Smith, Rob

BORN JUNE 22ND 1964 IN CANADA, he developed there and moved to Australia as an import player with the Warringah Bombers. He joined the Club in 1981, the second season of the National Ice Hockey League, and won the championship with a resounding 12-2 victory over Sydney All-Stars at the Warringah Ice Skating Centre in Narrabeen. His club recorded 22 wins and a draw from 24 matches. That season he also won a Goodall Cup in Adelaide as player-coach of New South Wales.

He was a leading defensemen with the Bombers in the NSW Super League, from inception in 1982, until he returned home. Both a player and joint coach of the Bombers with Glenn Williamson, he helped guide them to the first two Super League premierships (1982, '83). His Club was undefeated in the 1982 season on 19 wins and a tie, with an average 9.6 goals per game and 3.7 against. He was the Bombers' third highest point scorer, behind countrymen Jeff Taylor and Ross MacEachern — 17 goals, 28 assists from 18 games in defense, an average of 2.4 points per game. He accumulated just 20 penalty minutes for the season.

He remained loyal to the Bombers, apart from a brief stint with the Sydney Icemen at the Prince Alfred Park rink. He coached a number of the Bombers' junior and peewee teams, including the state side for the 1985 Brown Trophy (U23). He was a state representative player on several occasions and won a second Goodall Cup representing New South Wales in 1988. He represented Australia in the C-Pool World Championships in Sydney in 1989.

A former secretary and treasurer of the NSW association, his Club looked upon him as "one of the best players and clubmen", and his skills and enthusiasm were considered "inspirational". He married Debbie and they had a son named Brandon. His No 11 jersey was retired by the Club when he returned home.