Our Full Celebrity Roster
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Craig Simpson
Biography
A true student-athlete, Craig Simpson was just 16 years old when he began his college career at the University of Michigan. After a highly successful 2 year college career, both seasons being an underage player, Simpson was drafted 2nd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1985 NHL Draft. Simpson would make the jump to the NHL as an 18 year old and play 2 full seasons with the Penguins. Early in Simpson’s third NHL season, Simpson was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in a deal that saw future Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey go the other way. Placed on a line with Glenn Anderson and Mark Messier, and receiving tutelage from Wayne Gretzky, Simpson exploded. He would score 56 goals and 92 points in the 1987/88 season between the Penguins and the Oilers. Simpson also added 19 points in 19 playoff games to help the Oilers win the 1988 Stanley Cup. Simpson would go on to have several more productive years in Edmonton, and won his second Stanley Cup with the Oilers in 1990. Simpson would also play 2 seasons with the Buffalo Sabres before chronic back problems forced him to retire at the age of 28 in 1996. In retirement, Simpson has emerged as a prominent broadcaster on Hockey Night in Canada and spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Oilers from the 2003/04 season through the 2006/07 season.
Darryl Sittler
Biography
Darryl Glen Sittler (born September 18, 1950) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1970 until 1985 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Detroit Red Wings. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989, and the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
Brian Skrudland
Biography
A native of Peace River, Alberta, Brian Skrudland won the Stanley Cup as a rookie with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986. Skrudland would play 7 and a half seasons with the Habs, narrowly missing out on the 1993 Stanley Cup as he was dealt to the Calgary Flames midway through the 1992/93 season. Skrudland would begin the next season as the first ever captain for the expansion Florida Panthers. Skrudland spent 4 seasons in the Sunshine State, highlighted by a run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996, where the Panthers lost to the Colorado Avalanche. After a brief stint with the New York Rangers, Skrudland joined the Dallas Stars, with whom he won his 2nd Stanley Cup with in 1999. Following another run to the Stanley Cup Finals, which the Stars lost to the New Jersey Devils, Skrudland retired after the 2000 season. In retirement, Skrudland has served as an assistant coach with both the Flames and the Panthers. Currently, Skrudland is the Panthers’ Director of Player Development.
Sami-Jo Small
Biography
Sami-Jo Small became a household name when she backstopped the Canadian National Women’s hockey team to a gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. As a mechanical engineering major at Stanford, Small designed special upper-body padding for her senior project. She was named PAC-10 Hockey Player of the Year in 1997. Small was the goaltender for the Brampton Thunder for two seasons and won Gold Medals at the World Championships in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Sami Jo currently works as a motivational speaker as well is an owner of a hockey school that runs throughout four provinces.
Billy Smith
Biography
A nasty opponent to anyone who would come near his crease, Billy Smith was one of the greatest goalies of his era. Drafted by Los Angeles in 1970, he only played five games for them before the New York Islanders took him in the 1972 Expansion Draft. In his first season there, he broke the record for penalty minutes by a goalie and actually fought some of the league’s enforcers! Paired with Chico Resch, both goalies supported a team that would go on to greatness. When Resch was traded to Colorado in 1980, Smith was the undisputed number one and helped the Islanders win their first of four consecutive Stanley Cups. He won the Vezina Trophy in 1982 and is the one of the winningest goalies in NHL history. When he retired in 1989, he became a goaltending coach with the Islanders and then the Florida Panthers.
Brad Smith
Biography
Known as an ‘everyman’ hockey player, Brad Smith worked hard every game of his professional career. Drafted by Vancouver in 1978, Motor City Smitty played a smattering of games for the Canucks before he was traded to the Atlanta Flames, whom he followed to Calgary. He only lasted there for half of a season before moving on to the Detroit Red Wings. The dawn of Motor City Smitty came alive as Smith played with the Wings for four seasons, though he spent most of it with their AHL affiliate in Adrirondack. He signed with the Maple Leafs as a free agent in 1985 and split his first season there between Toronto and St. Catharines. The 1986-87 season was his last in the NHL and it was spent in its entirety with the Leafs. After four sporadic seasons, he moved to Toronto where he retired in 1987. Smith left the game as a player in 1987 but stepped behind the bench to coach his old junior team the Windsor Spitfires, teaching his players the way he played hockey–honest and hardworking. Brad is currently the Director of Player Personnel for the Colorado Avalanche.
Michael Smith
Biography
Born in New York City, Michael Smith received his undergraduate degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology and subsequently graduated with honors from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America. After graduating culinary school, Smith would work in restaurants in London, South America and the Caribbean before returning to New York City to cook in restaurants in Manhattan. Smith moved to Prince Edward Island in 1992, to cook at The Inn at Bay Fortune. The Inn quickly became one of the top restaurants in Canada. In 1999, Smith opened his own restaurant, Maple, in Halifax, which also became a top restaurant in Canada. In 2001, Smith left Maple to focus fulltime on cooking based television shows. Currently Smith is the host of 4 shows, Chef at Home, Chef at Large, Chef Abroad and Chef Michael’s Kitchen. Smith also previously hosted The Inn Chef from 1998 to 2000 and has made appearances on Iron Chef America, Top Chef Canada and Chopped: Canada. Smith is also the author of 9 different cookbooks, with his most recent 1 hitting the shelves in the fall of 2015.
Neil Smith
Biography
A native of Toronto, Neil Smith played NCAA hockey for Western Michigan University, and was drafted by the New York Islanders in the 13th round of the 1974 NHL Draft, becoming the 1st player ever drafted out of Western Michigan. After playing 2 years for various teams in the minors, Smith hung up his skates and took a job with the Islanders as a talent scout. Smith impressed Assistant GM Jim Devellano, who brought Smith with him to Detroit when Devellano was hired as the Red Wings GM. Smith would win 2 Calder Cups in 1986 and 1989 when serving as GM of Detroit’s AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Red Wings. In 1989, Smith was hired as General Manager of the New York Rangers, and developed their draft picks such as Tony Amonte, Mike Richter and Brian Leetch into stars, while making several blockbuster trades (including Mark Messier). By 1994, the Rangers won the Presidents Trophy as the NHL’s leader in points. In the 1994 playoff, the Rangers would defeat the Vancouver Canucks to win the Stanley Cup. Smith remains the only modern day NHL GM to win a Stanley Cup with the Rangers. In 1996, Smith signed Wayne Gretzky, who’d finish his legendary NHL career with the Rangers in 1999. Smith would leave the Rangers in 2000. Since leaving the Rangers, Smith briefly returned to the Islanders as their GM in 2006 and then served as an Assistant GM with the Dallas Stars. Smith has also been on several TV networks as a hockey analyst.
Bryan Smolinski
Biography
The Bruins selected Bryan Smolinski out of Michigan State University in the first round of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. He finished his college career in 1993 and joined Boston for nine regular season games as well as the Stanley Cup playoffs. After two more seasons as a Bruin, playing with the likes of Ray Bourque, Cam Neely, and Adam Oates, Smolinski was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins where he joined such superstars as Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr. As a Senator, Smolinski reached the 500-point plateau and represented Team USA at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Smolinski would compete with the Senators for two seasons before being sent to the Chicago Blackhawks. Smolinski is a two-time member of the U.S. World Championship team in 1998 and 1999.
Kim St-Pierre
Biography
The top rookie for McGill’s women’s hockey team in 1999, Kim St-Pierre became the first woman in CIS history to win a men’s regular season game when she tended goal for McGill’s men’s team, and defeated Ryerson University by a score of 5-2 on November 15th, 2003. On the International stage, St-Pierre has won 3 Olympic Gold Medals (2002, 2006, 2010), 5 Gold and 4 Silver at the World Championship and won a Gold Medal at the 2010 Four Nations Cup. In International competition, St-Pierre holds numerous records. These include most shutouts (15), most wins (24) and bests goals against average (0.84). In addition, St-Pierre won the Clarkson Cup (CWHL Championship) with the Montreal Stars in 2009. By winning the Clarkson Cup, St-Pierre became 1 of only 3 women to win the Clarkson Cup, Olympic Gold Medal and a Gold Medal at the World Championship. In October 2008, St-Pierre became the 3rd woman to ever take part in an NHL practice, when she practiced with the Montreal Canadiens when Carey Price came down with the flu.
Martin St. Louis
Biography
Born in Laval, Quebec St. Louis was recruited by the University of Vermont Catamounts. In his freshman season Marty marked 51 points in 33 games and was awarded to the East Coast All-Rookie Team. His following season he had 71 points in 35 games and was named to the First All-Star Team and was an NCAA All-American for the first of three straight seasons. In his senior year Marty had 85 points in 35 games and led the Catamounts to their first ECAC championship. He was a finalist for the Hobey and retired from Vermont as the all-time leading scorer with 267 points. Even after an incredible college career Marty went undrafted. He earned a try-out with the Ottawa Senators but did not sign. The Calgary Flames took a chance and signed the undrafted forward. After being assigned to the Flames affiliate in Saint John, St. Louis potted 26 points in 25 regular season games and had 20 points in 20 games during the playoffs. Marty begain the season with the Flames but was sent down after only 13 games. He would re-join Flames halfway through the 1999-2000 season and picked up three goals and 18 points in 56 games, but the team bought out his contract at the end of that season, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Tampa Bay Lightning signed Martin as a free agent and by season end, he had 18 goals and 40 points. Martin cam into his own in 2002-03, recording 33 goals and playing in his first NHL All-Star Game, he finished second in the Fastest Skater competition and first in the Puck Control Relay event at the game’s skills competition. In 2003-04 things started to get even better for Marty, marking 94 points and winning the Art Ross Trophy as the leagues highest point getter. He also won the Hart Trophy and the Pearson Award, as well as being named to the NHL’s First All-Star Team. Marty scored 24 points in 23 playoff games and helped the Lighting to its first ever Stanley Cup when they defeated his formed team the Calgary Flames. The 2006-07 season would see Marty’s most productive year, finishing with a career high in goals with 43, marking over 100 points with 102 and was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy. The next season, his 99 points placed him second in league scoring, and again, he was the recipient of the Lady Byng. He took home the award a third time in 2012-13. Before the 2013-14 season Martin was named captain of the Lightning but waiving his no trade clause, he was dealt to the New York Rangers for Ryan Callahan and draft picks. Joining the Rangers Marty helped led the team to the Stanley Cup Final but fell short against the Los Angeles Kings. Marty played in 1,134 games in his 16 NHL seasons, scoring 391 goals, 642 assists for 1,033 points. Martin took home a gold medal from the 2004 World Cup, silver medals from the 2008 and 2009 World Championships and played in the 2006 and 2014 Winter Olympic Games, earning a gold medal in the latter tournament.
Peter Stasny
Biography
One of the most prolific scorers in the 1980s he was second only to Wayne Gretzky in points scored. Peter Stastny came to the NHL in 1980. Along with his brothers Anton and Marian, he started with the Quebec Nordiques and made an immediate impact. In 1981, both Peter and Anton scored a hat trick to beat Vancouver 9-3. He set the rookie record for points at 109. Along with Anton and Michel Goulet, he consistently led the team in scoring. Moving to the New Jersey Devils for three and a half seasons, he then signed with St. Louis in 1995 where he retired. The 1,239 points Stastny scored during his sixteen-year career with Quebec, New Jersey and St. Louis rank him as the second-best European scorer At his retirement Stastny had 1239 points in 977 regular season games — good enough for 37th all-time in the NHL.
Thomas Steen
Biography
Steen was born in Grums, Sweden, and was drafted by The Winnipeg Jets in 1979. He went on to become one of the most prolific players in the team’s history. Steen played a total of 950 regular season NHL games, scoring 264 goals and receiving 553 assists. Steen retired in 1995, and his jersey number 25 was retired by the Jets. In January 2001, he was named European pro scout for the Minnesota Wild and also scouted talent in the American Hockey League. Steen returned to Sweden as an assistant coach for Modo Hockey of the Elitserien and then returned back to Winnipeg some years later where he won a seat on the city council. One of Steen’s sons; Alex, followed in his father’s footsteps currently playing for the St. Louis Blues.
Gord Stellick
Biography
Gord Stellick began working at Maple Leaf Gardens in the press box on game nights while still in high school. He joined the Leaf front office fulltime in 1980 and in 1988 was named the Leafs’ General Manager at the age of 30, the youngest GM in NHL history. Sixteen months later, he left the Leafs to join the New York Rangers as their Assistant General Manager. He returned to Toronto two years later in 1991 and since then has covered sports on the media side. He has also been a radio color commentator for the Leafs, previously hosted of the Fan 590’s morning show in Toronto and an NHL insider and analyst for Sportsnet. Gord Stellick is available as an excellent guest speaker or Master of Ceremonies.
Brian Stemmle
Biography
Brian Stemmle was a gifted skier was ranked 7th in the world in downhill in just two short seasons. However, in 1989, Brian experienced a near-fatal crash while racing in Austria, one of the worst accidents in ski history. Remarkably he returned to the circuit and won a gold medal at the Pan Am Winter Games after spending over three months recovering in hospital and countless hours of rehabilitation. His four Olympic appearances (1988 Calgary, 1992 Albertville, 1994 Lillehammer, 1998 Nagano) is unmatched by any other Canadian skier in history and his accomplishments include 11 top 10 World Cup finishes. Brian now does colour commentary for Rogers Sportsnet on its broadcasts of World Cup sking In his 15-years of competition at the international level 1985 to 1999. He competed in Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) races, on the FIS World Cup circuit and World Championship 93 times, placing in the top-10 on 15 occasions, and standing on the podium 7-times (2- Gold medals 2-Silver and 3- Bronze). Although he was best known as a downhill specialist, he was also adept at the Super G, his best placing being a World Cup 3rd at Furano, Japan, in 1985.
Dave Stieb
Biography
One of the finest players to ever put on a Toronto Blue Jays uniform, Dave Stieb was also one of the best pitchers in the 80’s. Drafted by the Jays in 1979, he played for them until 1992. Although he spent the next season with the White Sox, he retired and then returned with the Jays in 1998 for a season. He is the only Blue Jay to pitch a no-hitter, holds the Blue Jay record for All-Star appearances (7), and holds Blue Jay pitching records for wins (176), games started, shutouts, strikeouts and other numerous marks. He was on the Blue Jay’s World Series-winning team in 1992 and is a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
PK Subban
Biography
One of the best defensemen in hockey, PK Subban’s exciting 2 way game has endeared him to both fans of the Montreal Canadiens and hockey fans in general. Subban had an extremely successful junior career with the Belleville Bulls. His final season with the Bulls saw him net 76 points in 56 games. He also won an OHL Championship and appeared in the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup with Belleville. Subban also won Gold Medals at both the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Hockey Championships. After spending most of his first professional season with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL, Subban joined the Canadiens fulltime for the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and hasn’t looked back since. In just his third full NHL season, Subban won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman in 2013. Subban was also part of Team Canada Gold Medal team at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Mats Sundin
Biography
Having won three World Championships with Sweden before hitting the NHL, Mats Sundin could be one of the best athletes to ever emerge from Scandinavia. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques first overall in 1989, the first European ever to do so. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1994, where he played the majority of his career, serving 11 seasons as team captain. On October 14, 2006, Sundin became the first Swedish player to score 500 goals. He is the Leafs’ franchise all-time leader in goals (420) and points (984). He is currently tied with Jaromír Jágr, Sergei Fedorov, and Patrik Eliáš for the NHL record for regular-season overtime goals (15). Sundin last played for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2008–09 seasons before announcing his retirement on September 30, 2009. Sundin was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.
Vicky Sunohara
Biography
The assistant captain for the Canadian National Women’s hockey team in Salt Lake City, Vicky Sunohara has been a key member of that team for over a decade. She has played in five World Championships (1990, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001), winning five gold medals at all of them. However, Sunohara’s biggest achievement could be her two Winter Olympics medals, most notably her gold in 2002. She is Canada’s 6th all-time National Women’s Team goal scorer with 26 goals and all-time leader with 6 game-winning goals at the World Championship. In 2009, Sunohara was selected by the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee to be Toronto’s final torchbearer as Toronto welcomed the Vancouver-bound 2010 Olympic flame on its cross-country journey. In 2010, Sunohara was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario, a non-profit organization committed to assisting high-performance athletes and coaches achieve excellence in international competition. Currently the head coach for the University or Toronto womens hockey team, Sunohara makes frequent appearances as a guest speaker and donates a considerable amount of time to charitable organizations.
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Steve Thomas
Biography
Signed as a free agent by Toronto in 1984, “Stumpy” alternated between the AHL and the Maple Leafs for a season before moving up for good and scoring 57 points in 65 games. The following year, he scored 35 goals before being traded to Chicago. Thomas struggled through two injury-plagued season before scoring 40 goals in 1989-1990. He then joined the New York Islanders in 1991 and set a career-high mark of 42 goals in 1994. In 1995, he joined the New Jersey Devils for three seasons before resigning with Toronto. Moving back to Chicago for a season and a half, he was traded to the Anaheim in 2003 and helped lead them to the Stanley Cup finals. The lockout forced him to retirement. He later became the Assistant/Mentor Coach for the St. Michael’s Buzzers, a Jr. A team in Toronto. In the summer of 2012, Thomas was named player development consultant for the Tampa Bay Lightning and later became their assistant coach.