Kevin Smyth facts for kids

Kevin Smyth, born on November 22, 1973, is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 58 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Hartford Whalers.

Even though his time in the NHL was short, he was a fantastic scorer in junior leagues. He was also a strong, all-around player in the minor leagues. Kevin's younger brother, Ryan Smyth, was also a well-known ice hockey player. Ryan played for many years with 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 in the draft. This happened after he scored 30 goals for the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

He went back to play junior hockey and scored 44 goals. Then, in the 1993-94 season, he played 21 games as a rookie in the NHL. For his first three professional seasons, Kevin mostly played in the American Hockey League (AHL). However, the Whalers would call him up to the NHL when other players were injured.

In 1996, Kevin joined the Orlando Solar Bears in the IHL. He became a very reliable player there. Later in his career, he played for teams like the Bentley Generals and the Innisfail Eagles in the Chinook Hockey League.

A Serious Eye Injury

On December 28, 1996, Kevin Smyth faced a scary moment during a game. A puck was shot and hit his stick, then bounced directly into his right eye. The puck hit his eye with so much force that it caused a serious injury. It detached his retina and damaged his eyeball, which could have caused him to lose his sight.

Doctors said the puck hit his eye with incredible power. Despite this severe injury, Kevin showed amazing courage. He returned to play hockey on March 19, 1997. In his very first game back, he even recorded an assist! This showed his strong spirit and determination.