edmontonoilers

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 accidentally ran him over with his car at the age of eight.^[1]

Playing career

Smyth was drafted 6th overall by the Oilers in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He 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 the fastest three goals on October 12th, 2006 when he scored three goals in 2 minutes and one second. He went on to play the next eight and a half seasons in Edmonton. He 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. His dedication to the team means he is a favourite among many young fans.

Besides his play for the Oilers, Smyth is also well-known for representing Canada each time he is invited to play for 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 was drafted.

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. 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 off the logo on 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]

In the Oilers' current roster, Ryan Smyth is the longest serving Oiler.

On October 12, 2006, Smyth scored three goals in 2:01, breaking Wayne Gretzky's club record for the fastest three goals by an Oiler. It was Smyth's fifth careert hat trick.[1]

Personal

Smyth and his wife Stacey have two daughters, Isabella and Elizabeth.

Ryan Smyth has a brother named Kevin who was compared to Cam Neely until an eye injury ended his playing career.

Awards

• WHL East Second All-Star Team - 1995

Career statistics

International play

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

References

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