The Steamer
Stanley Philip Smyl was born (January 28, 1958) in Glendon, Alberta, Canada. He is a former professional hockey player. He played junior hockey for the New Westminster Bruins from 1974-1978. He played in three consecutive Memorial Cups, winning the championship back to back in 1977 and 1978. The Vancouver Canucks selected him 40th overall in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. He played his entire NHL career with the Canucks, retiring from the team in 1991.
Smyl played one season (1974-75) with the Bellingham Blazers of the British Columbia Hockey League. During his time there, he earned a reputation as a gritty, hard-nosed player who gave 100% every shift and took on all comers. It was his relentless, hard-working style of play that earned him the moniker “The Steamer.” In 48 games with the Blazers, he would amass 29 goals and 62 points during the regular season and 13 goals and 35 points in 25 playoff games.” Upon his retirement, Stan Smyl held several Canuck records, the leader in games played, goals, assists, and points. In later years former teammates Trevor Linden and Markus Naslund would surpass his team records. In addition, Henrik Sedin would pass his assists record. Smyl captained the Canucks for eight seasons, a team record that Henrik Sedin would tie. On November 3, 1991, Smyl’s number 12 jersey was raised to the rafters at the Pacific Coliseum, the former home of the Canucks, in honor of his retirement. A new banner was raised when the Canucks moved to GM place in 1997 and again in 2007 when the Canucks revamped their logo and team colors. Smyl’s number 12 was the first jersey to be retired by the Vancouver Canucks; it would later have company in the rafters when Pavel Bure’s number 10, Trevor Linden’s number 16, Markus Naslund’s number 19, and Daniel Sedin’s number 22, along with brother Henrik Sendin’s number 33 joined him at Rogers Arena.
After his playing career, Smyl embarked on a thirteen-year coaching career that saw him as an assistant with the Canucks while serving as head coach of the club’s minor league franchises: the Syracuse Crunch, Kansas City Blades Manitoba Moose. After being let go by the Moose in 2004, Smyl was assigned to the Canucks front office. He acted as director of player development and director of collegiate scouting before being named senior advisor on hockey operations to general manager Jim Benning, the position he is holding currently.
Junior Career
Smyl played one year of Junior A with the Bellingham Blazers (BCJHL) in 1974-75. During the playoffs, he registered 33 points in 25 playoff games and helped the team to the Fred Page championship as the league champions when they defeated the Kelowna Buckaroos 4-2. The team then moved on to play the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) champions for a shot at the 1975 Royal Bank Cup. Unfortunately, the Blazers fell short, losing the Pacific regional title to the Spruce Grove Mets.
The next season, Smyl began to play with the Western Canadian Hockey League (WCHL). In his first full season, he notched 74 points in 72 games and helped the Bruins to secure their second consecutive WCHL crown. Unfortunately, the Steamer and his Bruins would eventually lose the 1976 Memorial Cup to the Hamilton Fincups.
Smyl had another successful season in 1976-77, scoring 66 points in the regular season and a point in each of his 13 playoff games. He and the Bruins would win the franchise’s first major junior title in club history. In his third and final season in the WCJHL, Smyl achieved career highs in assists (47) and points (76) in only 53 games, 19 games less than he played in any previous two seasons. In the 1978 WCHL playoffs, he tallied 35 points in 20 games and won his third consecutive President’s Cup with the Bruins. Again in 1978, Smyl and the Bruins made their third consecutive appearance at the Memorial Cup, winning it for the second consecutive year, making them the first team to do so. This time, Smyl was named the tournament MVP and All-Star after accumulating 14 points in five games.
National Hockey League (Vancouver Canucks)
Stan Smyl was drafted 40th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft. He was placed on a line that featured two rookies, future star Thomas Gradin and tough guy Curt Fraser; the line was instrumental in the Canucks run to the 1982 Stanley Cup Final.
In his second season with the Canucks, Smyl blossomed into a point-per-game player, registering 31 goals and 78 points in 77 games. He broke Dennis Kearn’s consecutive game scoring streak set at 11 games three years earlier when he scored 5 goals and 22 assists between February and March 4, 1980; the streak ended at 12 games. Late in the 1981-82 season, Smyl was named team captain, replacing injured defenseman Kevin McCarthy who had broken his ankle during practice. Smyl would serve as the Canucks captain for a record eight years, later tied by Henrik Sedin.
The 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs were the most successful in Canucks history, the Canucks made a surprising run all the way to the Finals, defeating the Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, and Chicago Blackhawks before falling in four games to Mike Bossy and the New York Islanders, winners of the previous two Stanley Cup Finals. Smyl registered 19 points in 18 playoff games, second only to teammate Thomas Gradin.
The Steamer continued to excel after being named team captain. He recorded career highs in his first full season as the Canucks leader, potting 38 goals and 50 assists for a team-record 88 points. Patrik Sundstrom would eclipse this benchmark the following season, registering 91 points. Again, Smyl was relentless, setting franchise records. Late in the season, he scored rampage, notching (10 goals and 21 assists) over 16 games in March 1983. He also surpassed the consecutive point streak he set in 1980, scoring points in thirteen consecutive games from February 27 to March 23, sniping 8 goals and adding 19 helpers. Teammate Darcy Rota would break Smyl’s streak just six days’s later, setting the new record at 14 games. The Canucks began the 1983 playoffs against the Calgary Flames. They failed to defend their conference championship, losing the best of five series 3-1.
The following season 1983-84, Smyl’s point production began to decline. However, he remained an effective player, playing on a line with Darcy Rota and Thomas Gradin. The Canucks met the Calgary Flames in the first round of the playoffs, losing four games for the second consecutive year. The Canucks would not make the playoffs again for five years. On February 27, 1985, Smyl became that Canucks all-time leading goal scorer when he recorded his 187 career goals surpassing Don Lever.
On November 5, 1985, in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Smyl became the Canucks all-time leader in games played, passing Harold Snepts with 648 games played in a Canucks jersey. On December 14, 1985, he became the franchise all-time points leader when he collected his sixth career hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks, passing the record of 550 points set by Thomas Gradin. On January 16, 1987, he was awarded his first and only career penalty shot against Mike Vernon of the Calgary Flames. he scored in a 9-5 win.
Stan Smyl played his entire NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks. He was the heart and soul of the team and wore the “C” for a team-record eight seasons. He was a small player at 5 feet 8 inches, but he was tough as nails, tenacious, and had a never say die attitude that made him a fan favorite. After the 1990-91 season, he retired from professional hockey, making it official on July 3, 1991. Upon retirement, he held franchise records in every major statistical category with 262 goals, 411 assists, and 673 points in 896 games. On November 3, 1991, his number #12 was hung in the rafters of the Pacific Coliseum, making him the first Canuck to have his jersey retired. In 2000, he was inducted into the British Columbia Hockey Hall of fame.
It took more than a decade before his records began to fall. However, Trevor Linden eventually surpassed his goals record in 2002-03, and the following season 2003-04, Linden overtook the records for games played at 897 and points with 674. Linden surpassed Smyl’s last major milestone on November 8, 2007, to become the teams’ all-time leader in assists. Henrik Sedin later passed surpassed Linden’s assist record during the 2009-10 season. Records are made to be broken as Linden’s records in points and goals would later be broken by Canuck star Markus Naslund.
Internationally
Smyl was selected to play for the Canadian national junior team at the 1978 World Junior Championships in Quebec City and Montreal during his final year of junior. The team won a bronze medal. Smyl scored a goal and an assist in six games. After the Canucks became the first team to be eliminated from the 1985 Stanley Cup playoffs. Stan Smyl and four of his Canuck teammates were selected by Hockey Canada to play for the 1985 World Championships held in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Smyl scored the game-winner against the Soviet Union in game two of the second round. It was his only goal of the tournament in a 3-1 win. The victory gave Canada a chance to win their first gold medal in 24 years, but they fell short, losing the gold medal to Czechoslovakia 5-3. As a result, Canada came home with the silver medal.
Canucks Management
After his playing days, Smyl stayed with the Vancouver Canucks organization; he served in several capacities over the years. He served as a coach for the team’s minor league affiliates and assistant coach of the Canucks. In addition, he spent time overseeing prospects within the system; he was appointed to the newly created position of Director of Player Development. Although he is currently employed as Senior Advisor to general manager Mike Gillis, he still partly oversees collegiate scouting.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1974–75 | Bellingham Blazers | BCHL | 48 | 29 | 33 | 62 | 115 | 25 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 15 |
| 1974–75 | New Westminster Bruins | WCHL | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 1975–76 | New Westminster Bruins | WCHL | 72 | 32 | 42 | 74 | 169 | 19 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 58 |
| 1975–76 | New Westminster Bruins | MC | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 21 |
| 1976–77 | New Westminster Bruins | WCHL | 72 | 35 | 31 | 66 | 200 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 51 |
| 1976–77 | New Westminster Bruins | MC | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 1977–78 | New Westminster Bruins | WCHL | 53 | 29 | 47 | 76 | 211 | 20 | 14 | 21 | 35 | 43 |
| 1977–78 | New Westminster Bruins | MC | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 0 |
| 1978–79 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 62 | 14 | 24 | 38 | 89 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978–79 | Dallas Black Hawks | CHL | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1979–80 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 77 | 31 | 47 | 78 | 204 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| 1980–81 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 80 | 25 | 38 | 63 | 171 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1981–82 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 80 | 34 | 44 | 78 | 144 | 17 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 25 |
| 1982–83 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 74 | 38 | 50 | 88 | 114 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 12 |
| 1983–84 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 80 | 24 | 43 | 67 | 136 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 1984–85 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 80 | 27 | 37 | 64 | 100 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1985–86 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 73 | 27 | 35 | 62 | 144 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1986–87 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 66 | 20 | 23 | 43 | 84 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1987–88 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 57 | 12 | 25 | 37 | 110 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1988–89 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 75 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 102 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 1989–90 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 47 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1990–91 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 45 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 87 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | 896 | 262 | 411 | 673 | 1556 | 41 | 16 | 17 | 33 | 64 |
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Canada | WJC | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |
| 1985 | Canada | WC | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
Awards
Junior
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Fred Page Cup (BCJHL title, Bellingham Blazers) | 1975 |
| President’s Cup (WCHL title, New Westminster Bruins) | 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 |
| Memorial Cup (Canadian major junior title, New Westminster Bruins) | 1977, 1978 |
| Memorial Cup All-Star Team | 1978 |
| Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy (Memorial Cup MVP) | 1978 |
Vancouver Canucks
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Most Exciting Player Award | 1980 |
| Cyclone Taylor Award (team MVP) | 1980, 1983, 1986 |
| Cyrus H. McLean Trophy (team leading scorer) | 1980, 1983 |
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