Petes 60th Season - "What Chris Pronger Meant to The Petes"

Photo Credited - Petes Website

When the name Chris Pronger is brought up, Petes fans will remember a young man that decided to give Peterborough a chance to win. In May 1991 Peterborough General Manager and Head Coach Dick Todd selected Pronger in the 6th round of the OHL Priority Selection Draft. Pronger was a sought after a top prospect in the pre OHL draft but informed OHL clubs that he would be opting out and going the College hockey route. Pronger planned to join his older brother Sean in Ohio playing in the NCAA at the Bowling Green State University. Dick Todd and the whole Peterborough Petes organization were committed in getting Pronger to join the team. In the discussion between the Petes and Chris Pronger, general manager Dick Todd told Pronger that he'd be in the NHL after two seasons playing for him. "It was a long process, but it came out good. It should be a pretty good organization." Pronger said about the agreement process to signing with the Petes. Chris would begin his Peterborough journey with Roger and Debbie White as his border parents.

The 17 year old native from Dryden, Ontario joined the Peterborough Petes for the 1991-1992 season. Pronger made a great first impression with the Petes in his rookie season. "He came in and probably could of been our captain right away." said former teammate Brent Tully. Pronger would play 63 games in his first season, scoring 17 goals, 45 assists, totaling 62 points as a defenseman. The Petes would finish 1st in the OHL and win The Hamilton Spectator Trophy. The award is given to the Ontario Hockey League team who finishes the season with the best record. The Petes would go on to lose in the semi finals to North Bay. Pronger scored 9 points in 10 playoff games.

Prongers first season was cut short of a memorial cup run due to losing in the semi finals. In the 1992-1993 season Pronger would help make it a year to remember. Pronger would finish the seasons with 77 points in 61 games. Scoring 15 goals and adding 62 assists. He helped Peterborough reach 47 wins in 67 games. Unlike in 1992, the Petes were able to make the OHL finals against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The Petes beat the Greyhounds 4-1 and captured the J. Ross Robertson Cup. Pronger finished the playoffs playing in 21 games, scoring 40 points, 15 goals and 25 assists.

The Petes advanced to the Memorial Cup after beating the Greyhounds in 5 games. However Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds were the host and given a pass into the tournament. The Petes would make it to the Memorial Cup finals but lost 4-2 to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Pronger finished his OHL career being named to the OHL First All-Star Team. He also won the Max Kamnsky Trophy (OHL Defenceman of the year), CHL Best Defenceman award and the CHL Plus/Minus Award.

Former Petes General Manager and current NHL Scout (Arizona Coyotes) Jeff Twohey knew Pronger was going to be a special player. "In all my years, I don't think I've seen a player have the passion he had for playing the game, studying it, and talking about it. He was always a step ahead of everybody else."

After playing two years in the OHL for the Peterborough Petes, Chris Pronger was selected 2nd overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. He went on to play in 1,167 NHL games. Scoring 157 goals, 541 assists for a total of 698 points. He played for the Hartford Whalers, St.Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks and the Philadelphia Flyers. In his hockey career he was able to win a Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007. He won a gold medal for Team Canada in Men's Hockey at the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics. He was a Norris Trophy winner (Best defenceman) and won the Hart Trophy (NHL MVP).

Chris Pronger was able to do a lot for the Peterborough Petes while playing for the organization. Even after his years of playing for the team, he felt he need to help in some way. He contacted G.M Jeff Twohey and asked if their was anything he could help with. After their conversation, Pronger bought the Petes dressing room a sound system to help pump up the team before games. He will always be remembered for his hardworking talent and the two tremendous seasons he gave Peterborough Petes fans

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