Penticton, B.C. – Vancouver Giants forward Cameron Schmidt has tied a WHL record for fastest goal from the start of a game after he beat Penticton Vees netminder Andrew Reyelts a mere five seconds into regulation Friday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Off the opening faceoff of Friday’s game between the Vancouver Giants and Penticton Vees, centre Ty Halaburda tied up his man and the puck squirted forward where Schmidt, jumping up off the right wing, pulled it through the defender and into Vees territory. From the right faceoff circle, the Dallas Stars prospect wired a quick wrist shot that evaded Reyelts low blocker side, giving the Giants a lightning-quick 1-0 lead.
Schmidt’s goal tied a WHL record that was originally set by Seattle Thunderbirds centre Dean Sexsmith, who scored five seconds into regulation against the Victoria Cougars, beating goaltender Peter Fry, on January 30, 1987. The Thunderbirds went on to win that game by a 7-6 margin.
The record-tying marker hit the scoresheet as Schmidt’s 16th goal of the campaign. Selected by the Stars in the third round (94th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft, the 5-foot-8, 158-pound Schmidt is enjoying career output to start the 2025-26 season, having recorded 36 points (16G-20A) in 25 games, good enough for 1.44 points per game. That pace has Schmidt on track to record 98 points (44G-54A) in 68 games this season, which would best the career highs he set in 2024-25 when he tallied 40 goals, 38 assists, and 78 points in 61 games.
Hailing from Prince George, B.C., the 18-year-old Schmidt was originally selected by the Giants in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. In 148 career WHL regular season games, the shifty forward has collected 173 points (88G-85A).
Schmidt is set to turn 19 on January 19. Away from the Giants, he has found international success with Canada, helping his nation claim gold at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship, while boosting Canada White to gold at the 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge.
As for Sexsmith – the original record holder was also months away from his 19th birthday when he registered his quick strike in 1987. He went on to score three goals in the game, helping Seattle edge Victoria 7-6.
A 6-foot-2, 174-pound pivot from Virden, Man., Sexsmith was on his third team of the season when he etched his name into the WHL record book as a member of the Thunderbirds. He started the campaign with the Brandon Wheat Kings, playing two games before joining the Prince Albert Raiders for 35 games.
Over five WHL seasons, Sexsmith played 311 regular season games, notching 212 points (86G-126A). He spent time with the Brandon Wheat Kings (1984-85 to 1986-87), Prince Albert Raiders (1986-87), Seattle Thunderbirds (1986-87 to 1987-88), Saskatoon Blades (1987-88 to 1988-89), and Spokane Chiefs (1988-89).
His best offensive output came in 1988-89, when he secured 62 points (26G-36A) over 59 games split between the Blades and Chiefs.
Sexsmith was selected by the New York Islanders in the fifth round (101st overall) of the 1986 NHL Draft.
