Wikipedia

Gemel Smith

This article is about the ice hockey player. For the cricketer, see Jamal Smith. For the association footballer, see Jamaal Smith.

Gemel Smith (born April 16, 1994) is a Jamaican-Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL). He has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Dallas Stars, who selected him 104th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, as well as the Boston Bruins Detroit Red Wings, and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Gemel Smith
Smith with the Texas Stars in 2015
Born (1994-04-16) April 16, 1994 (age 30)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
AHL team
Former teams		 Syracuse Crunch
Dallas Stars
Boston Bruins
Tampa Bay Lightning
Detroit Red Wings
Dinamo Minsk
Kunlun Red Star
NHL draft 104th overall, 2012
Dallas Stars
Playing career 2014–present

Playing career

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Smith first played midget hockey with the Markham Majors before playing with the North York Rangers of the Greater Toronto Major Midget Hockey League before he was selected 120th overall in the Ontario Hockey League's 2010 OHL Priority Selection by the Owen Sound Attack. In his first major junior season in 2010–11 with the Attack he finished with 16 points in 66 games.

After completing his OHL career with the London Knights, he was signed by the Dallas Stars to a three-year, entry-level contract on May 31, 2014.[1] He made his professional debut in the following 2014–15 season, after he was assigned by the Stars to their AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars. In 68 games with Texas, Smith contributed with 10 goals and 27 points in 68 games as a rookie.

In the 2016–17 season, with a rash of injuries suffered in Dallas, Smith received his first recall to the NHL on October 22, 2016.[2] He made his NHL debut with the Stars that night, skating on the fourth-line in a 3–0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.[3] In his seventh game with the Stars, Smith scored his first two NHL goals in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on November 6, 2016.[4]

On July 11, 2017, the Stars re-signed Smith to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000.[5] In his first full season with the club, Smith recorded six goals and 11 points in 46 games, often finding himself as a healthy scratch.

On August 3, 2018, the Stars re-signed Smith to a one-year, $720,000 contract extension.[6] During the 2018–19 season, on December 6, Smith was claimed on waivers by the Boston Bruins.[7][8] Smith appeared in three games with Boston before he was re-assigned to Boston's AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, upon clearing waivers on December 19, 2018.[9] In playing out his contract in Providence, Smith was an offensive presence, contributing 40 points in 47 games.

As an impending restricted free agent, Smith was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Bruins, releasing him as an unrestricted free agent on June 25, 2019.[10] He signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 8, 2019.[11]

Smith was one of the eight players called up to the Lightning for their training camp prior to the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.[12]

Following back-to-back championships with the Lightning, Smith began the 2021–22 season on the long-term injured reserve. After returning to health, Smith was claimed on waivers from the Lightning by the Detroit Red Wings on January 19, 2022.[13] He was assigned by the Red Wings to a conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, on January 23, 2022.[14]

On February 19, 2022, the Lightning reclaimed Smith from the Red Wings, again on waivers.[15]

In the following 2022–23 season, Smith remained within the Lightning organization, continuing with the Syracuse Crunch. While placing third in team scoring, collecting 37 points through 35 games, Smith left the Crunch as he was re-assigned on loan by the Lightning to the Vegas Golden Knights' AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights, on February 16, 2023.[16] He played out the season in Henderson, posting 5 goals and 16 points through 19 games.

As a free agent from the Lightning, Smith paused his career in North America and was signed to a one-year contract with Belarusian club, HC Dinamo Minsk of the KHL, on July 20, 2023.[17] In the 2023–24 season, Smith collected 4 goals through just 15 appearances with Dinamo before he was released from his contract and promptly signed for the remainder of the season with Chinese KHL outfit, Kunlun Red Star, on November 29, 2023.[18]

Personal life

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Smith is of Jamaican descent through both parents.[19] His younger brother, Givani, was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft,[20] and currently plays for the San Jose Sharks.

During the 2018–19 NHL season, Smith was battling depression-like symptoms and had a hard time sleeping. He said he "made himself go into a sunken place". While with the Boston Bruins, Patrice Bergeron suggested he get help.[21]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2010–11 Owen Sound Attack OHL 66 8 8 16 14 — — — — —
2011–12 Owen Sound Attack OHL 68 21 39 60 51 5 1 2 3 10
2012–13 Owen Sound Attack OHL 61 23 29 52 54 12 7 3 10 10
2013–14 Owen Sound Attack OHL 40 26 22 48 37 — — — — —
2013–14 London Knights OHL 29 11 16 27 10 9 3 9 12 9
2014–15 Texas Stars AHL 68 10 17 27 38 — — — — —
2015–16 Texas Stars AHL 65 13 13 26 24 3 0 0 0 2
2015–16 Idaho Steelheads ECHL 4 1 3 4 2 — — — — —
2016–17 Texas Stars AHL 53 12 21 33 44 — — — — —
2016–17 Dallas Stars NHL 17 3 3 6 21 — — — — —
2017–18 Dallas Stars NHL 46 6 5 11 17 — — — — —
2018–19 Dallas Stars NHL 14 2 1 3 0 — — — — —
2018–19 Boston Bruins NHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2018–19 Providence Bruins AHL 47 16 24 40 32 2 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 3 1 0 1 4 — — — — —
2019–20 Syracuse Crunch AHL 50 22 18 40 50 — — — — —
2020–21 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 5 0 3 3 11 — — — — —
2020–21 Syracuse Crunch AHL 3 3 3 6 7 — — — — —
2021–22 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 3 0 1 1 8 — — — — —
2021–22 Detroit Red Wings NHL 3 0 1 1 5 — — — — —
2021–22 Syracuse Crunch AHL 13 5 3 8 2 3 1 0 1 0
2022–23 Syracuse Crunch AHL 35 13 24 37 89 — — — — —
2022–23 Henderson Silver Knights AHL 19 5 11 16 56 — — — — —
2023–24 Dinamo Minsk KHL 15 4 1 5 11 — — — — —
2023–24 Kunlun Red Star KHL 20 3 6 9 2 — — — — —
NHL totals 91 12 13 25 58 — — — — —

International

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Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2012 Canada U18 7 2 3 5 2
Junior totals 7 2 3 5 2

References

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  1. ^ "Dallas Stars sign forward Gemel Smith to entry-level deal". Dallas Stars. May 31, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  2. ^ "Stars recall Gemel Smith from Texas". Dallas Stars. October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  3. ^ "Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets defeat Stars". CBS Sports. October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  4. ^ "Smith shines as Stars lose in Overtime". Dallasnews.com. November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  5. ^ "Stars sign Gemel Smith to one-year, two-way deal". Sportsday. July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  6. ^ "Gemel Smith, Dallas Stars agree on one-year contract". ESPN. August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  7. ^ "Bruins Announce Transactions". NHL.com. December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  8. ^ Stepneski, Mark (December 6, 2018). "'I feel like a hockey player': Hanzal to make season debut vs. Sharks". NHL.com. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  9. ^ "Bruins assign Gemel Smith to Providence". Boston Bruins. December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  10. ^ "Gemel Smith set to hit free agency". CBS Sports. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  11. ^ "Lightning sign forward Gemel Smith to one-year, two-way contract". Tampa Bay Lightning. July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  12. ^ "Lightning announce 2020 training camp roster, schedule". nhl.com/lightning. July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  13. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (January 19, 2022). "Red Wings claim Gemel Smith from Tampa Bay". NHL.com. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  14. ^ "Gemel Smith joins Grand Rapids for conditioning". Detroit Red Wings. January 23, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  15. ^ "We have claimed forward Gemel Smith off waivers from Detroit". Tampa Bay Lightning. February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  16. ^ "Silver Knights receive Gemel Smith on loan from Tampa Bay Lightning". Henderson Silver Knights. February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "Gemel Smith moves to Dinamo Minsk!" (in Russian). HC Dinamo Minsk. July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  18. ^ Kunlun Red Star (November 29, 2023). "Kunlun sign Smith on 1-year contract". Twitter. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  19. ^ "For Gemel Smith mental strength goes a long way when dealing with racism in hockey". theupsetsports.com.
  20. ^ Ryan Kennedy (August 25, 2016). "DETROIT RED WINGS HAVE A "TANK" IN PROSPECT GIVANI SMITH". thehockeynews.com. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  21. ^ Joe Smith (September 25, 2019). "Out of the darkness: How Gemel Smith went from 'a sunken place' to cusp of Lightning roster". theathletic.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
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