Gary "Axe/Suitcase" Smith
1975 NHL All-Star Campbell Conference Game Worn Jersey
What you are looking at right now is a 1975 NHL All-Star Game game worn jersey utilized by Gary "Axe" Smith (aka "Suitcase") on January 21, 1975 vs the Wales Conference. In the game, Smith formed a tandem with Bernie Parent and he stopped 13 of 17 shots that he faced in 30 minutes of action.
Born on February 4, 1944, in Ottawa, Ontario, Gary Smith was property of the Toronto Maple Leafs and won the Memorial Cup with the OHA-jr's Toronto Marlboros in 1964. He turned pro in 1964-65, spending time in the CPHL, WHL, and AHL respectively. In 1965-66, he became the split-starter in Rochester, but on February 19, 1966, he got to make his NHL debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Smith started in goal vs the New York Rangers and stopped 34 shots in a 3-1 defeat. He also formed a tandem with Al Smith, one of the relatively few NHL goalie tandems of goalies with the same last name. That same season, he was also an AHL Calder Cup Champion. After a couple of seasons in Toronto, Smith was acquired by the Oakland Seals in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. Over four seasons in the Oakland/California Seals' system, he got his first shot at a number one NHL spot, and despite the weak team he was on, he had solid numbers outside of the win/loss column. He also set a then-NHL record for most games played in a season for a goalie with 71 in 1970-71, though that same season also set an all-time NHL record for most losses in a season with 48, a record which still holds today.
Smith was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for the 1971-72 season and formed a deadly tandem with Tony Esposito, as he won a Vezina Trophy and was a part of the Stanley Cup Final run of theirs in 1973. Acquired by the Vancouver Canucks in 1973-74, Smith once again became an NHL number one, having three solid seasons in the early days of the Canucks franchise. He played in 189 regular season games over those three seasons recording 11 shutouts and 72 wins. He also played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1974-75. After being traded to the Minnesota North Stars in 1976-77, Smith's load gradually diminished to 36 games, then 20 combined NHL games with Minnesota and Washington in 1977-78 (though winning a CHL Championship in 1978), before he turned to the WHA. It looked like it was over for him while with the Indianapolis Racers as he went 0-10-1 in 11 games with them. Out of pro hockey, after that streak, but with pressure from his wife to call GMs to get another shot, Smith was invited to join the Jets in the WHA and he went 7-3-0 in 11 games with them, before leading them to the Avco World Trophy. He also allowed the final ever goal in the WHA's history. He remained with the Jets when they joined the NHL in 1979-80, playing the first ever NHL game for the franchise.
In his NHL career, Gary Smith appeared in 532 regular season games, going 174-255-74 with 26 shutouts, 8 assists, a 3.39GAA, and a 0.894% save average. In 20 playoff games, he went 5-13 with 1 shutout, a 3.23GAA, and a 0.902% save average.
Acquired from: Global Vintage Sports, originally from Smith's personal collection, then made its way through various collections and auctions before ending up with us.
Dates of Game Use:
January 21, 1975 vs Wales Conferences (13-17, 7-1)
Photomatched: No, referenced only
Born on February 4, 1944, in Ottawa, Ontario, Gary Smith was property of the Toronto Maple Leafs and won the Memorial Cup with the OHA-jr's Toronto Marlboros in 1964. He turned pro in 1964-65, spending time in the CPHL, WHL, and AHL respectively. In 1965-66, he became the split-starter in Rochester, but on February 19, 1966, he got to make his NHL debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Smith started in goal vs the New York Rangers and stopped 34 shots in a 3-1 defeat. He also formed a tandem with Al Smith, one of the relatively few NHL goalie tandems of goalies with the same last name. That same season, he was also an AHL Calder Cup Champion. After a couple of seasons in Toronto, Smith was acquired by the Oakland Seals in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. Over four seasons in the Oakland/California Seals' system, he got his first shot at a number one NHL spot, and despite the weak team he was on, he had solid numbers outside of the win/loss column. He also set a then-NHL record for most games played in a season for a goalie with 71 in 1970-71, though that same season also set an all-time NHL record for most losses in a season with 48, a record which still holds today.
Smith was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for the 1971-72 season and formed a deadly tandem with Tony Esposito, as he won a Vezina Trophy and was a part of the Stanley Cup Final run of theirs in 1973. Acquired by the Vancouver Canucks in 1973-74, Smith once again became an NHL number one, having three solid seasons in the early days of the Canucks franchise. He played in 189 regular season games over those three seasons recording 11 shutouts and 72 wins. He also played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1974-75. After being traded to the Minnesota North Stars in 1976-77, Smith's load gradually diminished to 36 games, then 20 combined NHL games with Minnesota and Washington in 1977-78 (though winning a CHL Championship in 1978), before he turned to the WHA. It looked like it was over for him while with the Indianapolis Racers as he went 0-10-1 in 11 games with them. Out of pro hockey, after that streak, but with pressure from his wife to call GMs to get another shot, Smith was invited to join the Jets in the WHA and he went 7-3-0 in 11 games with them, before leading them to the Avco World Trophy. He also allowed the final ever goal in the WHA's history. He remained with the Jets when they joined the NHL in 1979-80, playing the first ever NHL game for the franchise.
In his NHL career, Gary Smith appeared in 532 regular season games, going 174-255-74 with 26 shutouts, 8 assists, a 3.39GAA, and a 0.894% save average. In 20 playoff games, he went 5-13 with 1 shutout, a 3.23GAA, and a 0.902% save average.
Acquired from: Global Vintage Sports, originally from Smith's personal collection, then made its way through various collections and auctions before ending up with us.
Dates of Game Use:
January 21, 1975 vs Wales Conferences (13-17, 7-1)
Photomatched: No, referenced only
