Ryan Smyth said he expects to have up to 60 family members and friends in attendance tonight for his 1,000th NHL game. “It’s very special,” Smyth said this morning. “My wife did a lot of surprises for me. She told me that family was coming, but she didn’t mention anything about friends and stuff, so it’s an honor to share this moment with them.”
Coincidentally enough, Smyth’s first game was played in Los Angeles, at the Forum, when he and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Kings 4-3 on Jan. 22, 1995. That was the second game of the lockout-shortened season. Smyth’s goalie that day was current Kings goalie coach Bill Ranford, and his road roommate that year was Scott Thornton, who went on to play for the Kings.
One of the surprises Smyth discovered this week, as first noted in Jim Matheson’s Edmonton Journal story yesterday, was the arrival of former Oilers equipment managers/trainers Kenny Loew, Barrie Stafford and Lyle Lulchisky, who came to Los Angeles and presented Smyth with a framed copy of the score sheet from his first NHL game.
“It’s pretty neat,” Smyth said. “When you think back, as a player you just want to play that first NHL game, let alone 1,000. Obviously every kid dreams of winning the Stanley Cup. You want to win that, for sure, but for me it was just playing the first game.”
The nice thing, for Smyth, is that this doesn’t simply feel like a lifetime-achievement award. At age 34, he’s still a big contributor to the Kings, with eight points in 12 games this season as a key cog on what has been the Kings’ most productive line this season, with Jarret Stoll and Justin Williams.
“I feel healthy this year, and that’s the main part,” Smyth said. “You come into the year and you feel healthy and you feel good, and you want to contribute as best you can for the team. The team is playing good hockey, and if we can maintain it, we’ve got a good opportunity and that’s what you want.”
didn’t know to much about this guy before he became a King, now he’s got my respect big time.
[Reply]
I remember the Edmonton fans reaction when he was traded to the Islanders. I totally understand why they were so upset now, I knew he was a good player but stats can be replaced. It was his character , heart and attitude they knew that could never be replaced .
[Reply]
1000 more!!!!!!!
[Reply]
RYAN WELL DONE, AND WELL DESERVED…….PLEASE NO ONE GET MAD AT THIS STATEMENT……
CANADA WISHES YOU WELL, CAPTAIN CANADA!!!!!
[Reply]
Arron Reply:
November 6th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
@Harty,
Why would anyone be upset? He is Captain Canada!
[Reply]
Puckn-A Reply:
November 6th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
@Arron, Serious. I am a total patriot but have the utmost respect for Canada. They were first in @ Dieppe and are the best hockey nation! My grandfather was Canadian and stormed Dieppe and taught me to skate before I could walk. I would fight for Canada as they would fight for us. Rivalry is great but we are truly ignorant if we have animosity towards such a classy nation.(Chris Pronger, Cory Perry, and his face Getslaughs excluded.)
[Reply]
YAY RYAN!
[Reply]
Puckn-A Reply:
November 6th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
@TinaBeana, Hi Tina, noticed you posted about San Diego before, what part of SD are ya at? I live in El Cajon but am from Redondo Beach. I have been trying to find Kings fans here for watch parties but no luck so far. I found a dude that posts regularly on here and think he was from PB, he told me about a cool bar that has like Kings viewing parties but haven’t gone yet.
[Reply]
TinaBeana Reply:
November 7th, 2010 at 3:26 am
@Puckn-A, I’m in Escondido (puke). LA is pretty much my second home since most of my family lives there.
i’ve been talking with someone else about getting a Kings watch party together. but if that’s already going on, i want in.
[Reply]
Puckn-A Reply:
November 7th, 2010 at 9:53 am
@TinaBeana, Haha yeah like El Cajon is any better ( puke evaporates due to heat ) I will try to find that post to get his and the bar’s name. my e-mail is monsterzero23@yahoo.com , maybe we can get a group together for some watch parties. I’m not the best organizer but I would love to watch some games wiith fellow fans.
TinaBeana Reply:
November 7th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
@Puckn-A, awesome! mine is tinar_26_84@yahoo.com i’ve been told that i kick butt at organizing parties. so i try my best.
[Reply]
Wow I feel old. Smyth is young still. I remember that season. I was as big a Kings fan then.
[Reply]
That’s great that Symth’s family and friends are helping to make this a very special game for him. Now a win tonight would be icing on the cake.
Way to go Ryan, congratulations on your milestone!
[Reply]
I remember when Ryan Smyth was a King killer…the only way to stop him from scoring on us was to hire him!
[Reply]
You will win that cup in LA!
[Reply]
I am two years older than Smyth and have been a Kings fan since I was 15, so I always keep an eye on the guys from the 92, 93, and drafts. You know when I was draft eligible! HAHA.
I remember watching many a Edmonton game wishing this guy was on the Kings. He always had something special. When I first saw him in warmups the thing I noticed, other than his hair (no helmet), was his speed. He seemed to glide.
Congrats Mr. Smyth!
[Reply]
Camp Counselor Line: Love that one Bob. Never thought of that one.
[Reply]
what better way to celebrate than to score a goal or two.
[Reply]
Let’s go Kopi!!!!!
[Reply]
KOPI!!!1
[Reply]
New HD jumbotron had Lightning up for first 6 minutes of the game. Oops!
[Reply]
The question is does Dustin brown keep apologizing for the hit he put on smitty when he laid him out where the bench and the glass starts?
[Reply]
kinglouie Reply:
November 6th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
@Kings x,
It was Jack Johnson that did that when Smyth played for Colorado. Congrats to Ryan Smyth–it would not surprise me at all if Kopitar’s extra step and awesome play in the first period tonight had a lot to do with the great amount of respect he has for Smyth and wanting to win the game in his honor.
[Reply]
Congrats to Ryan Smyth and his family, what a great night for them.
[Reply]
NHL.com says the last Kings player to hit 1IK with the Kings was Blake in ’06. Correct me if I’m wrong, I seem to remember attending a game in 08 or 09 when Sean O’Donnel hit 1000. Anybody have that stat?
[Reply]
mcsorleyfan Reply:
November 7th, 2010 at 12:17 am
@mcsorleyfan, Found it; March 14, 2009 Vs San Jose in san Jose. Must have caught it on TV.
[Reply]