BLOG: Oilers comment on Smyth recognition

EDMONTON, AB - Ryan Smyth has been named an Order of Hockey in Canada honouree, and his former organization could not be more happy for him or think of anyone more deserving.
"It's an amazing honour," said Oilers Captain Connor McDavid. "He's done a lot for the game in Canada. Just seeing him around the room and Edmonton, you just get a sense for how passionate he is for the game. He still plays senior level hockey now, and I think that kind of says everything about him. He always wants to play, he loves it, and now he's being recognized for that. That's pretty remarkable."
Smyth served as Canada's captain six times at the IIHF World Championship. He won two World Championship titles, Olympic Gold, World Junior Gold, and a Spengler Cup Title.
He played more than 1,200 NHL games over the course of his career.
"A tremendous honour for him and his family," said Oilers Head Coach Todd McLellan. "Ryan's a quality person and was a tremendous player. Anybody that has been an Oilers fan knows what he meant to the team, the organization and certainly the city. He still calls it home. The Order of Canada, as far as hockey goes, is more of a reflection of what you do for your country. You don't get the nickname 'Captain Canada' for nothing and he did a tremendous job of representing our country at a number of different events and was successful at many of them. It's a very deserving honour for him and the other nominees."