Biography
Peter (Pete) Conacher was born into a legendary Canadian family of athletes – dad (Charlie Conacher) and uncles (Roy and Lionel Conacher). He grew up in Leaside playing in the playgrounds and rinks of Bessborough Public School and Millwood Park. The Toronto Hockey League introduced Pete to more formalized play. He began his hockey career in 1943 on the Leaside Pee-Wee team and in 1944 he went on to play for the North Toronto Kinsmen Terriers. At the age of 16, he became the property of the Chicago Blackhawks and was sent to their Ontario Hockey Association affiliate, the Galt (now City of Cambridge) Black Hawks. He played and completed High School there. In 1952, he turned pro with the Chicago Black Hawks to play in the NHL.
In his 13 years as a professional hockey player, Pete would also play for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Hershey Bears, St. Louis Flyers, and Buffalo Bisons (AHL). In 1959, he would play for the Belleville McFarlands and go on to win the World Championship in Prague. By the end of his professional hockey career, Pete had played 229 NHL regular season games.
After ending his professional career in 1966, he joined the NHL Oldtimers Hockey Club and played charity hockey games across Canada for the following 13 years.
Pete is a past President of the Ontario chapter of Special Olympics Canada. He has served as a board member for the Charlie Conacher Throat Cancer Research Fund at the Toronto General Hospital. He currently sits on the Board of Directors with the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
Awards and honours Pete has received include Induction into four Halls of Fame, Province of Ontario Special Achievement award and Queen Elizabeth 11 Golden Jubilee Medal.