Kevin Smyth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kevin Smyth |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | November 22, 1973 Banff, Alberta, Canada |
||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb) | ||
| Position | Left Wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Hartford Whalers | ||
| NHL Draft | 79th overall, 1992 Hartford Whalers |
||
| Playing career | 1993–2002 | ||
Kevin Smyth is a former professional ice hockey player from Canada. He was born on November 22, 1973. Kevin played as a left wing and was known for his hard work on the ice. He played 58 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Hartford Whalers between 1993 and 1996. Even though his time in the NHL was short, he was a very good scorer in junior leagues and a strong player in the minor leagues.
Kevin's younger brother, Ryan Smyth, also became a famous ice hockey player for the Edmonton Oilers.
Kevin Smyth's Hockey Journey
Kevin Smyth was picked by the Hartford Whalers in 1992. He was the 79th player chosen overall. Before this, he had a great season with the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Western Hockey League (WHL), scoring 30 goals.
After being drafted, he went back to play one more year in junior hockey. He scored an amazing 44 goals that season! Then, in the 1993-94 season, he played 21 games as a rookie in the NHL for the Whalers.
Playing in the Minor Leagues
For most of his first three years as a professional player, Kevin spent time in the American Hockey League (AHL). He would sometimes be called up to play for the Hartford Whalers when other players were injured. He was a hard-working forward who always gave his best.
In 1996, Kevin joined the Orlando Solar Bears in the IHL. He became a very important player for that team. Later in his career, he played for teams like the Bentley Generals and the Innisfail Eagles in the Chinook Hockey League.
A Challenging Injury and Brave Return
On December 28, 1996, Kevin faced a very serious challenge during a game. A puck hit him in his right eye after it was shot and bounced off a stick. The impact was strong enough to cause a severe eye injury, making him temporarily unable to see from that eye.
Despite this serious injury, Kevin showed incredible courage. He worked hard to recover and returned to playing hockey on March 19, 1997. In his very first game back after the injury, he even helped set up a goal for his team! This showed how determined and strong he was.
