EDMONTON – When Ryan Smyth hit the ice with the Edmonton Oilers for the last time Saturday night, Rexall Place was buzzing with electricity.
Looking back, Smyth describes the atmosphere as “awesome,” but admits his final game was a culmination of a variety of different emotions.
“Obviously, I have a great deal of passion and love for the game,” said Smyth in an interview with Global Edmonton’s Gord Steinke. “But, at the end of the day, my heart is saying it’s time… moving onto a new chapter with my family.”
Number 94 explained how difficult it was mentally to see the team struggle, and how hard it was to sacrifice time away from his young family.
“It’s just so hard being away from the kids, especially at the age that they are.”
Smyth and his wife Stacy have four children: a 10-year-old, a nine-year-old, a five-year-old, and a nine-month-old.
“Time goes by so quick, and you don’t want to miss out,” he said.
It was when he was just a young boy that Smyth discovered his own passion for the game.
“Three, four years old, I remember watching on TV the Oilers play… Gretzky, my childhood hero, and the Oilers for that matter winning cups. And I was like ‘I want to play for the Edmonton Oilers.’”
“I’ve lived my dream.”
Smyth grew up in Banff, but moved away as a teen to pursue hockey.
“Played all my minor hockey then left home at 15, and went to Caronport, then played in Moose Jaw, and that’s where I met my wife Stacy,” Smyth said.
His time in Moose Jaw laid the foundation for his personal life as well as his professional life.
“Hearing your name at the draft, especially in the first round, it gives you a lot of encouragement, positiveness going forward. You always hoped and you always dreamed that.”
The power forward spent most of his professional NHL career with the Oilers. He also played on teams that won Olympic gold, two World Championships, the World Juniors, and the Spengler Cup.
So, finally taking off that Oilers jersey in the early hours of Sunday morning was tough.
“We had a little get-together with the guys and their families and my family … we just tried to enjoy the moment and I didn’t get out of my gear until 1:38.”
“The long, fortunate career that I’ve had – to peel it off was a sad day for me.”
Smyth said he’ll now devote some time to family, but that returning to the Oilers – in some capacity – is still a possibility.
“There’s been preliminary talks with Mac and I,” he said, “but I’m just going to sort of digest things and take a year off and really focus on my family.”
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