This unemployed and out of shape goalie led the Winnipeg Jets to glory 

I'm from the Peg and grew up in the NHL Golden Era of the 80s. Seeing old Winnipeg Arena brings back so many memories.

First ever game my dad took me to at Maple Leaf Gardens, Suitcase was in goal for the Seals. He would drop the puck and stick handle to center ice. The second game my dad took me to was Vancouver. Suitcase was again in goal.

I consider myself a hockey historian but, as someone born in 1987, I never got to learn much about the WHA beyond what we can read about today. My dad always told me how they didnt have TV deals like the NHL and that's why there's not really much footage of the WHA in comparison. But I always wondered who stopped that Gretzky Oilers WHA team. Now I know! Pretty crazy, clearly Winnipeg was a great team with poor coaching and poor goaltending. And Smith being a former Vezina shared-winner, regardless of if it was the shared era (It was basically like the Jennings back then really) it's still impressive, having that on his resume probably got him that opportunity. The guy played for utterly horrible teams for half of his career, and yet he nearly carried the Oakland Seals through a playoff round 1 year! Definitely someone interesting to learn about :)

Arguably, the greatest hockey nickname ever!

Shades of the movie Slapshot. Great story

Gary did the Post game show ( after Canuck games ) at our restaurant in the early 90’s. A true gentleman and a great guy!

What an interesting player. Never heard of him until your video! Great breakdown and history of Gary Smith's career!

Great video! Watched him play in two games! The first on December 26/73 in Vancouver against the California Golden Seals and again on New Year’s Day of 74 against the Big Bad Bruins! Two games I will never forget as a 12 year old kid from Saskatchewan out there for Christmas of that year!!👍👍

Awesome documentary

*_what great story! quite the character!!!_*

I was at that Championship game with a buddy. Myself, my brother and a friend went three ways on two season tickets for the last 3 years of the WHA and then into the NHL.

Old hockey and the allman bros.... I wanna go back to the 70s. I especially miss the way goalies played and their small gear. The game just ain't the same for me today. From the on ice product to the culture to players and their personalities, todays hockey just doesnt give me feel it once did.

I don't think you mentioned it, if you did I missed it. I recently learned that Smith had 1 penalty shot save in his NHL career. He stopped a penalty shot in the 3rd period on March 5, 1978 at the Detroit Olympia arena, the shooter was André St. Laurent.

I’m happy I found this detailed account since this happened before my time. An under appreciated redemption story at the end of an important era in pro hockey. You’re earned by subscription

One of the best logos in the history of sports.

I remember Gary Smith exactly as pictured. I saw Smith in his full length fur coat strolling through the Main Concourse at the Coliseum in Vancouver, accompanied by George Gardner who was clad in a cerulean blue, Nehru collared suit. Good times!

I've still got some of his cards from the 70s.

There's a hilarious or tragic story regarding Suitcase Smith on how he ended his days in Vancouver. It involves a very drunk Smith after being introduced to the owner and his wife of the Ballard's dog food company during a party of who's who and Smith's response after meeting the CEO's wife " I see the resemblance on the can "

Great storytelling!

Excellent presentation! Thank you for such a good mini doc.

Worth noting that photographic evidence of the answer to the trivia question "what was Gretzky's first professional team" appears at 0:26.

I do love a good redemption story. Thanks for posting this.

Great video, thanks!

Thank you for the fun story. Good ol days

What a great story! Thanks.

An interesting bio from a fascinating time period in pro hockey with the rival WHA league. Well done 👍

Should have told the Ballard's dog food story! One of the best one-liners of all time!

Great video - thanks for doing this!!!

Well done sir subscribed

wonder what current goalie stats would be like if they had to wear 1980s scale equipment?

Back in the day I used the titan hockey stick that gretz used, I loved those sticks. .

I remember well when Gary was back up to Tony-O in Chicago!

I remember opening pack of hockey cards in the 1970's and pulling his card out laughing at this crazy hair and face. Great story

Wayne Gretzky sitting next to Smith in Racers team photo

Good show!

A Canuck "insider" told me that at a team party, Arthur Griffith introduced Gary to his mother (Canucks team owner). As a topic for conversation, Arthur told Gary that his mother was also the CEO of Ballard pet food. Gary replied to her that he'd seen her picture on the cans. A week later Gary got traded to the North Stars for Cesare Maniago.

You know, he hated that suit case trend phrase.

remember Smith in vancouver

Good info but the video is confusing because it jumps back and forth. Maybe a timeline or just follow chronological order.

That's not a nagging wife, that's a supportive wife. We'd all be so lucky to have someone who cares enough to push us to success and put so much work into paving the way for us as best they could.

If I got lost in a rink, I wouldn't mind coming across that suite accidentally. There were some 70s rockets in there. The ginger smokeshow on the end of the couch? YEW!

Well put together doc. Good script. Knew him from the VAN days. P H A has some competition.

Back when Goalies weren't all 6'4" guys with massive pads.

Lol he looks like will farrel in that basketball movie. 😆 🤣

Nice work…

She do that to make him crazy.

His teammates called him Gary suitcase smith

I miss the days when athletes had to work a second job to survive.

It all started with the nagging wife who made sure he kept on track to get a hockey job!!!

It's all well-written and the pics are great, but you sound like a 5th grader reading an essay for the class.

Interesting video BUT,... to put it diplomatically, your delivery needs a LOT of work. It's needlessly fast, you sound bored, everything is monotone,... To be sure, I checked older videos and newer ones - same thing. You have a great way of compiling things + your topics are interesting but I can't get past the delivery.

Did your wife just leave you? 😅

Misleading title. The Jets never had any glory.

Please, talk a bit faster.

If you speak just a little bit faster not one single person will be able to follow. Why settle fore a few still understanding when you can make the narration 100% unintelligible!?

It's Gary that's why.

Nice work…