Ryan Smyth
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| Position | Left Wing |
| Nickname | Captain Canada Smytty |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 192 lb (87 kg) |
| NHL Team F. Teams |
New York Islanders Edmonton Oilers |
| Nationality |  Canada |
| Born | February 21, 1976, Banff, AB, CAN |
| NHL Draft | 6th overall, 1994 Edmonton Oilers |
| Pro Career | 1995 – present |
Ryan Alexander Gordon Smyth (b. February 21, 1976 in Banff, Alberta) is a professional ice hockey player who currently plays left wing for the New York Islanders. Smyth was selected 6th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, and he went on to play 12 seasons for the club he idolized as a child. Smyth's dedication to Edmonton both on and off the ice led to him being recognized as the face of the the franchise during the latter part of his tenure with the team [1]. The Oilers traded Smyth to the Islanders on February 27, 2007, following a lengthy contract dispute in his UFA year.
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[edit] Career
Smyth played 3 games for the Oilers in the 1994-95 season. The following season he tallied his first goal, on 24 November 1995, beating Trevor Kidd of the Calgary Flames while on the power play. He has the distinction of breaking two of Wayne Gretzky's Oilers records, scoring 20 goals on the power play in just his second full season, and scoring three goals in 2:01, breaking Wayne Gretzky's club record (2:18) for the fastest three goals by an Oiler on October 12, 2006. It was Smyth's fifth career hat trick.[4] Smyth was part of the Gold medal winning Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics. On 14 August 2003, Smyth managed to avoid arbitration with, and a possible trade from, the Oilers by signing a two-year contract.
Smyth is also well-known for representing Canada in international tournaments. He is currently the all-time leader in games played by a Canadian in the World Hockey Championship with 60. His nickname is "Captain Canada"; he was named captain of Team Canada for the World Championships for 5 consecutive years from 2001 to 2005. Smyth also played for Team Canada in the 2006 Winter Olympics.
He wears the number 94 because that was the year he graduated from high school, and was drafted into the NHL.
Smyth was part of the Oiler team which became the first 8th seed ever to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. Smyth showed his persistence in the presence of injury during the second-round series against the San Jose Sharks. Former Oilers defenseman Chris Pronger, on a clearing attempt, accidentally hit Smyth in the mouth. There was a memorable scene of a linesman with a shovel and a broom, sweeping three of Smyth's bloody bottom teeth off the ice. Smyth went to the dressing room to get some stitches, and after they were in place, he went back out onto the ice, eventually assisting on the game winning goal in overtime. However, the Oilers lost in game 7 of the finals to the Carolina Hurricanes. Smyth had 7 goals and 9 assists in the 2006 Playoffs. His most memorable goal of the playoffs was the Edmonton game-winner in Game 3 at Rexall Place. With 2:15 left in regulation, Smyth shot the puck off of a Cam Ward rebound, and it went in off the logo of Smyth's jersey onto his stick and into the net. The next day, his teammates and his coach, Craig MacTavish, teased Smyth while doing interviews for the media, joking that Smyth does not shoot the puck well.[2]
Smyth made his very first All Star appearance at the 2007 All Star game in Dallas. Due to career seniority, Yanic Perreault was given his choice on what number to wear, he went with 94 so Smyth went with 93.
On February 27, 2007, last minute negotiations to re-sign Smyth with Smyth's agent Don Meehan failed, and after twelve years with the Oilers, Smyth was traded to the New York Islanders in exchange for Robert Nilsson, Ryan O'Marra and the Islanders' first round pick in the 2007 entry draft.
On February 28, 2007, Smyth held an emotional news conference at the Edmonton International Airport. He thanked the Oilers organization, the fans and everyone involved for allowing him to play and live his career in Edmonton. While holding back his emotion and tears Smyth stated, "I'd never thought I'd come to this day...I gotta turn the page, get a chapter, a new chapter in life and the New York Islanders have given me that opportunity and I thank them for this. I'm gonna go there and make my best...to make the playoffs and win that Cup so I can bring it down here in Edmonton...that's where my heart is..."[3]
On March 1, 2007, Smyth notched his first point as an New York Islander, picking up an assist on Mike Sillinger's first period powerplay goal. The Islanders eventually lost the game in overtime to the St. Louis Blues, 3-2.
March 3, 2007, Sun Media reported that Smyth and the Oilers were a mere $100,000 apart per year in a five-year contract when Edmonton traded him to the Islanders [4]. Smyth however denied that this was the case, saying "That's not right. There is more to it than that. If that was true I would've ..." before catching himself. [5]. Many Oiler fans are upset, and are accusing Smyth and his agent (Don Meehan)of greed. It is still a question of which team he will sign with this off-season.
March 3, 2007, Smyth recorded his first goal as an Islander, in a game against the Washington Capitals.
[edit] Personal
Smyth and his wife Stacey have two daughters, Isabella and Elizabeth.
Older brother Kevin played 58 games in the NHL for the Hartford Whalers, until an eye injury ended his playing career.[6] Current Islander coach Ted Nolan was an assistant coach on that team.
[edit] Awards
- WHL East Second All-Star Team - 1995
- Ryan Smyth also played for the West in 2007 NHL All-Star Game in Dallas.
[edit] Career statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1991-92 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1992-93 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 64 | 19 | 14 | 33 | 59 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1993-94 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 72 | 50 | 55 | 105 | 88 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1994-95 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 50 | 41 | 45 | 86 | 66 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 22 | ||
| 1994-95 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1995-96 | Cape Breton Oilers | AHL | 9 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1995-96 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 48 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 28 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1996-97 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 | 39 | 22 | 61 | 76 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 12 | ||
| 1997-98 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 65 | 20 | 13 | 33 | 44 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 16 | ||
| 1998-99 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 71 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 62 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1999-00 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 | 28 | 26 | 54 | 58 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2000-01 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 | 31 | 39 | 70 | 58 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 2001-02 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 61 | 15 | 35 | 50 | 48 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2002-03 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 66 | 27 | 34 | 61 | 67 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 16 | ||
| 2003-04 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 | 23 | 36 | 59 | 70 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2005-06 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 75 | 36 | 30 | 66 | 58 | 24 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 22 | ||
| 2006-07 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 53 | 31 | 22 | 53 | 38 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2007 | New York Islanders | NHL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| NHL Totals | 771 | 265 | 285 | 550 | 607 | 68 | 20 | 21 | 41 | 70 | ||||
[edit] International play
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Ice hockey | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 2002 Salt Lake City | Ice hockey | |
Played for Canada in:
- 1995 World Junior Championships (gold medal)
- 1999 World Championships
- 2000 World Championships
- 2001 World Championships
- 2002 World Championships
- 2002 Winter Olympics (gold medal)
- 2003 World Championships (gold medal)
- 2004 World Championships (gold medal)
- 2004 World Cup of Hockey (gold medal)
- 2005 World Championships (silver medal)
- 2006 Winter Olympics (failed to medal)
International statistics
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Canada | WJC | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | |
| 1999 | Canada | WC | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | |
| 2000 | Canada | WC | 9 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2001 | Canada | WC | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | |
| 2002 | Canada | Oly | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2002 | Canada | WC | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2003 | Canada | WC | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2004 | Canada | WC | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2004 | Canada | WCH | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2005 | Canada | WC | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | |
| 2006 | Canada | Oly | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Senior Int'l Totals | 78 | 18 | 19 | 37 | 34 | |||
[edit] Trivia
During the 1984 Canada Cup, when Smyth was a child, he accompanied former Edmonton Oilers teammate Ray Whitney as a stick boy for the team. While Smyth was in the rink parking lot, Edmonton Oiler player Glenn Anderson, backed up his car over him accidentally. .[7]
[edit] References
- ^ [1]
- ^ Terry Jones (2006). Stickin' it to Smyth. Retrieved on 2006-09-22.
- ^ http://www2.sportsnet.ca/video/latest/20070228_Tearful_sendoff_for_Smyth "Tearful sendoff for Smyth", Sports Net, Feb 28, 2007
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=5065 Kevin Smyth Career Stats
- ^ "Captain Canada", Mike Zeisberger, Toronto Sun, January 26, 2002
[edit] External links
- Ryan Smyth, NHL.com Player Profile
- Ryan Symth, EdmontonOilers.com
- Not much fancy about Edmonton's Ryan Smyth but he gets job done for Oilers, Jim Morris, CBC
- [5], Sportsnet.ca
- Ryan Smyth at the Internet Movie Database
Categories: 1976 births | Alberta sportspeople | People from Banff, Alberta | Olympic ice hockey players for Canada | Olympic gold medalists for Canada | Edmonton Oilers draft picks | Edmonton Oilers players | New York Islanders players | Living people | Moose Jaw Warriors alumni | National Hockey League first round draft picks | Winter Olympics medalists | Hockey players at the 2002 Winter Olympics | Hockey players at the 2006 Winter Olympics
