 | ||||
 | Dave Smith | |||
 | 1991 | |||
 | Athlete | |||
 | Manitoba Bisons | |||
 | Gordon Bell, Stellars, Manitoba Bisons | |||
Dave Smith toiled as an underrated player, yet anyone who ever played with or against him recognized his skill and talent immediately. At home at either forward of centre, his turn around jumper plus his consistent rebounding made him a valued member to any team.
Dave’s basketball career started out on a high note as a member of the 1951-52 Gordon Bell Panthers City High School Champions who made it all the way to the provincial championship game. He played for the Winnipeg Stellars in the Winnipeg Senior League the following year and then began 5 years with the University of Manitoba Bisons. During that time, Dave was an All-Star twice, the Pat Gorman team Most Valuable Player winner twice, and he led the Bisons to three consecutive WCIAU titles from 1954-55 through 1956-57.
In 1956, he was a member of the Manitoba Buffaloes who represented Manitoba in the Canadian Olympic Finals in Vancouver and, in 1960 he played in the Canadian Olympic Basketball Trials in Montreal. Upon graduating, Dave played senior ball for ten years and was an All-Star 3 times and several times played on teams at the National Finals. In the 1980’s, Dave was a member of the Investors Master Basketball team and was instrumental in their winning two masters championships.