Doug Smith

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 two sisters, Carey and Tracy.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs 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