Pete Peeters

Pete Peeters
Born	(1957-08-17) August 17, 1957 Edmonton, AB, CAN
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Philadelphia Flyers Boston Bruins Washington Capitals
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	135th overall, 1977 Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career	1977–1991

Peter H. Peeters (born August 17, 1957) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals. He was one of the NHL's most colourful characters during the 1980s.

Early life

Peeters was born in a family of Dutch immigrants in Edmonton, Alberta. At a young age, he valued swimming more than hockey. It was not until he was 18 that Peeters was committed to junior hockey. In 1975, Peeters joined a struggling Medicine Hat Tigers team. He would stay with the Tigers for two years before being drafted. Peeters was drafted 135th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft after showing scouts that he had what it took to play at an NHL level. He played for two years in the AHL winning the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award for best GAA in the league and he was also selected to the First All-Star Team.

Playing career

Philadelphia Flyers

Peeters was called up by the Flyers in 1980 sharing the net with Phil Myre. Peeters started with a 22–0–5 record before losing his first game of the season on February 19. The Flyers went a NHL record 35 straight games without a loss that season. Peeters finished the season with a 29–5–5 record with a 2.73 GAA. He led the Flyers all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the New York Islanders on an overtime goal by Bob Nystrom. For his effort, Peeters was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game.

The following season, expectations were high for Peeters but he did not meet them. Over the next two years his GAA rose and his playoff success diminished. In 1982, Peeters was traded to the Boston Bruins for defenceman Brad McCrimmon.

Boston Bruins

Peeters joined the Boston Bruins for the 1982–83 season. Peeters had perhaps his best year as he played in 62 games and posting a 40–11–9 record with 8 shutouts and a decade high 2.36 GAA. At one point, Peeters went 31 games without a loss. He won the Vezina Trophy for his spectacular play and was selected First All-Star Team goalie. He also played in the All-Star Game in his first season with Boston. Surprisingly, Peeters finished 2nd in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy to Wayne Gretzky. Next season, expectation were high again for Peeters and like in Philadelphia he did not meet them. He played for two more years with the Bruins with his GAA inflating and the losses piling up.

1984 Canada Cup

Peeters was invited to Team Canada for the 1984 Canada Cup. Despite having a sprained ankle, Peeters was able to play in four games including the final game against Sweden and the memorable overtime win against the Soviets.

Pete Peeters

Medal record
Competitor for Canada
Men's ice hockey
Canada Cup
Gold	1984 Canada	Ice hockey

Washington Capitals

After the Canada Cup experience, Peeters had trouble readjusting his game to the NHL level. After a slow start in the 1985–86 season, Peeters was traded to the Washington Capitals in exchange for goaltender Pat Riggin. Peeters provided the Caps with solid goaltending for the next five seasons. But in the playoffs, Peeters did not find much success again.

Return to Philadelphia

Peeters returned to Philadelphia in 1990 by way of free agency. He remained there for the last two seasons of his career sharing the net with Ron Hextall and Ken Wregget. Peeters would hang up the pads in 1991.

Retirement

At the end of his playing career, Peeters returned to the family farm in Edmonton. He then got into coaching, serving as a goaltender coach to the Minnesota North Stars, Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, and the Edmonton Oilers. On July 27, 2009, he signed on as goaltending coach for the Anaheim Ducks, a position which had been left vacant following the departure of François Allaire.

Awards and achievements

• Selected to the AHL Second All-Star Team in 1979.
• Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award in 1979 (shared with Robbie Moore).
• Selected to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1983.
• Vezina Trophy winner in 1983.
• Played in 1980, 1981, 1983, and 1984 NHL All-Star Games.
• Canada Cup winner in 1984.

Career statistics

Regular season

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1974–75	Edmonton Crusaders	AJHL		35	—	—	—	2012	114	0	3.25	—
1975–76	Medicine Hat Tigers	WCHL		37	16	11	9	2074	147	0	4.25	.877
1976–77	Medicine Hat Tigers	WCHL		62	26	24	12	3423	232	1	4.07	.877
1977–78	Milwaukee Admirals	IHL		33	12	10	7	1698	92	1	3.25	.919
1977–78	Maine Mariners	AHL		17	8	2	2	855	40	0	2.80	—
1978–79	Maine Mariners	AHL		35	25	6	3	2067	100	2	2.90	—
1978–79	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		5	1	2	1	280	16	0	3.43	—
1979–80	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		40	29	5	5	2373	108	1	2.73	.898
1980–81	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		40	22	12	5	2333	115	2	2.96	.897
1981–82	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		44	23	18	3	2591	160	0	3.71	.871
1982–83	Boston Bruins	NHL		62	40	11	9	3611	142	8	2.36	.904
1983–84	Boston Bruins	NHL		50	29	16	2	2868	151	0	3.16	.876
1984–85	Boston Bruins	NHL		51	19	26	4	2975	172	1	3.47	.868
1985–86	Boston Bruins	NHL		8	3	4	1	485	31	0	3.84	.873
1985–86	Washington Capitals	NHL		34	19	11	3	2021	113	1	3.35	.876
1986–87	Binghamton Whalers	AHL		4	3	0	1	245	4	1	0.98	.967
1986–87	Washington Capitals	NHL		37	17	11	4	2002	107	0	3.21	.885
1987–88	Washington Capitals	NHL		35	14	12	4	1896	88	2	2.78	.898
1988–89	Washington Capitals	NHL		35	20	7	3	1854	88	4	2.85	.889
1989–90	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		24	1	13	5	1140	71	1	3.74	.883
1990–91	Hershey Bears	AHL		2	0	1	0	105	11	0	6.29	.833
1990–91	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		26	9	7	1	1270	61	1	2.88	.902
NHL totals				489	246	155	51	27,699	1424	21	3.08	—

Playoffs

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1976–77	Medicine Hat Tigers	WCHL		4	—	—	204	17	0	5.00	—
1977–78	Maine Mariners	AHL		11	8	3	562	25	1	2.67	—
1978–79	Maine Mariners	AHL		6	5	0	329	15	0	2.74	—
1979–80	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		13	8	5	779	37	1	2.78	—
1980–81	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		3	2	1	180	12	0	4.00	—
1981–82	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		4	1	2	220	17	0	4.64	—
1982–83	Boston Bruins	NHL		17	9	8	1024	61	1	3.57	—
1983–84	Boston Bruins	NHL		3	0	3	180	10	0	3.33	.853
1984–85	Boston Bruins	NHL		1	0	1	60	4	0	4.00	.846
1985–86	Washington Capitals	NHL		9	5	4	544	24	0	2.65	.905
1986–87	Washington Capitals	NHL		3	1	2	180	9	0	3.00	.882
1987–88	Washington Capitals	NHL		12	7	5	654	34	0	3.12	.896
1988–89	Washington Capitals	NHL		6	2	4	359	24	0	4.01	.854
NHL totals				71	35	35	4200	232	2	3.31	—

International

Year	Team	Event			GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA
1984	Canada	Can-Cup			4	3	1	0	234	13	0	3.00
Senior int'l totals					4	3	1	0	234	13	0	3.00

External links

• Pete Peeters's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Pete Peeters profile at Hockey Draft Central
• Pete Peeters at Hockey-Reference.com
• Pete Peeters's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Pete Peeters's player profile at NHL.com
• Profile at Greatest Hockey Legends
• [2]

Preceded by Billy Smith

Winner of the Vezina Trophy 1983

Succeeded by Tom Barrasso