Detroit Red Wings' Givani Smith on dealing with racial taunts, suspension

Helene St. James | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Watch: Detroit Red Wings prospect Givani Smith on facing racism Detroit Red Wings prospect Givani Smith says he and his brothers 'were raised to be mentally tough.'

Joel Ward reached out, as did Jordan Subban and Kevin Weekes.

Detroit Red Wings prospect Givani Smith, who is black, was raised to be aware he’d encounter racism, but the abuse became too much after the April 29 Ontario Hockey League playoff game between his Kitchener Rangers and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. After his Rangers pulled out a 4-3 overtime victory, Smith skated by the Greyhounds’ bench and extended a middle finger. Smith was suspended two games, and wound up finishing his junior career watching his Rangers lose Game 7.

“Definitely it was a tough way to go out my last year of junior,” Smith said Wednesday after Day 2 of development camp. “We had a really good playoff run — to work so hard, and the way I got suspended, it wasn’t ideal.

“Throughout the whole year and at the end of the season, it all built up in me. What happened at the end of the game, I wasn’t thinking and my emotions got the best of me.”

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Death threats on social media prompted a security guard to be present as Smith watched the series finale from the pressbox in Sault Ste. Marie.

“It was for my safety, I was getting some rude comments over social media and stuff like that,” Smith said. “Better being safe, especially in a place really far from home.”

Smith continued, “it’s 2018, nobody needs to hear that stuff. It doesn’t happen often, but it happened. I was raised to be pretty mentally tough so it didn’t really faze me too much. Me and my brothers were all raised to be mentally strong — my dad told us when we were little, down the road, wherever you go, stuff may happen. It’s just how it is. We were prepared for it, so I think we handle it pretty well.”

Ward, Subban and Weekes contacted Smith to show solidarity.

“It made me feel really, really good,” Smith said. “They all went through it. I’m sure I’m not the only black hockey player that’s been through it. It happens.”

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Smith, drafted 46th overall in 2016, is focused on joining the ranks of NHL players. At 20 years old he’s already physically imposing at 6-foot-2, 209 pounds. Player development assistant Daniel Cleary raved about how Smith is an “impact player, physical, engaged.” Smith finished the 2017-18 season with 17 goals and 13 assists for 30 points split between Guelph and Kitchener, then turned in 11 goals and seven assists for 18 points in 18 playoff games.

Spring is when he thrives.

“For me, playing playoffs, with the style of game I play, we’re playing that team six or seven times, and I’m constantly finishing my checks and playing hard, getting under guys’ skin,” Smith said. “Over time, guys can hear me coming and that makes more space for me and my linemates."

He spent Wednesday practicing with 2018 first-round pick Filip Zadina and 2017 first-round pick Michael Rasmussen. As Smith starts up his pro hockey career, he knows the path that will lead him to the top level.

“I know my role, I’m a power forward, I like to play dirty, get to dirty areas,” he said. “My job is to be hard on the forecheck, get the puck for the guys, go to the net and get open.”

Grand Rapids Griffins coach Ben Simon commended Smith for adding dimension to his game.

“He’s focused a little bit more on developing his offensive instincts and getting pucks off the wall and taking them to scoring areas,” Simon said. “He’s going to be a guy who is going to be relied on to bring a little bit of a physical presence and create space for his linemates, but as the same time, we’re expecting him to help contribute offensively. As a young guy coming into our league it’s tough, but there are high expectations from him on himself and then with what the organization expects from him as well.”

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Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.

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