Beloved NHL veteran Pete Conacher, of the famous Conacher hockey family, passes away at the age of 92
Pete Conacher had a successful NHL career some many decades ago, and it was sadly announced that he has passed away at the age of 92.
Pete Conacher was the son of the Toronto Maple Leafs legend Charlie Conacher. In his own right, Pete enjoyed an NHL career with both the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers. Well, his dad Charlie, had played as a real Leaf superstar, three-time all-star, and 1932 Stanley Cup champion, while Pete had had a very lackluster career in comparison. On the other hand, Pete was just grateful to have been able to follow in his father's footsteps to play in Maple Leaf Gardens and share some family legacy when it comes to hockey excellence. Pete sadly passed away at the age of 92.
The hugely athletic Conacher family had a rich history of achievement in Canadian sports. His cousin Brian Conacher, who won the Stanley Cup in 1967 with the Maple Leafs, was just one element of a line bursting with talent. His uncle Lionel Conacher was a multi-sport athlete and was named Canada's athlete of the half-century from 1900-1950. His other uncle Roy won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins.
In 1959, Pete was part of the amateur hockey team called the Whitby Dunlops, which won the World Championship in Prague, then part of Czechoslovakia. Competing in the tournament under the watchful eyes of the Eastern Bloc, the team's victory was a matter of pride to Canada during the tense political climate of the Cold War.
After his time in the NHL, Pete Conacher would go on to play several more years in the AHL with teams such as the Buffalo Bisons and the Hershey Bears. After his playing days were over, he moved to Bay Street, where he had a good deal of success as a floor trader for many years before retiring from the financial world altogether.
While Pete Conacher never reached the greatness of his father, he was able to carve out a relatively decent spot through pro hockey and beyond. His memory is there to be a testament, just as is his family in general, to his will and his love for the game. Rest in peace Pete.
