Stan Smyl | |||
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Born |
Glendon, Alberta, Canada | January 28, 1958||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||
Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
Position | Right wing | ||
Shot | Right | ||
Played for | Vancouver Canucks | ||
National team | Canada | ||
NHL draft |
40th overall, 1978 Vancouver Canucks | ||
Playing career | 1978–1991 | ||
Medal record |
Stanley Philip Smyl (born January 28, 1958) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. He was selected 40th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft and went on to play his entire NHL career with the team until his retirement in 1991. He featured in the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals with the Canucks.
Smyl was born in Glendon, Alberta, but grew up in nearby St. Paul, Alberta. As a junior, he appeared in three consecutive Memorial Cups with the New Westminster Bruins, winning the championship in 1977 and 1978.
Nicknamed "Steamer" by the Bellingham Blazer fans for his relentless and hard-nosed style of play,[1] he served as captain for a team record eight seasons, later tied by Henrik Sedin. He retired as the Canucks' all-time leader in games played, goals, assists and points – all of which have been since surpassed by Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Smyl's number 12 was the first retired number in Canucks' history, as it was raised to the Pacific Coliseum rafters in 1991. It now hangs with Pavel Bure's number 10, Trevor Linden's number 16, Markus Näslund's number 19, Daniel Sedin's number 22, and Henrik Sedin's number 33 at Rogers Arena.
The end of his playing career coincided with the beginning of a 13-year coaching career, serving as an assistant with the Canucks and a head coach with the club's minor league affiliates: the Syracuse Crunch, Kansas City Blades and Manitoba Moose. Upon being let go as coach of the Moose, he was reassigned to the Canucks' front office where he has served as director of player development and director of collegiate scouting, before being appointed role as senior advisor on hockey operations. In December 2021, Smyl briefly served as interim general manager of the Canucks after general manager Jim Benning was relieved of his duties.