Devante Smith-Pelly

Devante Smith-Pelly

Smith-Pelly in March 2016
Born (1992-06-14) June 14, 1992
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 New Jersey Devils
Anaheim Ducks
Montreal Canadiens
NHL Draft 42nd overall, 2010
Anaheim Ducks
Playing career 2011–present

Devante Malik Smith-Pelly (born June 14, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round, 42nd overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.[1] Smith-Pelly plays in the style of a power forward and is known for his hitting and forechecking abilities.[2]

Playing career

Junior

Smith-Pelly began his major junior career in 2008–09, recording 25 points over 57 games with the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). During the 2009 playoffs, he added five points over 11 games. One of his two goals ended the second-longest game in OHL history, as he scored in triple-overtime to eliminate the Barrie Colts in the conference quarterfinals.[3] The following season, he improved to 62 points over 60 games. In the subsequent summer, he was selected 42nd overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Smith-Pelly in February 2012.

Returning to the OHL for a third season following his draft, Smith-Pelly recorded a junior career-high 36 goals and 66 points over 67 games. He added 21 points in 20 OHL playoff games, as the Majors lost in the Finals to the Owen Sound Attack. Despite losing the OHL title, the Majors qualified for the 2011 Memorial Cup, Canada's national major junior tournament, by way of having been chosen as the host team at the beginning of the season. Advancing to the final, the Majors were defeated by the Saint John Sea Dogs In the Memorial Cup Final, 3–1. Smith-Pelly recorded six points over five games and was named to the Tournament All-Star Team.

Professional

Although eligible for one more OHL season in 2011–12, Smith-Pelly made the Anaheim Ducks' roster out of training camp. He recorded five points in his first 26 games before the Ducks agreed to loan him to the Canadian national junior team in December 2011.[4]

During his first full season in the NHL with the Ducks in 2014–15, having produced 17 points in 54 games, on February 24, 2015, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Jiří Sekáč.[5]

In the following 2015–16 season, Smith-Pelly got off to a strong start with the Canadiens as they started a franchise best 9 straight wins to start the year. With a mid-season collapse in form and despite contributing with a career best 6 goals through 46 games, he was dealt by the Canadiens to the New Jersey Devils, just a little over a year from when he was acquired on February 29, 2016, in exchange for Stefan Matteau.[6]

International play

Smith-Pelly as a member of Team Canada at the 2012 World Junior Championships
Medal record
Representing Canada Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
2012 Canada
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
2009 Canada

Smith-Pelly debuted with Hockey Canada at the 2009 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He recorded three assists over six games playing with Team Ontario, helping them to a gold medal win.

During his NHL rookie season, the Anaheim Ducks loaned Smith-Pelly to the Canadian junior team for the 2012 World Junior Championships. One of two players to be loaned from the NHL (Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brett Connolly was the other),[4] he was named an alternate captain for the team.[7] In Canada's first game of the tournament, against Finland, he broke a bone in his left foot blocking a shot. Opting to stay with the team rather than return to Anaheim to begin his rehabilitation,[8] Smith-Pelly watched as Canada went on to win the bronze medal and since he was part of the Canadian roster, he also received a medal.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 Mississauga St. Michael's Majors OHL 57 13 12 25 24 11 2 3 5 4
2009–10 Mississauga St. Michael's Majors OHL 60 29 33 62 35 16 8 6 14 20
2010–11 Mississauga St. Michael's Majors OHL 67 36 30 66 50 20 15 6 21 16
2011–12 Anaheim Ducks NHL 49 7 6 13 16 — — — — —
2011–12 Syracuse Crunch AHL 4 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2012–13 Norfolk Admirals AHL 65 14 18 32 65 — — — — —
2012–13 Anaheim Ducks NHL 7 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2013–14 Norfolk Admirals AHL 55 27 16 43 29 — — — — —
2013–14 Anaheim Ducks NHL 19 2 8 10 2 12 5 0 5 24
2014–15 Anaheim Ducks NHL 54 5 12 17 12 — — — — —
2014–15 Montreal Canadiens NHL 20 1 2 3 14 12 1 2 3 2
2015–16 Montreal Canadiens NHL 46 6 6 12 22 — — — — —
2015–16 New Jersey Devils NHL 18 8 5 13 8 — — — — —
NHL totals 213 29 39 68 72 24 6 2 8 26

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2009 Canada Ontario U17 1st, gold medalist(s) 6 0 3 3 4
2012 Canada WJC 3rd, bronze medalist(s) 1 0 0 0 0
Junior totals 7 0 3 3 4

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2011 [9]

References

  1. ↑ "Ducks Draft Smith-Pelly 42nd Overall". Anaheim Ducks. 2010-06-27. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  2. ↑ Francis, Eric (2011-12-20). "Diggin Devante". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2012-01-05. The 24th of February, Devante is traded to Montreal in return of Jiri Sekac.
  3. ↑ "Smith-Pelly scores to end 2nd-longest game in OHL history as Majors boot Colts". National Hockey League. 2009-03-29. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  4. 1 2 "Connolly, Smith-Pelly granted leave to play in world juniors". Postmedia News. 2011-12-09. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  5. ↑ "Habs acquire Smith-Pelly from Ducks". The Sports Network. 2015-02-24. Retrieved 2015-02-24.
  6. ↑ "Devils acquire Smith-Pelly from Montreal". New Jersey Devils. 2016-02-29. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  7. ↑ "Devante Smith-Pelly shines for Team Canada". Calgary Herald. 2011-12-23. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  8. ↑ "Smith-Pelly plays cheerleader for Canada". National Post. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  9. ↑ "Memorial Cup All-Star Teams". eliteprospects.com. 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
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