| Steve Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 30, 1963 Glasgow, Scotland, GBR |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) |
| Position | Defence |
| Shot | Left |
| Played for | Edmonton Oilers Chicago Blackhawks Calgary Flames |
| National team | Canada |
| NHL Draft | 111th overall, 1981 Edmonton Oilers |
| Playing career | 1984–2000 |
James Stephen Smith[1] (born April 30, 1963), better known as Steve Smith, is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and current assistant coach of the Edmonton Oilers. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1984–85 to 2000–01. Although he was regarded as a top defenceman during his 16-year NHL career, he is best-remembered for scoring a critical own goal in the playoffs of his rookie year.[2]
Contents |
Smith was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft in the 6th round, 111th overall. He began his NHL career in 1985, playing in 55 regular season games and six playoff games. On April 30, 1986 (his 23rd birthday), Smith and the Oilers were playing in Game 7 of the Smythe Division Final against the arch-rival Calgary Flames. With 14:46 remaining in the third period, and the score tied at two, he made a pass from behind his own net that ricocheted off goaltender Grant Fuhr and into the Edmonton net.[2] The Oilers never recovered and ultimately lost the series, while Calgary went on to the Stanley Cup Finals.[3] Flames forward Perry Berezan was credited with scoring this series-clinching goal.
Smith played for Edmonton until the end of the 1990–91 season, winning three Stanley Cups with the team. He then played for the Chicago Blackhawks until 1997. After announcing his retirement due to injury following the 1996–97 NHL season, he made a comeback and played three seasons with the Calgary Flames, retiring for good in December 2000.
Smith became an assistant coach for the Oilers in 2010. He is married and has five children.[4]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1980–81 | London Knights | OHL | 62 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 141 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | London Knights | OHL | 58 | 10 | 36 | 46 | 207 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 13 | ||
| 1982–83 | London Knights | OHL | 50 | 6 | 35 | 41 | 133 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | ||
| 1982–83 | Moncton Alpines | AHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | Brantford Alexanders | OHL | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | Moncton Alpines | AHL | 64 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 176 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | Nova Scotia Oilers | AHL | 68 | 2 | 28 | 30 | 161 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 40 | ||
| 1985–86 | Nova Scotia Oilers | AHL | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 55 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 166 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | ||
| 1986–87 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 62 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 165 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 45 | ||
| 1987–88 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 79 | 12 | 43 | 55 | 286 | 19 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 55 | ||
| 1988–89 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 35 | 3 | 19 | 22 | 97 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 20 | ||
| 1989–90 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 75 | 7 | 34 | 41 | 171 | 22 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 37 | ||
| 1990–91 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 77 | 13 | 41 | 54 | 193 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 45 | ||
| 1991–92 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 76 | 9 | 21 | 30 | 304 | 18 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 16 | ||
| 1992–93 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 78 | 10 | 47 | 57 | 214 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||
| 1993–94 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 57 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 174 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 48 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 128 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 26 | ||
| 1995–96 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 37 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 71 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | ||
| 1996–97 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1998–99 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 69 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 20 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 804 | 72 | 303 | 375 | 2139 | 134 | 11 | 41 | 52 | 288 | ||||
Played for Canada in:
International statistics
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Canada | CC | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 30 | |
| Senior int'l totals | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 30 | |||
| Preceded by Todd Simpson |
Calgary Flames captain 1999–2000 |
Succeeded by Dave Lowry |