Harold Snepsts

**Harold Snepsts** (born Harold John Sneptis on October 24, 1954 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota North Stars, Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues.

Snepsts was drafted 59th overall by Vancouver in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft.

## Playing Career

Harold played his junior hockey for the Edmonton Oil Kings 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, Harold 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.

During this period, the Vancouver 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.

Harold (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 Harold 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, he was a victim of General Manager Harry Neale's youth movement on the blueline.

In a highly unpopular move, Harold was traded 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.

Harold 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. He was also suspended for two games for actions in a game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Let go by Minnesota, Harold signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings; however, his time in Detroit would be plagued with 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, Harold 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 Harold 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.

During that year, Canucks fans began to chant "Har-Old!" from the stands, something that will follow him for the rest of his career and sometimes shouted to later players such as "Harold Druken". Late in the 1989–90 season, he was dealt to the St. Louis Blues to add experience for the playoffs.

Harold played out his final season with the Blues, during which he played in his 1000th NHL game, before retiring in 1991; he was one of the last players to play in the NHL without a helmet. After his retirement, only five helmetless players remained in the league.

Harold 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 him into their "Ring of Honour."

## Coaching Career

Following his retirement, Harold remained with the St. Louis organization and became head coach of their top minor-league affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen 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 the 1992–93 season, 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 he inherited a rebuilding team and was fired midway through his second season.

In 2000, Harold 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.

## Personal Life

Harold's parents came from Latvia. At the age of 13, his mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (or MS); he spent much of his career raising money for MS charities.