Pete Conacher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pete Conacher |
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Conacher in 2010
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| Born | July 29, 1932 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Died | October 20, 2024 (aged 92) | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Left Wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Toronto Maple Leafs Chicago Black Hawks New York Rangers |
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| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| Playing career | 1951–1966 | ||
Charles William "Pete" Conacher Jr. (born July 29, 1932 – died October 20, 2024) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 229 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1951 and 1957. His full hockey career lasted from 1951 to 1966. Most of this time was spent playing in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Conacher played for famous teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks, and New York Rangers. In 1959, he was part of the Belleville McFarlands team that won the World Championship. Pete was the son of Charlie Conacher, a famous NHL player who is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
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Pete Conacher: Hockey Star
Early Days in Hockey
Pete Conacher started his hockey journey in 1943. He played in the Toronto Hockey League with the Leaside PeeWee team. The next season, 1944-45, he played for the North Toronto Kinsmen Terriers. There, his team made it to the Minor Bantam finals.
When Pete was 16, the Chicago Blackhawks team gained his rights. They sent him to their junior team, the Galt Black Hawks, in the Ontario Hockey Association. He played in Galt (now part of Cambridge, Ontario) for two seasons. His best season was in 1951-52. He scored an amazing 120 points, with 53 goals and 67 assists, in 51 games. In 1952, he became a professional player with the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League.
Playing Pro Hockey
Pete Conacher played professional hockey for 13 years. Besides the NHL teams, he also played for teams like the Hershey Bears, St. Louis Flyers, and Buffalo Bisons (AHL) in the American Hockey League.
In 1959, Pete played for the Belleville McFarlands. They won the World Championship in Prague, which was a huge achievement. By the end of his professional career, Pete had played 229 regular season games in the NHL. He scored 47 goals and made 39 assists during his time in the NHL.
After he stopped playing professionally in 1966, Pete joined the NHL Oldtimers Hockey Club. He played in charity hockey games across Canada for 13 years. He kept playing for the Oldtimers team even after that. Pete was honored for his 1959 World Championship win. He was inducted into the Belleville Hall of Fame.
Winning a World Title
The 1959 Ice Hockey World Championships were held in Czechoslovakia. Pete Conacher's team, the Belleville McFarlands, represented Canada. They played against teams from many countries. Canada won the gold medal, becoming the world champions. Pete played 8 games in the tournament. He scored 7 goals and had 3 assists, helping his team win the championship.
Life Off the Ice
Pete Conacher was also involved in many important activities outside of hockey. He was a past President of the Ontario chapter of Special Olympics Canada. This organization helps people with intellectual disabilities through sports.
During the summers when he wasn't playing hockey, Pete enjoyed other sports. He played in the Beaches Major Fastball League. He also played senior baseball for Lizzies at the old Viaduct Stadium. Pete also served on the board for the Charlie Conacher Throat Cancer Research Fund. This fund helps with research at the Toronto General Hospital. Pete and his wife, Ann, lived in Etobicoke for over 48 years. He later joined the Board of Directors for the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
A Family of Hockey Players
Pete Conacher came from a family of famous hockey players. His uncles, Lionel Conacher and Roy Conacher, also played in the NHL. They were both later inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
His cousin, Lionel Conacher Jr., was a top draft pick in 1960 for the Montreal Alouettes. This is a team in the Canadian Football League. Another cousin, Brian Conacher, played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He even won a Stanley Cup with them in the 1966-67 NHL season. Cory Conacher, who played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, is also a distant relative of Pete's. Pete was also a cousin to Murray Henderson, another hockey player.
Pete Conacher passed away on October 20, 2024, at the age of 92.
Awards and Achievements
Pete Conacher received several awards and honors for his contributions to hockey and his community:
- Belleville Hall of Fame
- Province of Ontario Special Achievement Award (1991)
- Ontario Special Olympics Hall of Fame (First Inductee, 1992)
- Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
- Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame (2002)
- Bobby Orr Hall of Fame (2010)
