Harold Snepsts played 17 seasons in the NHL and the list of injuries the gritty defenceman suffered is as long as his stats page. He has had cuts, breaks, separations, sprains, and numerous operations--from his eye to his knees--and even some plastic surgery to his ear. But when all was said and done, Snepsts was known as a standup defenceman who played every game with intensity and feeling.
The Vancouver Canucks selected Snepsts from the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings in the 1974 Amateur Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 1974-75 season and in only his third season in the league played in the 1977 All-Star Game. He played in the All-Star Game once again in 1982 when the Canucks made a run for the Cup. They faced the Islanders in the finals but failed to win a game, giving New York their third straight Cup.
Snepsts was traded to the North Stars in 1994 but played only one season there before signing with the Red Wings as a free agent. He helped Detroit get to the conference finals in both 1986-87 and 1987-88, but both times the Detroiters were stopped by the Oilers as the Edmontons headed toward consecutive championships.
In 1988, Snepsts was on the move again, this time back to Vancouver as he signed as a free agent. After a season and a half with the team that had initially drafted him, Snepsts was dealt one last time to the Blues, where he stayed until 1991 when he announced his retirement from the game.
