Doug Smith

Doug Smith was a left wing who played both of the Stampede's first two WPHL seasons, appearing in all 63 games each year and finishing his Central Texas career with 64 goals, 90 assists, 154 points, and 204 penalty minutes across 126 games.

When coach Bob Bourne signed Smith ahead of the 1996–97 inaugural season, he made no secret of his expectations — calling Smith the type of player capable of scoring 40 goals in the league and praising his speed. Smith rewarded that confidence, posting 31 goals and 40 assists in year one and then improving to 33 goals and 50 assists in 1997–98 under new head coach Lee Norwood. He was a late addition to the Stampede's eight-man All-Star roster for the first WPHL All-Star Game in January 1997, and he represented himself well at the event, earning Most Valuable honors for the Eastern squad after recording a hat trick in the East's 14–9 victory, and also winning the fastest skater competition.

In 1997–98 Smith was part of a productive forward line alongside Layne Roland and Alex Rummo, the trio combining for 38 goals and 36 assists through the first 20 games of that season. He did serve a league-imposed six-game suspension mid-season, but the Stampede survived the stretch and held their playoff position.