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OHL Ottawa 67's

Then and Now: Catching up with Bobby Smith

December 2, 2009 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Ottawa 67's News Release


Then:Bobby Smith joined the Ottawa 67's in 1975 as one of eight players within the city limits who were protected from the draft (a practice that has since ended). Born in Sydney Nova Scotia, Bobby was 2-years old when his family moved to Ottawa where he developed through the Ottawa minor hockey system.

His three seasons with the 67's leaves a record that is still remarkable over 30 years later: 187 games, 158 goals, 386 points, 117 PIMs, CHL Player of the Year (77-78), Most Outstanding Player of the Year (77-78), and Scoring Champion (77-78). All this while also achieving academic success as a straight A student in both high school and the University of Ottawa.

First overall draft pick of the Minnesota North Stars in 1978, Bobby went on to win the Calder Trophy, reach the SCF finals three times, winning the coveted Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986 and eventually becoming the General Manager of the Phoenix Coyotes from 1997 - 2000.

His Ottawa 67's jersey (#15) was retired and in the 79-80 season, the Bobby Smith OHL Scholastic Award was established. The award acknowledges players who, like Bobby, combine excellence on the ice as well as in the classroom.

With all of this success in hockey, Bobby looks back on his second year with the Ottawa 67's as the most fun he had playing hockey. Everything came together for him that year; he matured from a marginal player (his words) to a player that averaged a goal a game and helped his team win the Ontario Championship. It was then that he understood that he wanted to, and could, play in the NHL.

Now:Athletic, smart and successful; he sounds like a leading character from an action thriller novel. But instead of death-defying feats of heroism saving the world from evil, we catch up with Bobby in Scottsdale Arizona where he lives with his wife Beth.

While retired from the NHL, he is still very involved in hockey as the majority owner of the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads. Not interested in coaching or being a GM, he enjoys watching practices, joining the occasional road trip and chatting with the players. He spends about 10 days a month in Halifax taking care of business.

When asked why the Ottawa Valley and the Outaouais have produced so many NHL players, coaches and general managers, (Brian Murray, Terry Murray, Jacques Martin, Pat Burns, Sean Donovan just to name a very few) he credits the Ottawa 67's for providing inspiration for local hockey players for the past 4+ decades. The NHL seemed more attainable when Denis Potvin, the kid from Vanier made the show. He has seen the same impact of the Halifax Mooseheads on kids playing hockey in the Maritimes. (Sidney Crosby once remarked that he grew up watching and admiring the Mooseheads - and look where it got him!)

He still plays hockey when he gets the chance, claims to still carry his playing weight and to have recently benched 250. Banging around hockey rinks for a couple of decades can take its toll but despite having suffered several injuries over his career, including breaking his jaw twice, he is enjoying good physical health. He states the key is never having had a serious knee injury. The only possible flaw in our hockey hero is that, living in Arizona where you fall over a golf course walking ten steps in any direction, he studiously avoids the game. Now that's odd for a hockey player.

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