Des Smith (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Desmond Patrick Smith was a Canadian ice hockey
defenceman
in the National Hockey League
(NHL). He was the father of two sons Brian and Gary
who also played in the NHL.
of the MSHL and the Saint John St. Peters of the SJCHL. In 1935–36 he moved to England to play for the Wembley Lions
where he won the English National League
championship. He spent the 1936–37 season with the Wembley Monarchs
.
on October 7, 1937. After one season with the Maroons he was traded for cash to the Montreal Canadiens
on September 14, 1938. He again would play just one season on the other side of town. He was again traded for cash this time to the Chicago Black Hawks
on May 15, 1939. He played the 1939 season
in the IAHL
with the New Haven Eagles
. He cracked the Chicago Black Hawks
lineup in 1940. He played there for one season before being traded to the Boston Bruins
for Jack Portland
on January 27, 1940. He found his greatest success in Boston
playing with Hall of Famers
like Bobby Bauer
, Milt Schmidt
, and Roy Conacher
. He helped the Boston Bruins
win the Stanley Cup
in 1941 defeating the Detroit Red Wings
in four straight games. He played one more season in Boston before retiring
from the NHL
.
of the AHL
in 1947
.
He later became a referee in the AHL
for several years.
After his various hockey careers ended he became the announcer at the Rideau-Carleton Raceway in Ottawa in 1962. He also served as the public relations director until his death in 1981. Des was inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 and onto the Rideau Carleton's Wall of Fame in 1989. The annual Des Smith Classic is held every September at the track.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). He was the father of two sons Brian and Gary
Gary Smith (hockey)
Gary "Suitcase" Smith a former professional ice hockey goaltender. Gary is a son of Des Smith and brother of Brian Smith, both former National Hockey League players. Gary played for numerous clubs, including the Chicago Black Hawks, Oakland Seals, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks,...
who also played in the NHL.
Pre-NHL career
Des Smith began his hockey career in his hometown playing for the Ottawa Montagnards from 1932-1934. He would later play for the Charlottetown AbbiesCharlottetown Abbies
The Charlottetown Abbies were a Junior "A" team based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They played in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. Their home rink was the MacLauchlan Arena on the campus of UPEI.-History:...
of the MSHL and the Saint John St. Peters of the SJCHL. In 1935–36 he moved to England to play for the Wembley Lions
Wembley Lions
The Wembley Lions were an English ice hockey team.The team were founded in 1934 but showed a continuity with the London Lions team which had played at various venues since 1924. The Wembley team were based at the newly built Empire Pool which they shared with the Wembley Monarchs until 1950.The...
where he won the English National League
English National League
For the current league see English National Ice Hockey LeagueThe English National League was an early ice hockey league in England. It was founded in 1935 by most of the teams who had previously competed in the English League. It was suspended during the Second World War, but returned in 1946...
championship. He spent the 1936–37 season with the Wembley Monarchs
Wembley Monarchs
The Wembley Monarchs were an ice hockey team in the United Kingdom. They were founded in 1929 as the Grosvenor House Canadians, transferred to Wembley Canadians for the 1934-35 season and became the Monarchs in 1936...
.
NHL
He moved back to Canada after the 1937 season. He was signed as a free agent by the Montreal MaroonsMontreal Maroons
The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
on October 7, 1937. After one season with the Maroons he was traded for cash to the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
on September 14, 1938. He again would play just one season on the other side of town. He was again traded for cash this time to the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
on May 15, 1939. He played the 1939 season
1938–39 AHL season
The 1938–39 AHL season was the third season of the International-American Hockey League, known in the present day as the American Hockey League. Eight teams played 54 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears won the F. G...
in the IAHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
with the New Haven Eagles
New Haven Eagles
The New Haven Eagles were a professional ice hockey team that played in New Haven, Connecticut. The Eagles were one of five inaugural franchises in the Canadian American Hockey League, and a founding member of the American Hockey League.-History:...
. He cracked the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
lineup in 1940. He played there for one season before being traded to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
for Jack Portland
Jack Portland
Jack Frederick Portland was a defenceman in the NHL from 1933 - 1943. He was born in Collingwood, Ontario. He also participated in the high jump and triple jump events at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles....
on January 27, 1940. He found his greatest success in Boston
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
playing with Hall of Famers
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
like Bobby Bauer
Bobby Bauer
Robert Theodore Bauer was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins.-Playing career:...
, Milt Schmidt
Milt Schmidt
Milton Conrad Schmidt is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre, coach and general manager, mostly for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. He is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.-Early years:...
, and Roy Conacher
Roy Conacher
Roy Gordon Conacher was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks...
. He helped the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
win the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
in 1941 defeating the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
in four straight games. He played one more season in Boston before retiring
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
from the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.
Post-NHL
Des Smith returned to Ottawa where he took up a position coaching the Ottawa Army Team. He coached there for two seasons. He came back to the ice as a player with the Montreal Army Team in 1944–45. He played his last games with the Springfield IndiansSpringfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
in 1947
1946–47 AHL season
The 1946–47 AHL season was the 11th season of the American Hockey League. Ten teams played 64 games each in the schedule. The Cleveland Barons won their fifth F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy as West Division champions...
.
He later became a referee in the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
for several years.
After his various hockey careers ended he became the announcer at the Rideau-Carleton Raceway in Ottawa in 1962. He also served as the public relations director until his death in 1981. Des was inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 and onto the Rideau Carleton's Wall of Fame in 1989. The annual Des Smith Classic is held every September at the track.
Trivia
- Wore uniform # 11 for the Chicago Black HawksChicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
. - Wore uniform # 8 for the Boston BruinsBoston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
.