James Stephen Smith
| Steve Smith | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
April 30, 1963 Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom |
||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
Edmonton Oilers Chicago Blackhawks Calgary Flames |
||
| National team |
 Canada
|
||
| NHL Draft | 111th overall, 1981 Edmonton Oilers |
||
| Playing career | 1984–2000 | ||
James Stephen Smith (born April 30, 1963), better known as Steve Smith, is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey defenceman and current assistant coach of the Carolina Hurricanes. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1984–85 to 2000–01. He is best-remembered for scoring a critical own goal in the playoffs of his rookie year in Game 7 of the 1986 Smythe Division Final against the Calgary Flames, in which Calgary went on to win the game 3-2 and the series 4-3.
Smith was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft in the 6th round, 111th overall. He began his NHL career in 1985, playing in 55 regular season games and six playoff games. On April 30, 1986 (his 23rd birthday), Smith and the Oilers were playing in Game 7 of the Smythe Division Final against the arch-rival Calgary Flames. With 14:46 remaining in the third period, and the score tied 2-2, he picked up the puck behind his own net and tried to clear it out of the zone. Instead, the puck ricocheted off goaltender Grant Fuhr and into the Edmonton net. The Oilers never recovered and ultimately lost the series, while Calgary went on to the Stanley Cup Finals. Flames forward Perry Berezan was credited with scoring this series-clinching goal.
Fans were outraged at Smith's error although his teammates stood by him in support. The next year, the Oilers would regain the Stanley Cup and Wayne Gretzky let Smith have the first turn skating with the trophy to redeem him for fans.
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