1980-81 O-Pee-Chee 208 Stan Smyl Hockey Card (Front)
1980-81 O-Pee-Chee 208 Stan Smyl Hockey Card (Back)
1980-81 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Card Notes
The 10th-leading scorer among NHL rookies in 1978-79, he rarely lets his opposing winger get away. Captained 2 straight Memorial Cup champions in Junior Hockey.
Goalie Glen Hanlon won Canucks Molson Cup for the 1978-79 season.
Details
Playing for the New Westminster Bruins in the WHL, captain Stan Smyl helped his team to a Memorial Cup championship in 1977. The three team tournament was held in Vancouver and the Bruins beat the Ottawa 67’s 6-5 in the final. The Sherbrooke Castors were the representative from the QMJHL. Other notable players with New Westminster include Barry Beck and Brad Maxwell.
The following year, Stan exploded for 35 points in 20 WHL playoff games to propel the Bruins back to the Memorial Cup. This time, the tournament was jointly held in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. New Westminster beat the Peterborough Petes in the final 7-4. The other participant was Trois Rivieres from the QMJHL.
Stan was awarded with the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as Memorial Cup tournament MVP. He was also named to the All-Star Team at right wing. Stan’s most notable teammate was John Ogrodnick.
Smyl would wear the C again. For the 1982-83 season, he took over the captain’s role in Vancouver from Kevin McCarthy. He would be team captain until the end of 1989-90. Trevor Linden took his place.
Stan Smyl played 896 regular season and 41 Stanley Cup playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1978-79 and 1990-91, all with the Vancouver Canucks. His best year offensively came in 1982-83 when he scored 38 goals and added 50 assists for 88 points.
Molson Cup
As per the trivia snippet on the back, goaltender Glen Hanlon won the Molson Cup for Vancouver in 1978-79. The Molson Cup is handed out each season to the player that has been included most often in the three stars of the game. It was first awarded with the Canucks in 1975-76.
What is odd about noting Hanlon as the winner in 1978-79 is that he also won it in 1979-80, the year featured on the backs of 1980-81 hockey cards. These were the only two wins for Hanlon. Stan Smyl was never awarded the Molson Cup.
Vancouver Canucks Molson Cup Winners
Here’s is the complete list of Molson Cup winners from the Canucks up until the 2021-22 season.
| Season | Winner |
| 1975–76 | Bobby Lalonde |
| 1976–77 | Cesare Maniago |
| 1977–78 | Cesare Maniago |
| 1978–79 | Glen Hanlon |
| 1979–80 | Glen Hanlon |
| 1980–81 | Richard Brodeur |
| 1981–82 | Richard Brodeur |
| 1982–83 | Thomas Gradin |
| 1983–84 | Patrik Sundstrom |
| 1984–85 | Richard Brodeur |
| 1985–86 | Richard Brodeur |
| 1986–87 | Petri Skriko |
| 1987–88 | Kirk McLean |
| 1988–89 | Trevor Linden |
| 1989–90 | Kirk McLean |
| 1990–91 | Trevor Linden |
| 1991–92 | Pavel Bure |
| 1992–93 | Pavel Bure |
| 1993–94 | Pavel Bure |
| 1994–95 | Kirk McLean |
| 1995–96 | Trevor Linden |
| 1996–97 | Martin Gelinas |
| 1997–98 | Pavel Bure |
| 1998–99 | Garth Snow |
| 1999–00 | Mark Messier |
| 2000–01 | Markus Naslund |
| 2001–02 | Markus Naslund |
| 2002–03 | Markus Naslund |
| 2003–04 | Dan Cloutier |
| 2005–06 | Alexander Auld |
| 2006–07 | Roberto Luongo |
| 2007–08 | Roberto Luongo |
| 2008–09 | Roberto Luongo |
| 2009–10 | Henrik Sedin |
| 2010–11 | Roberto Luongo |
| 2011–12 | Roberto Luongo |
| 2012–13 | Cory Schneider |
| 2013–14 | Ryan Kesler |
| 2014–15 | Ryan Miller |
| 2015–16 | Daniel Sedin |
| 2016–17 | Ryan Miller |
| 2017–18 | Jacob Markstrom |
| 2018-19 | Jacob Markstrom |
| 2019-20 | Jacob Markstrom |
| 2020-21 | Thatcher Demko |
| 2021-22 | J.T. Miller |