Brent Peterson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brent Peterson
Brent Peterson on a 1988 sports card
Born	(1958-02-15)February 15, 1958 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Died	September 11, 2026(2026-09-11) (aged 68)
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Detroit Red Wings Buffalo Sabres Vancouver Canucks Hartford Whalers
Coached for	Hartford Whalers (Assistant) Portland Winterhawks (Head Coach) Nashville Predators (Assistant)
NHL Draft	12th overall, 1978 Detroit Red Wings
Playing career	1978–1989
Coaching career	1989–2011

Brent Ronald Peterson (February 15, 1958 – September 11, 2026) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach, and broadcaster. He competed for 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) across four major franchises. On the ice, Peterson was known as a hardworking defensive forward, face-off expert, and elite penalty killer.

Following his playing career, Peterson became a successful hockey coach. He guided the Portland Winterhawks to a national championship victory in the 1998 Memorial Cup. He later worked for over a decade as an associate coach for the Nashville Predators. Throughout his life, Peterson earned widespread respect for his deep knowledge of the sport and his leadership.

Early Life and Junior Hockey Career

Brent Peterson was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Like many Canadian children, he grew up skating on local rinks and developing a strong love for ice hockey. He showed natural athletic talent, dedication, and a strong work ethic from an early age.

Peterson played his early organized hockey in Alberta before advancing to major junior hockey in the Western Canada Hockey League (now the Western Hockey League or WHL). Major junior hockey is the top level of amateur hockey in North America for players aged 16 to 20.

Playing for the Edmonton Oil Kings

Peterson began his major junior career during the 1974–75 season with the Edmonton Oil Kings. In his rookie junior year, he appeared in 66 games, scoring 17 goals and 26 assists for a total of 43 points.

In the 1975–76 season, Peterson improved his scoring touch. He played in 70 regular season games, tallying 22 goals and 39 assists for 61 points. He also contributed six points in five playoff games, demonstrating that he could perform well during high-pressure contests.

Stardom with the Portland Winterhawks

In 1976, the Oil Kings franchise relocated to the United States and became the Portland Winterhawks. Peterson moved with the team to Oregon and quickly became one of their star forwards.

During the 1976–77 campaign, Peterson had a breakout offensive season. He played in 69 games and scored an impressive 34 goals along with 78 assists, totaling 112 points. He added 11 more points in 10 postseason games.

In his final junior year (1977–78), Peterson served as a key team leader. In 51 games, he scored 33 goals and 50 assists for 83 points. His defensive awareness, skating, and playmaking caught the attention of professional scouts across the NHL.

Professional Playing Career in the NHL

Brent Peterson pictured on a Detroit Red Wings postcard after being drafted in 1978.

At the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft, the Detroit Red Wings chose Peterson in the first round with the 12th overall pick. Being chosen in the first round showed that teams viewed him as a high-potential prospect.

Detroit Red Wings (1978–1981)

Peterson earned a roster spot on the Red Wings right out of his first NHL training camp in the autumn of 1978. However, bad luck struck during his fifth regular season game when he suffered a severe broken leg. The serious injury forced him to miss the rest of the 1978–79 season.

Peterson worked hard through physical therapy to regain his skating speed. He spent most of the 1979–80 season with Detroit's minor-league affiliate, the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League (AHL), scoring 31 points in 52 games. He was called up to Detroit for 18 games, scoring his first career NHL goal.

By the 1980–81 season, Peterson became a regular NHL forward. He played 53 games for Detroit, recording 6 goals and 18 assists for 24 points while establishing his identity as a disciplined defensive forward.

Buffalo Sabres (1981–1985)

Early in the 1981–82 season, Peterson was traded to the Buffalo Sabres as part of a major multi-player trade. In Buffalo, Peterson found his ideal role under head coach Scotty Bowman.

Bowman placed Peterson on a specialized defensive line alongside forwards Craig Ramsay and Ric Seiling. This line became one of the most effective checking lines in the entire NHL. A checking line is a group of forwards tasked with defending against the opposing team's highest-scoring star players.

The 1982–83 Peak Season

The 1982–83 season was the best offensive campaign of Peterson's NHL career:

• Played in 75 regular-season games.
• Scored a career-high 13 goals.
• Recorded a career-high 24 assists.
• Totaled 37 points.
• Served as the primary forward on Buffalo's top penalty-killing unit.

Peterson remained with the Sabres for four seasons, appearing in 265 regular-season games and helping the team reach the playoffs each year.

Vancouver Canucks (1985–1987)

In October 1985, Peterson joined the Vancouver Canucks after being selected in the NHL Waiver Draft.

In his first year in Vancouver (1985–86), Peterson played in 77 games. He registered 8 goals and 23 assists for 31 points. He proved particularly dangerous while shorthanded, scoring a career-high three shorthanded goals. Thanks to Peterson's defensive leadership, the Canucks allowed 68 fewer goals than they had during the previous season.

Peterson spent one more full year in Vancouver during the 1986–87 season, recording 22 points in 69 games.

Hartford Whalers (1987–1989)

Prior to the start of the 1987–88 season, Peterson was claimed by the Hartford Whalers. His first year in Hartford was challenging due to minor injuries, and he managed only 9 points in 52 games.

Peterson bounced back during the 1988–89 season. He appeared in 66 games, providing veteran poise, scoring 17 points, and teaming up with Dave Tippett to form one of the league's top penalty-killing tandems. Following the end of that season, Peterson decided to retire as an active player to start his coaching career.

Summary of NHL Playing Achievements

Over his 11-year NHL playing career, Brent Peterson achieved the following career statistics:

• Total regular-season games played: 620
• Goals scored: 72
• Assists: 141
• Total points: 213
• Penalty minutes: 484
• Playoff games: 31 (4 goals, 4 assists, 8 points)

Coaching and Broadcasting Career

After hanging up his skates, Peterson transitioned directly behind the bench. His tactical understanding of hockey positioning made him an outstanding coach.

Assistant Coach with the Hartford Whalers

In 1989, Peterson joined the coaching staff of the Hartford Whalers as an assistant coach under head coach Rick Ley. Peterson worked closely with young forwards, teaching them defensive responsibility and face-off techniques for two seasons.

Head Coach of the Portland Winterhawks (1991–1998)

In 1991, Peterson returned to the junior team where he had starred as a teenager, becoming the head coach of the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL.

Peterson led the Winterhawks for seven seasons, building a winning culture based on teamwork, conditioning, and discipline. Under his guidance, Portland captured three division championships.

The 1998 Memorial Cup Championship

Peterson's greatest junior coaching triumph came during the 1997–98 season:

• The Winterhawks dominated the regular season with a 53–14–5 record.
• Portland won the President's Cup as champions of the WHL.
• The team advanced to the 1998 Memorial Cup, the tournament that decides the champion of all Canadian major junior hockey.
• Portland defeated the Guelph Storm in an exciting 4–3 overtime victory to win the Memorial Cup.

In 2012, the Portland Winterhawks inducted Peterson into their team Hall of Fame to honour his historic contributions as both a player and coach.

Associate Coach with the Nashville Predators (1998–2011)

Following his Memorial Cup victory, Peterson returned to the NHL in the summer of 1998. He joined the newly formed expansion team, the Nashville Predators, as an assistant coach alongside head coach Barry Trotz.

Peterson spent 13 seasons on the Predators' coaching bench. He helped build the team from a brand-new franchise into a perennial playoff contender in the Western Conference. He was known for his calm communication style, excellent video analysis, and ability to teach defensive tactics.

Radio Broadcaster and Team Adviser

After stepping down from full-time coaching duties in 2011, Peterson stayed involved with the Predators organization. From 2014 to 2017, he served as a colour commentator on Nashville Predators radio broadcasts, explaining plays and strategies to listeners. He also worked as an adviser to team management.

Personal Life and Legacy

Brent Peterson was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His brother, Greg Peterson, was also an accomplished professional athlete who played as a defensive back in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and won a Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampeders.

In 2002, Peterson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a long-term neurological condition that affects movement. Peterson met the challenge with optimism, becoming an active advocate and raising funds for medical research and awareness through community events.

Peterson passed away on September 11, 2026, at the age of 68. He is remembered in the hockey world as an exceptional teammate, an unselfish player, and a dedicated mentor to generations of hockey players.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

Awards and Honours