Looking back at the career of iconic NHL and WHA goalie Gary “Suitcase” Smith.
After retiring, and ballooning to 250 pounds, Suitcase Smith was called back into action by the 1978-1979 Winnipeg Jets, and went on to lead them to a WHA Avco Cup Championship.
Includes Winnipeg Jets highlights, Vancouver Canucks highlights, Washington Capitals highlights, Edmonton Oilers highlights, Chicago Blackhawks highlights and NHL highlights
#nhlhockey #nhlhighlights #winnipegjets #vancouvercanucks #washingtoncapitals #hockeyhistory #nhlhistory #icehockey #hockeynews
47 Comments
wonder what current goalie stats would be like if they had to wear 1980s scale equipment?
Well done sir subscribed
I don't think you mentioned it, if you did I missed it. I recently learned that Smith had 1 penalty shot save in his NHL career.
He stopped a penalty shot in the 3rd period on March 5, 1978 at the Detroit Olympia arena, the shooter was André St. Laurent.
Back in the day I used the titan hockey stick that gretz used, I loved those sticks. .
Gary did the Post game show ( after Canuck games ) at our restaurant in the early 90’s. A true gentleman and a great guy!
BORING AS FUCK DO NOT RECOMMEND CHANEL
Misleading title.
The Jets never had any glory.
Great video – thanks for doing this!!!
I remember opening pack of hockey cards in the 1970's and pulling his card out laughing at this crazy hair and face. Great story
His teammates called him Gary suitcase smith
Well put together doc. Good script. Knew him from the VAN days. P H A has some competition.
It all started with the nagging wife who made sure he kept on track to get a hockey job!!!
Wayne Gretzky sitting next to Smith in Racers team photo
Arguably, the greatest hockey nickname ever!
Old hockey and the allman bros…. I wanna go back to the 70s. I especially miss the way goalies played and their small gear. The game just ain't the same for me today. From the on ice product to the culture to players and their personalities, todays hockey just doesnt give me feel it once did.
Excellent presentation! Thank you for such a good mini doc.
Did your wife just leave you? 😅
She do that to make him crazy.
Please, talk a bit faster.
Lol he looks like will farrel in that basketball movie. 😆 🤣
I'm from the Peg and grew up in the NHL Golden Era of the 80s. Seeing old Winnipeg Arena brings back so many memories.
If I got lost in a rink, I wouldn't mind coming across that suite accidentally. There were some 70s rockets in there. The ginger smokeshow on the end of the couch? YEW!
Great video! Watched him play in two games! The first on December 26/73 in Vancouver against the California Golden Seals and again on New Year’s Day of 74 against the Big Bad Bruins! Two games I will never forget as a 12 year old kid from Saskatchewan out there for Christmas of that year!!👍👍
Thank you for the fun story. Good ol days
Nice work…
Nice work…
Good show!
remember Smith in vancouver
I’m happy I found this detailed account since this happened before my time. An under appreciated redemption story at the end of an important era in pro hockey. You’re earned by subscription
Should have told the Ballard's dog food story! One of the best one-liners of all time!
If you speak just a little bit faster not one single person will be able to follow. Why settle fore a few still understanding when you can make the narration 100% unintelligible!?
what great story! quite the character!!!
I've still got some of his cards from the 70s.
That's not a nagging wife, that's a supportive wife. We'd all be so lucky to have someone who cares enough to push us to success and put so much work into paving the way for us as best they could.
Back when Goalies weren't all 6'4" guys with massive pads.
I remember Gary Smith exactly as pictured. I saw Smith in his full length fur coat strolling through the Main Concourse at the Coliseum in Vancouver, accompanied by George Gardner who was clad in a cerulean blue, Nehru collared suit. Good times!
I was at that Championship game with a buddy. Myself, my brother and a friend went three ways on two season tickets for the last 3 years of the WHA and then into the NHL.
Good info but the video is confusing because it jumps back and forth. Maybe a timeline or just follow chronological order.
What a great story! Thanks.
Worth noting that photographic evidence of the answer to the trivia question "what was Gretzky's first professional team" appears at 0:26.
A Canuck "insider" told me that at a team party, Arthur Griffith introduced Gary to his mother (Canucks team owner). As a topic for conversation, Arthur told Gary that his mother was also the CEO of Ballard pet food. Gary replied to her that he'd seen her picture on the cans. A week later Gary got traded to the North Stars for Cesare Maniago.
An interesting bio from a fascinating time period in pro hockey with the rival WHA league. Well done 👍
There's a hilarious or tragic story regarding Suitcase Smith on how he ended his days in Vancouver. It involves a very drunk Smith after being introduced to the owner and his wife of the Ballard's dog food company during a party of who's who and Smith's response after meeting the CEO's wife " I see the resemblance on the can " <- paraphrasing.
He was sent to the minors immediately and the trade was initiated soon after. When he was focused he was nothing short of awesome.
I do love a good redemption story. Thanks for posting this.
One of the best logos in the history of sports.
Interesting video BUT,… to put it diplomatically, your delivery needs a LOT of work. It's needlessly fast, you sound bored, everything is monotone,… To be sure, I checked older videos and newer ones – same thing. You have a great way of compiling things + your topics are interesting but I can't get past the delivery.
It's all well-written and the pics are great, but you sound like a 5th grader reading an essay for the class.