club, Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL for the 2022–23 season, before opting to end his nine-year professional playing career and return to North America on August 24, 2022.[17]
Mark Louis Recchi is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger and current assistant coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the fourth round, 67th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft and played a total of 22 seasons in the NHL for the Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins. Recchi won the Stanley Cup three times in his playing career: in 1991 with the Penguins, in 2006 with the Hurricanes, and in 2011 with the Bruins. During the 2010-11 season, Recchi was the last active player who had played in the NHL in the 1980s. Subsequently, in Game 2 of the 2011 Finals, Recchi became the oldest player ever to score in a Stanley Cup Finals game at age 43. On June 26, 2017, in his fourth year of eligibility, Recchi was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Erik Christensen is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who last played for HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
Wyatt Carter Smith is an American former professional ice hockey player who played as a journeyman center in the National Hockey League before finishing his career with ERC Ingolstadt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
Matthew P. Hussey is an American former professional ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. He later played professional ice hockey in Europe in Finland, Germany, Slovakia and France.
Nathan Smith is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player from Sherwood Park, Alberta. He played in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota Wild.
Kevin M. Porter is an American former professional National Hockey League (NHL) center.
Bryan Lerg is an American former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks.
Derek James Peltier, is an American former professional ice hockey Defenseman. He most notably played in the National Hockey League with the Colorado Avalanche before finishing his professional career with German club Iserlohn Roosters of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Nicholas Drazenovic is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre of Croatian ancestry. He most recently played with the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League (AHL). Drazenovic was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 6th round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Andreas Martinsen is a Norwegian professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with Storhamar Hockey in the Eliteserien (Norway). He formerly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and the Chicago Blackhawks. He also played for Lillehammer IK and Vålerenga Ishockey. He is of Indian Ugandan and Norwegian descent.
Benjamin Street is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for EHC Red Bull München of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). An undrafted player, Street played five seasons of college hockey with the Wisconsin Badgers before turning professional in 2010. He joined the Calgary Flames organization in 2012 before signing with the Colorado Avalanche in 2014. He has also played with the Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks and New Jersey Devils.
Mike Carman is an American bandy player and former professional ice hockey player. He played in the American Hockey League for the Lake Erie Monsters, Hershey Bears and the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. He was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the 3rd round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Timothé "Tim" Phillipe Bozon is an American-born French ice hockey left winger who is currently playing with Lausanne HC of the National League (NL).
Derrick Pouliot is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Texas Stars in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Dallas Stars in the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken and the San Jose Sharks. Pouliot was selected eighth overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Penguins.
Christopher Bigras is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played under contract with the Iserlohn Roosters of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Bigras was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He was born in Orillia, Ontario, but grew up in Elmvale, Ontario.
David Matthew Warsofsky is an American professional ice hockey defenseman. He is currently playing with Augsburger Panther of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Brendan Ranford is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He is currently playing for HC Slovan Bratislava of the Slovak Extraliga.
Cole Ully is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He is currently signed to UK Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) side Cardiff Devils.
The 2018–19 AHL season was the 83rd season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began October 5, 2018, and ended April 15, 2019. The 2019 Calder Cup playoffs followed the conclusion of the regular season.
Gage Quinney is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey forward currently playing under contract with the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Quinney is notable as the first Nevada-born player in NHL history, making his debut with his hometown team, the Golden Knights.
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