Devante Smith-Pelly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Devante Smith-Pelly
Smith-Pelly with the Washington Capitals in April 2018
Born	(1992-06-14) June 14, 1992 (age 33) Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	223 lb (101 kg; 15 st 13 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Anaheim Ducks Montreal Canadiens New Jersey Devils Washington Capitals Kunlun Red Star
NHL Draft	42nd overall, 2010 Anaheim Ducks
Playing career	2011–2022

Devante Malik Smith-Pelly (born June 14, 1992) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a winger. The Anaheim Ducks chose him in the second round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Smith-Pelly was known for his strong play and for hitting opponents to get the puck. He won the Stanley Cup, ice hockey's biggest prize, with the Washington Capitals in 2018.

Playing Career

Junior Hockey Days

Devante Smith-Pelly started his major junior hockey career in the 2008–09 season. He played for the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In his first year, he scored 25 points in 57 games. During the playoffs that year, he scored a goal in triple-overtime. This goal helped his team win a very long game!

The next season, he got even better, scoring 62 points. Because of his great play, the Anaheim Ducks picked him in the 2010 NHL Draft.

Smith-Pelly in February 2012, during his first NHL season.

He played one more season in the OHL, scoring a career-high 36 goals and 66 points. His team made it to the OHL Finals but lost. However, they still got to play in the 2011 Memorial Cup, which is a big national tournament for junior teams. They reached the final game but lost again. Devante played well and was named to the Tournament All-Star Team.

Becoming a Professional Player

Even though he could have played another year in junior hockey, Devante made the Anaheim Ducks team in 2011. This was his first time playing in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played 26 games before joining the Canadian national junior team.

Smith-Pelly playing for the New Jersey Devils in March 2016.

In the 2014–15 season, Devante was traded from the Ducks to the Montreal Canadiens. This happened in February 2015. The next season, he started strong with the Canadiens. But after scoring 6 goals in 46 games, he was traded again. This time, he went to the New Jersey Devils in February 2016. He signed a new contract with the Devils for two years.

After the 2016–17 season, the Devils decided to let him go. This is called "placing him on waivers" and "buying out his contract." It means they ended his contract early.

In July 2017, Devante signed a new contract with the Washington Capitals. During the 2017–18 season, something unfair happened to him. Some fans at a game made rude comments towards him because of his race. The team and the NHL quickly took action. They removed the fans and banned them from the arena for life. The NHL and the Blackhawks team apologized to Devante.

That same season, Devante helped the Capitals win the Stanley Cup for the first time ever! He scored seven goals in the playoffs. One of his most important goals was the tying goal in the final game against the Vegas Golden Knights. This goal helped the Capitals win the championship. He was only the second player in NHL history with a hyphenated last name to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup.

In the 2018–19 season, Devante continued to play for the Capitals. He was later sent to their minor league team, the Hershey Bears, for a short time. He returned to the Capitals for the playoffs that year.

After leaving the Capitals, Devante decided to play hockey in another country. In October 2019, he signed a one-year contract with HC Kunlun Red Star in China. This team plays in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He scored 11 points in 36 games there.

Later, in 2021, he returned to North America. He played for the Ontario Reign in the American Hockey League (AHL). While with the Reign, he played on a line with two other Black players, Quinton Byfield and Akil Thomas. This was the first time the team had an all-Black line in its history.

Devante Smith-Pelly announced he was retiring from professional hockey on December 30, 2022.

International Play

Smith-Pelly as a member of Team Canada at the 2012 World Junior Championships
Medal record
Representing Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze	2012 Canada
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
Gold	2009 Canada

Devante first played for Hockey Canada, which manages Canada's national hockey teams, in 2009. He played for Team Ontario in the 2009 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He helped his team win a gold medal.

In 2012, while playing for the Anaheim Ducks, he was chosen to play for the Canadian junior team at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He was named an alternate captain for the team. In the first game, he broke a bone in his foot. Even though he was hurt, he stayed with the team. Canada went on to win the bronze medal, and Devante received a medal too.

Personal Life

After winning the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018, Devante Smith-Pelly made a personal choice. He, along with two teammates, decided not to visit the White House. This is a tradition for championship teams. He chose not to go because of the political discussions happening at the time.

Awards and Honours