Photo: Greg Smith

For the past 18 years, when a Capitals player was injured or shaken up during a game, the first person to check on him has been Head Athletic Trainer Greg Smith. However, there may be someone new tending to injured Caps this season, at least according to Smith’s Twitter account.

According to Smith’s Twitter page, he now lists himself as “Former Head Athletic Trainer for the Washington Capitals 1999-2017”.

According to a source close to the situation, Smith may be taking a lesser role with the team in order to spend more time with his family. According to the source, the Capitals may have hired trainers who were recently released by the Arizona Coyotes. NoVa Caps is looking to confirm.

Phats-Sphem (Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society) currently lists Jason Serbus as Head Athletic Trainer of the Washington Capitals. Serbus spent the last 8 seasons with the Arizona Coyotes.

The Long and Winding Road
Smith joined the Caps in 1999 after serving two seasons as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Anaheim Ducks (then the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim).

Photo: Pivot Physical Therapy

Smith’s career began in the American Hockey League as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Baltimore Bandits (now the Rockford IceHogs), and served in the same role for Team USA at the 1998 and 2004 World Championships. He began his professional career as an intern with the Caps during the 1994-95 season. Smith is a co-founder of Pivot Physical Therapy, a collection of physical therapy clinics in the mid-Atlantic states on the East Coast, and earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education, with a focus on athletic training and special education from Salisbury State University. He was awarded his master’s degree in athletic training (in 1993) from California University of Pennsylvania.

During the 2014-15 season, Smith served in his 1,500th game behind the bench as Head Athletic Trainer and was recognized by the team during a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 1, 2015. Smith was also selected as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Metropolitan Division All-Star team at the 2017 NHL All-Star Game in Los Angeles.

By Michael Fleetwood