Harold Snepsts
Encyclopedia
Harold John Snepsts is a retired professional ice hockey
player who spent 17 seasons in the National Hockey League. He is one of the most popular players in the history of the Vancouver Canucks
, the club where he spent the majority of his career, and currently serves on the team's scouting staff.
and was selected 59th overall by the Vancouver Canucks
in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft
. He made a strong impression during his first training camp, and appeared in 27 games for the Canucks in 1974–75, recording his first NHL goal.
In 1975–76, he became a regular for the Canucks, appearing in 78 games and recording three goals and 18 points. He would quickly become a fan favourite for his hard-working, effective, blue-collar defensive game as well as his likeable personality and large moustache.
Through the late 1970s and early 1980s, Snepsts was Vancouver's most effective defender. His physical, error-free brand of hockey saw him selected to the NHL All-Star Game in 1977 and 1982, and he was named the club's top defender four times in five years between 1977 and 1982. He also showed improvement offensively, scoring a career-high 31 points in 1978–79, and on February 2, 1980 became the first defender in club history to score on a penalty shot.
Throughout this period, however, the Canucks were one of the weaker franchises in the NHL. However, they caught fire late in the 1981–82 season and went on an extended playoff run, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals
. Snepsts, along with goalie Richard Brodeur
, was the heart-and-soul of the team defensively and was a tower of strength during the playoff run. However, he would commit a terrible turnover in overtime of the first game of the finals against the New York Islanders
which led to the winning goal by Mike Bossy
, and the club was swept in four games.
The 1982–83 season would be a disaster for Snepsts, as he missed 30 games due to a number of injuries, and was also suspended five games for fighting Doug Risebrough
under the stands at the Pacific Coliseum
. He would have a better year in 1983–84, but at the end of the season was a victim of General Manager Harry Neale
's youth movement on the blueline and, in a highly unpopular move, was dealt to the Minnesota North Stars
. He left Vancouver as the club's all-time leader in games played and penalty minutes, although Stan Smyl
would break those records a few years later.
Snepsts never really found his game in Minnesota and lasted only a season with the North Stars. It was the worst offensive season of his career, as he failed to score a goal and recorded seven assists, although he did set a career high with 232 penalty minutes.
Let go by Minnesota, Snepsts signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings
. However, his time in Detroit would be blighted by injury. Knee problems limited him to just 35 games in 1985–86, and he failed to score a goal for the second consecutive year. In 1986–87, he was having his best campaign in years for a rejuvenated Detroit team until he injured his shoulder in February, and then re-injured it during the playoffs. The resulting off-season surgery forced him to miss the first half of the 1987–88 season, although he returned to help the Wings reach the Campbell Conference finals for the second consecutive year.
The 1988–89 season would be a homecoming for Snepsts, as he signed a free-agent contract with the Canucks and returned to Vancouver. Now a depth defender, he was a steadying influence as the team set a club record for fewest goals against. Late in the 1989–90 season, however, he was dealt to the St. Louis Blues to add experience for the playoffs. He played out his final season with the Blues, during which he played in his 1000th NHL game, before retiring in 1991.
Snepsts appeared in 1033 NHL games over his career, recording 38 goals and 195 assists for 233 points, along with 2009 penalty minutes.
On March 14, 2011, the Canucks organization inducted Snepsts into their "Ring of Honour".
of the International Hockey League. Despite having no coaching experience, he led the team to a 48–25–9 mark for a 105-point season before losing in the second round of the playoffs. For 1992–93, he was promoted to an assistant coaching position in St. Louis under head coach Bob Plager
; however, he remained in that position for only a year before being replaced by new head coach Bob Berry.
Following his departure from the Blues, he spent a season as head coach of the San Diego Gulls of the IHL, leading them to a 93-point season. He signed on as head coach of the Portland Winter Hawks
of the WHL
for the 1998–99, but inherited a rebuilding team and was fired mid-way through his second season.
In 2000, Snepsts was hired as a scout for the NHL's Central Scouting Service (CSS). He spent five seasons in that role before returning to the Canucks' organization as a scout in 2005.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who spent 17 seasons in the National Hockey League. He is one of the most popular players in the history of the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, the club where he spent the majority of his career, and currently serves on the team's scouting staff.
Playing career
A stay-at-home defender, Snepsts played his junior hockey for the Edmonton Oil KingsEdmonton Oil Kings
This article refers to the original Oil Kings franchises that existed until 1978. For the current team that began play in 2007, see Edmonton Oil Kings...
and was selected 59th overall by the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft
1974 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1974 NHL Amateur Draft was held via conference call at the NHL office in Montreal, Quebec. In an effort to prevent the WHA from poaching players, the draft was conducted early and in secret. This failed to prevent tampering as information leaked out via agents and other sources over the three...
. He made a strong impression during his first training camp, and appeared in 27 games for the Canucks in 1974–75, recording his first NHL goal.
In 1975–76, he became a regular for the Canucks, appearing in 78 games and recording three goals and 18 points. He would quickly become a fan favourite for his hard-working, effective, blue-collar defensive game as well as his likeable personality and large moustache.
Through the late 1970s and early 1980s, Snepsts was Vancouver's most effective defender. His physical, error-free brand of hockey saw him selected to the NHL All-Star Game in 1977 and 1982, and he was named the club's top defender four times in five years between 1977 and 1982. He also showed improvement offensively, scoring a career-high 31 points in 1978–79, and on February 2, 1980 became the first defender in club history to score on a penalty shot.
Throughout this period, however, the Canucks were one of the weaker franchises in the NHL. However, they caught fire late in the 1981–82 season and went on an extended playoff run, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals
1982 Stanley Cup Finals
-References:...
. Snepsts, along with goalie Richard Brodeur
Richard Brodeur
Richard "King Richard, Kermit" Brodeur known to many as "King Richard", is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:...
, was the heart-and-soul of the team defensively and was a tower of strength during the playoff run. However, he would commit a terrible turnover in overtime of the first game of the finals against the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
which led to the winning goal by Mike Bossy
Mike Bossy
Michael Dean Bossy is a former Canadian ice hockey player who played for the New York Islanders for his entire career and was part of their four-year reign as Stanley Cup champions in the early 1980s...
, and the club was swept in four games.
The 1982–83 season would be a disaster for Snepsts, as he missed 30 games due to a number of injuries, and was also suspended five games for fighting Doug Risebrough
Doug Risebrough
Douglas John Risebrough is a former player, coach, and general manager in the National Hockey League. In his 31 years in the NHL, he has been involved with the Stanley Cup Playoffs 25 times...
under the stands at the Pacific Coliseum
Pacific Coliseum
Pacific Coliseum is an indoor arena, at Hastings Park, in Vancouver, British Columbia.Completed in 1968, at the former site of the Pacific National Exhibition, the arena currently holds 16,281, for ice hockey, though capacity at its opening was 15,713....
. He would have a better year in 1983–84, but at the end of the season was a victim of General Manager Harry Neale
Harry Neale
Harold Watson Neale is a hockey colour commentator, who currently works for the Buffalo Sabres on the Sabres Hockey Network...
's youth movement on the blueline and, in a highly unpopular move, was dealt to the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
. He left Vancouver as the club's all-time leader in games played and penalty minutes, although Stan Smyl
Stan Smyl
Stanley Philip Smyl is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger. As a junior, he appeared in three consecutive Memorial Cups with the New Westminster Bruins, winning the championship twice in 1977 and 1978...
would break those records a few years later.
Snepsts never really found his game in Minnesota and lasted only a season with the North Stars. It was the worst offensive season of his career, as he failed to score a goal and recorded seven assists, although he did set a career high with 232 penalty minutes.
Let go by Minnesota, Snepsts signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. However, his time in Detroit would be blighted by injury. Knee problems limited him to just 35 games in 1985–86, and he failed to score a goal for the second consecutive year. In 1986–87, he was having his best campaign in years for a rejuvenated Detroit team until he injured his shoulder in February, and then re-injured it during the playoffs. The resulting off-season surgery forced him to miss the first half of the 1987–88 season, although he returned to help the Wings reach the Campbell Conference finals for the second consecutive year.
The 1988–89 season would be a homecoming for Snepsts, as he signed a free-agent contract with the Canucks and returned to Vancouver. Now a depth defender, he was a steadying influence as the team set a club record for fewest goals against. Late in the 1989–90 season, however, he was dealt to the St. Louis Blues to add experience for the playoffs. He played out his final season with the Blues, during which he played in his 1000th NHL game, before retiring in 1991.
Snepsts appeared in 1033 NHL games over his career, recording 38 goals and 195 assists for 233 points, along with 2009 penalty minutes.
On March 14, 2011, the Canucks organization inducted Snepsts into their "Ring of Honour".
Coaching career
Following his retirement, Snepsts remained with the St. Louis organization and became head coach of their top minor-league affiliate, the Peoria RivermenPeoria Rivermen
The Peoria Rivermen are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.-History:...
of the International Hockey League. Despite having no coaching experience, he led the team to a 48–25–9 mark for a 105-point season before losing in the second round of the playoffs. For 1992–93, he was promoted to an assistant coaching position in St. Louis under head coach Bob Plager
Bob Plager
Robert Bryant Plager is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for fourteen seasons from 1964–65 until 1977–78. He had two brothers, Bill and Barclay, who also played in the NHL....
; however, he remained in that position for only a year before being replaced by new head coach Bob Berry.
Following his departure from the Blues, he spent a season as head coach of the San Diego Gulls of the IHL, leading them to a 93-point season. He signed on as head coach of the Portland Winter Hawks
Portland Winter Hawks
The Portland Winterhawks are a major junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon, playing in the Western Hockey League, a member league in the Canadian Hockey League. They play their home games at the Memorial Coliseum, though typically a few games each season are also played in the...
of the WHL
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
for the 1998–99, but inherited a rebuilding team and was fired mid-way through his second season.
In 2000, Snepsts was hired as a scout for the NHL's Central Scouting Service (CSS). He spent five seasons in that role before returning to the Canucks' organization as a scout in 2005.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1972–73 | Edmonton Oil Kings | WCHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
68 | 2 | 24 | 26 | 155 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1973–74 | Edmonton Oil Kings | WCHL | 68 | 8 | 41 | 49 | 293 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | Seattle Totems Seattle Totems The Seattle Totems were a professional ice hockey franchise in Seattle, Washington. They were a member of various minor professional and semi-professional leagues between 1945 and 1975. They played their home games in the Mercer Arena and later at the Seattle Center Coliseum... |
CHL | 19 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
27 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1975–76 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 78 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 125 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1976–77 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 79 | 4 | 18 | 22 | 149 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977–78 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 75 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 118 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 76 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 130 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1979–80 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 79 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 202 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 1980–81 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 76 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 212 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| 1981–82 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 68 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 153 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 50 | ||
| 1982–83 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 46 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 80 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 1983–84 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 79 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 152 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | ||
| 1984–85 | Minnesota North Stars Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white... |
NHL | 71 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 232 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | ||
| 1985–86 | Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... |
NHL | 35 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 54 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 129 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 18 | ||
| 1987–88 1987–88 AHL season The 1987–88 AHL season was the 52nd season of the American Hockey League. Fourteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league abandoned shootout, but continues to award points for an overtime loss... |
Adirondack Red Wings Adirondack Red Wings The Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Glens Falls, New York, USA at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The team was affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 31 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 67 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | ||
| 1988–89 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 59 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 69 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 1989–90 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 39 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 38 | ||
| 1990–91 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 54 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 50 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | ||
| NHL totals | 1033 | 38 | 195 | 233 | 2009 | 93 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 231 | ||||
See also
- List of NHL players with 1000 games played
- List of NHL players with 2000 career penalty minutes