Doug Smith (ice hockey)

For the minor league ice hockey player turned author, see Doug Smith (author).

Doug Smith
Born	(1963-05-17) May 17, 1963 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.

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. 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 2 sisters, Carey and Tracy.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1978–79	Nepean Raiders	CJHL		24	24	17	41	18		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Ottawa 67s	OMJHL		64	23	34	57	45		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Ottawa 67s	OHL		54	45	56	101	61		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Ottawa 67s	OHL		1	1	2	3	17		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		80	16	14	30	64		10	3	2	5	11
1982–83	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		42	11	11	22	12		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		72	16	20	36	28		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		62	21	20	41	58		3	1	0	1	4
1985–86	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		48	8	9	17	56		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		30	10	11	21	73		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		62	16	24	40	106		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Rochester Americans	AHL		15	5	6	11	35		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		70	9	19	28	117		1	0	0	0	0
1988–89	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		19	1	1	2	9		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Cape Breton Oilers	AHL		24	11	11	22	69		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		10	3	4	7	4		4	0	0	0	6
1989–90	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		30	3	4	7	72		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		10	1	1	2	25		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	EC VSV	AUT		42	33	36	69	200		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	VEU Feldkirch	AUT		30	15	13	28	93		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				535	115	138	253	624		18	4	2	6	21

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database