Ron Smith (ice hockey, born 1944)

Ron Smith (January 28, 1944 – January 2, 2017) was a professional ice hockey coach in the American Hockey League (AHL) and the National Hockey League (NHL). Smith held various coaching roles including head coach of the Binghamton Rangers of the AHL from 1991 to 1993 and was the interim head coach for the New York Rangers of the NHL in 1993. Smith was inducted into the Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

Ron Smith
Born(1944-01-28)January 28, 1944
Galt, Ontario
DiedJanuary 2, 2017(2017-01-02) (aged 72)
Hamilton, Ontario
Team(s)New York Rangers
Years as a coach1975 - 2004
Years as an NHL coach1993

Early life and education

Smith was born on January 28, 1944, in Galt, Ontario. He was an athlete on multiple teams during his education at Glenview Park Secondary School.[1] He completed additional schooling at the University of Waterloo.[2]

Career

As a baseball player in 1964, Smith signed with the San Francisco Giants and played in the minor leagues for the Magic Valley Cowboys and the Decatur Commodores.[3] After leaving baseball, Smith began his hockey career playing for the Galt Hornets from 1968 to 1974. Following his time with the Hornets, Smith started his coaching career. He led the Guelph Platers from 1975 to 1978 and was an assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres in 1980. Later on, Smith worked with the Vancouver Canucks from 1981 to 1985 and the New Jersey Devils from 1986 to 1988.[4] Smith returned to the Guelph Platers as their coach from 1989 to 1991[2] before becoming the coach for the Binghamton Rangers from 1991 to 1993.[5]

Smith replaced Roger Neilson in January 1993 as an interim head coach for the New York Rangers during the 1992–93 NHL season.[6] Smith was the Rangers coach for 44 games[7] before being replaced by Mike Keenan in April 1993.[8] Additional NHL teams that Smith was an assistant coach for include the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes. With the Hurricanes, Smith was also a scout during the 2006 Stanley Cup and remained with the team until his retirement in 2014.[7]

Outside of the NHL, Smith coached the Cincinnati Cyclones from 1995 to 2001 and the Lowell Lock Monsters from 2001 to 2004.[4] Other non-coaching positions Smith held include a director role for the Canadian Olympic team and the Ontario Hockey Association.[9]

Death

Smith died on January 2, 2017, in Hamilton, Ontario.[4]

Awards and honors

In 2002, Smith was inducted into the Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame.[1]

References
  1. "Ron Smith". Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  2. Osbourne, Paul (10 January 2017). "From the Stands: Ron Smith remembered". Guelph Mercury. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  3. Gallagher, Danny. "R. I. P. Ron Smith: NHL coach, SF Giants minor leaguer". Canadian Baseball Network. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  4. "Smith won Stanley Cup with Carolina". Waterloo Region Record. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  5. "Ron Smith Agrees to coach AHL Lowell Lock Monsters". Carolina Hurricanes. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  6. "NHL ROUNDUP : Rangers Fire Coach Before Tying Devils". Los Angeles Times. 5 January 1993. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  7. Doucet, Bill (6 January 2017). "Retired NHL coach and Cambridge Sports Hall of Famer Ron Smith died Jan. 2". Cambridge Times. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  8. "Rangers Make It Official-keenan's Their Coach". New York Times. 18 April 1993. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  9. Hornby, Lance; Zeisberger, Mike (18 January 2017). "Former Maple Leafs assistant coach Ron Smith had many talents". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
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