Vancouver Giants winger Cameron Schmidt has skated his way into the Western Hockey League history books with a breathtaking goal scored just five seconds into Friday's game against the Penticton Vees.
The Dallas Stars prospect electrified the South Okanagan Events Centre with his record-tying performance, matching a mark that had stood for nearly four decades. Schmidt's lightning-quick tally equals the achievement of Seattle Thunderbirds centre Dean Sexsmith, who originally set the record on January 30, 1987.
How The Historic Goal Unfolded
The record-breaking moment began with the opening faceoff and unfolded in a matter of heartbeats. As the puck squirted toward the Penticton blue line, Schmidt demonstrated why he's considered one of the WHL's fastest skaters this season.
The young forward pounced on the loose puck, chipping it past Vees defender Callum Stone before wiring a perfect wrist shot from the top of the right faceoff circle. The puck found its mark low blocker side, beating goaltender Andrew Reyelts and sending shockwaves through the arena.
Schmidt's Rising Career and Team Victory
Friday's historic goal represents another milestone in what's becoming a remarkable season for the Giants standout. The goal was Schmidt's 16th of the campaign, and he currently sits fifth in league scoring with 36 points.
Beyond the individual achievement, the Vancouver team secured an important victory, taking a 3-2 decision in a shootout. Adam Titlbach provided the lone goal in the penalty-shot tiebreaker, while goaltender Kelton Pyne earned first star honors with an impressive 46 saves through regulation and overtime.
Schmidt continues to build on his impressive resume after being selected in the third round by the Dallas Stars in last summer's NHL Draft. The goal brings his career regular season total with Vancouver to 88, placing him just one behind Cain Franson (2010-14) and two behind current active leader Ty Halaburda in franchise history.
Historical Context and NHL Comparisons
The WHL record now sees Schmidt sharing the spotlight with Dean Sexsmith's 1987 achievement, though the modern game unfolds at a dramatically faster pace. The historical significance extends beyond junior hockey to the professional ranks as well.
In the NHL, the record for earliest goal from the start of a game is also five seconds, shared by four players. Alexander Mogilny was the most recent to achieve this feat during the 1991-92 season as a member of the Buffalo Sabres.
Former Vancouver Canucks fan favorite Alex Burrows holds the franchise record with a goal six seconds into a 2012-13 game against the Detroit Red Wings. That mark places Burrows in a three-way tie for the second-earliest goal in NHL history.
The Giants now turn their attention to their next challenge, hosting the powerhouse Everett Silvertips at the Langley Events Centre. Vancouver carries a 10-14-1-1 record into the matchup against Everett's impressive 20-2-1-1 standing.
