Givani Smith family

Givani Smith is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward, playing with the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League. Born on February 27, 1998, in Toronto, Ontario, he grew up in a sports-loving household and was inspired by his father, Gary, and older brother, Gemel, who both shared his passion for hockey. Drafted 46th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2016, he has since played for multiple teams, including the Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks, and the Colorado Avalanche’s AHL affiliate team as of 2025.

Givani Smith parents

Givani Smith was born to Gary Smith and Nickey Smith. His father is from Jamaica and moved to Toronto, Canada, as a child in the 1970s. He was raised with his siblings and cousins, adapting to life in Canada while learning hockey, a sport unfamiliar to him at the time. Despite growing up playing soccer and cricket in Jamaica, he quickly adopted hockey, excelling particularly in ball hockey.

As a father, Gary continued his love for the game and involved his three sons Gary Jr., Gemel, and Givani, bringing them along to his hockey games. He played ball hockey competitively and brought his children to his games, inspiring their love for the sport.

“I used to make sure I take all the boys with me,” Gary said in an interview with Detroit Free Press. “I didn’t want to leave one at home. So all of them were with me all the time.”

While not much is known about Givani Smith’s mother, his aunt Maureen Smith helped Gary raise three sons. Givani Smith credited his aunt for playing a significant role in his upbringing, telling the Detroit Free Press:

“I didn’t get here by myself. There’s so many thank yous I can give. At the same time, nothing that can really repay all the time my dad’s put in, my aunt’s put in to get me to where I’m at right now.”

Beyond hockey, Gary also prepared his sons for the challenges of life as black athletes in a primarily white sport. He taught them the importance of having “thick skin”, advising them on how to deal with racism and discrimination. His wisdom helped Givani and his older brother Gemel Smith, who also became a professional hockey player.

Givani Smith's siblings

Givani is the youngest of two brothers Gary Jr. and Gemel Smith, also a professional ice hockey player, drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Gemel has played in the NHL for teams like the Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, and Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Smith brothers’ proudest moment came on February 14, 2022, when they played together for the Detroit Red Wings, making history as the first Black siblings to do so for the team as per NHL.com.