Doug Smith (ice hockey)

Last updated
Doug Smith
Born (1963-05-17) May 17, 1963 (age 62)
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.

Contents

Career

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

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

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

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

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1978–79 Nepean Raiders CJHL 2424174118—————
1979–80 Ottawa 67s OMJHL 6423345745—————
1980–81 Ottawa 67sOHL54455610161—————
1981–82 Ottawa 67sOHL112317—————
1981–82 Los Angeles Kings NHL 80161430641032511
1982–83 Los Angeles KingsNHL4211112212—————
1983–84 Los Angeles KingsNHL7216203628—————
1984–85 Los Angeles KingsNHL622120415831014
1985–86 Los Angeles KingsNHL48891756—————
1985–86 Buffalo Sabres NHL3010112173—————
1986–87 Buffalo SabresNHL62162440106—————
1986–87 Rochester Americans AHL 15561135—————
1987–88 Buffalo SabresNHL709192811710000
1988–89 Edmonton Oilers NHL191129—————
1988–89 Cape Breton Oilers AHL2411112269—————
1988–89 Vancouver Canucks NHL10347440006
1989–90 Vancouver CanucksNHL3034772—————
1989–90 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL1011225—————
1990–91 EC VSV AUT 42333669200—————
1991–92 VEU Feldkirch AUT3015132893—————
NHL totals5351151382536241842621

References

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