Gary Smith

Gary Smith
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Nickname(s)	Suitcase
Height Weight	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg)
Teams	Rochester Americans (AHL) Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) Victoria Maple Leafs (WHL) Oakland Seals (NHL) Chicago Black Hawks (NHL) Vancouver Canucks (NHL) Minnesota North Stars (NHL) Fort Worth Texans (CHL) Hershey Bears (AHL) Washington Capitals (NHL) Indianapolis Racers (WHA) Tulsa Oilers (CHL) Winnipeg Jets (WHA)
Nationality	Canadian
Born	(1944-02-14)February 14, 1944, Ottawa, Ontario, CAN
Pro Career	1965 – 1980

Gary "Suitcase" Smith, a former professional ice hockey goaltender, was born in Ottawa, Ontario on February 4, 1944. Gary is a son of Des Smith and brother of Brian Smith, both former National Hockey League (NHL) players. Gary played for numerous clubs, including the Chicago Black Hawks, Oakland Seals, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets. He was the co-winner of the Vezina Trophy in the 1971–72 NHL season.

Playing Career

Gary Smith won a Memorial Cup with the junior Toronto Marlboros in 1964. Entering the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1965, and was one of five goalies who played for the Maple Leafs during the 1966–67 regular season, their last Stanley Cup season.

He eventually earned the nickname "Suitcase" Smith because of the large number of teams he played for. After playing with the dismal California Golden Seals from 1967–71, where he set records in 1970–71 for both the most games played in a single season and most losses in a single season, his first success was sharing the 1971–72 Vezina Trophy with Tony Esposito while with the Chicago Black Hawks. One year later, Smith and Esposito would help the Black Hawks to the Stanley Cup final.

In 1974–75, he also had a fine season with the Vancouver Canucks, with 72 games played and six shutouts.

Smith later played in the World Hockey Association, and was a teammate of Wayne Gretzky while playing for the Indianapolis Racers. He would be part of the Winnipeg Jets' 1979 Avco World Trophy championship.

Gary Smith’s last coach in Winnipeg was Tom McVie, who coached Smith the previous season while both were with the Washington Capitals.

The Jets played the Edmonton Oilers, led by Wayne Gretzky. Ironically, when Wayne Gretzky went to his first game at Maple Leaf Gardens, Gary Smith was one of the goalie’s in the game. The Maple Leafs played the California Seals and Smith was the Seals goalie.

Gary Smith gave up the last goal in WHA history to Dave Semenko.

Smith's had many other claims to fame, according to an interview in the Vancouver Province in 1997. In his first NHL game, Smith left his crease in an attempt to score a goal. He got to the Canadiens' blueline but then JC Tremblay came along. "He nailed me," said Smith.

In another game Smith punted the puck in Maple Leaf Gardens, almost hitting the clock.

Amother time he left the Vancouver Pacific Coliseum still wearing his goaltender uniform. "It's tough driving in your skates," he said in the same 1997 interview.

As of 1997 he was living in Vancouver and managing the racehorses he owned, including one named Broadcaster, named after his brother Brian, an Ottawa broadcaster who was murdered.

Career Statistics

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1961–62	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	OHA		31	24	6	1	-	83	3	2.68	?
1962–63	Neil McNeil Maroons	OHA		28	-	-	-	-	-	3	2.25	-
1963–64	Toronto Marlboros	OHA		55	40	8	7	-	186	3	3.41	-
1964–65	Rochester Americans	AHL		1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1964–65	Tulsa Oilers	CPHL		1	0	1	0	60	5	0	5.00	?
1964–65	Victoria Maple Leafs	WHL		8	1	5	-	-	-	-	4.38	?
1965–66	Rochester Americans	AHL		37	20	11	4	-	-	2	2.86	-
1965–66	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		3	0	2	0	118	7	0	3.56	?
1966–67	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		2	0	2	0	115	7	0	3.65	?
1967–68	Oakland Seals	NHL		21	2	13	4	1129	60	1	3.19	?
1968–69	Oakland Seals	NHL		54	21	24	7	2993	148	4	2.97	?
1969–70	Oakland Seals	NHL		65	19	34	12	3762	195	2	3.11	?
1970–71	California Golden Seals	NHL		71	19	48	4	3975	256	2	3.86	?
1971–72	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		28	14	5	6	1540	62	5	2.42	?
1972–73	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		23	10	10	2	1340	79	0	3.54	?
1973–74	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		66	20	33	8	3632	208	3	3.44	?
1974–75	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		72	32	24	9	3823	197	6	3.09	?
1975–76	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		51	20	24	6	2864	167	2	3.50	.884
1976–77	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		36	10	17	8	2090	139	1	3.99	?
1977–78	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		3	0	2	1	180	9	0	3.00	?
1977–78	Washington Capitals	NHL		17	2	12	3	980	68	2	4.16	?
1978–79	Indianapolis Racers	WHA		11	0	10	1	664	61	0	5.51	.848
1978–79	Winnipeg Jets	WHA		11	7	3	0	626	31	0	2.97	.889
1979–80	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		20	4	11	4	1073	73	0	4.08	?
NHL totals				532	173	261	74	29,619	1675	26	3.39	—

Gallery

Derek Sanderson scores, Christmas 1967.

Fred Stanfield and Gary Smith, November 10, 1969.

Ken Hodge, Wayne Cashman, Seals goalie Gary Smith, November 15, 1970.

Phil Esposito scores the winner, January 10, 1971.

John Bucyk scores the game winner from Bobby Orr, November 20, 1971.

Gary Smith fought Garnet Bailey, October 26, 1972.

Bobby Orr assists on Phil Esposito's 400th goal, October 10, 1973.

Video

Nearly 20 minutes of highlights of the March 16, 1975 Canucks-Black Hawks game. Gary Smith is concussed during a goal by Phil Russell and leaves the game to be replaced by Ken Lockett.

NHL Action Vancouver Canucks @ Chicago Blackhawks (Mar. 16, 1975)

References

• Cox, Damien; Stellick, Gord. 67: The Maple Leafs, Their Sensational Victory, and the End of an Empire. John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 0-470-83400-5. 
• Willes, Ed. The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association. McLelland and Stewart. ISBN 0-7710-8947-3. 
• A horse of a different color is Smith: Goalie Suitcase Gary takes a run at owning a race horse; David Banks. The Province. Vancouver, B.C.: Jul 18, 1997. pg. A.56

External Links

Gary Smith's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Eddie Giacomin and Gilles Villemure

Winner of the Vezina Trophy with Tony Esposito 1972

Succeeded by Ken Dryden