Brent Peterson facts for kids

Brent Ronald Peterson (born February 15, 1958) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. He played for 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was known as a strong defensive player who helped stop the other team from scoring.

After his playing career, Brent became a coach. He was an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators for a long time. He stopped coaching in 2011 because of his health. Today, Peterson works as an advisor for the Predators team. He is the brother of Greg Peterson, who played Canadian football.

Brent Peterson's Playing Career

Starting in Junior Hockey

Brent Peterson had a great junior hockey career with the Portland Winter Hawks. Junior hockey is for young players before they become professionals. In 1978, he was picked by the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL Draft. He was the 12th player chosen overall.

He joined the Red Wings for his first NHL season. But his season ended quickly after only 5 games because of a broken leg. The next year, he played mostly in a minor league, but he did score his first NHL goal for Detroit. By the 1980–81 season, he became a regular player in the NHL.

Time with the Buffalo Sabres

In the 1981–82 season, Peterson was traded to the Buffalo Sabres. This trade involved six players. In Buffalo, he became a very important player. He was part of one of the best "checking lines" in the league. A checking line focuses on stopping the other team's best players.

He played alongside Craig Ramsay and Ric Seiling. In the 1982–83 season, he scored 13 goals and had 24 assists, which were his best numbers. He was also great at killing penalties and winning face-offs.

Moving to Vancouver and Hartford

After four years with the Sabres, Peterson was chosen by the Vancouver Canucks in a special draft in 1985. In the 1985–86 season, he scored 9 goals and had 22 assists for the Canucks. He even scored 3 goals while his team was shorthanded, which is a career high for him. His arrival helped the Canucks allow 68 fewer goals than the year before.

In 1987, Peterson was picked by the Hartford Whalers. He had a tough year in 1987–88, scoring only 2 goals. But he played better in the 1988–89 season. He scored 4 goals and helped the team's top penalty-killing unit. After this season, he decided to retire from playing. He took a coaching job with the Whalers.

Brent Peterson played 620 NHL games in his career. He scored 72 goals and had 141 assists, for a total of 213 points. He also played in 31 playoff games.

Brent Peterson's Coaching Career

Coaching the Whalers and Winter Hawks

After he stopped playing, Peterson became an assistant coach for the Hartford Whalers for two seasons. In 1991, he went back to his old junior team, the Portland Winter Hawks, as their head coach.

In Portland, he became known as one of the best coaches in Canadian junior hockey. His team won three division titles in seven years. His time with the Winter Hawks ended with an amazing 1997–98 season. The team had a record of 53 wins, 14 losses, and 5 ties. They won the WHL Championship and then the Memorial Cup. The Memorial Cup is given to the best team in Canadian junior hockey.

Coaching in the NHL

After winning the Memorial Cup in 1998, Peterson returned to the NHL. He became an associate coach for the new Nashville Predators team, working with head coach Barry Trotz. He stayed with the Predators as a coach until 2011. He was even considered for head coaching jobs with other NHL teams during this time.

Brent Peterson's Life Outside Hockey

Brent Peterson is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 2004, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. This is a condition that affects the nervous system and can cause problems with movement.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

Awards and Honors