Petes 60th Season - "Roger Neilson"

Photo Credited - Petes Wesbite

Roger Neilson was well-known in many different levels of hockey. He had a major impact on the sport and is remembered for his different style of coaching. When Roger was apart of the Peterborough Petes he introduced a new type of learning experience for his players. He was the inventor of the idea to use video to scout other teams and make his own team better. It wasn't until he made it to the NHL and got the nickname Mr. Video. Many different players and hockey individuals believe Roger Neilson is one of the smartest hockey people they've ever met. He loved the game of hockey and the city of Peterborough. "What set Roger apart from a lot of people was his passion and his work ethic towards hockey". said Darren Keilly, former assistant coach for Neilson. in New York.

Mr. Roger Neilson was born in Toronto, Ontario, and his first coaching job began as a student at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. He graduated from the university with a degree in Physical Education in both hockey and baseball.

After he graduated from McMaster, Roger was hired by the Petes to be their Head Coach for the 1966-1967 OHA season. During this time the team were the junior farm team for the Montreal Canadiens. Roger was apart of the Petes coaching staff for 10 years until he decide to take the next step to the NHL. Neilson was a hard working individual that cared about the game more then anybody else at the time. He brought video into the coaching world that is used daily in all different levels of hockey. Coaches use video to break down plays of their opposites or to show the weakness of their own team. During his first few years as head coach, the petes hadn't made the playoffs under Roger until the 1969 season. Though the Petes were winning the regular season, it wasn't showing in playoffs. The Petes wouldn't be consider a contender for the championship until the 1971-1972 season, when the Peterborough Petes won the league championship with Roger Neilson as their head coach. The following year would be Rogers best regular season record during his time with the Petes. He record 42 wins, 13 loses and 8 ties in 63 games. That season the Petes would finish first and made it to the championship finals, but lost in the finals. Roger would stay with the Petes for three more seasons until he decided to parts in 1976. He left the league and decided to join the Central Hockey League and became the head coach for the Dallas Black Hawks.

After just one season in the Central Hockey League, Roger was hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1977 to 1979. He was fired by then owner Harold Ballard. There was outrage throughout the players, media, and general public. Making Ballard then relent what he did and asked Neilson to return. Ballard wanted Neilson to enter the next game with a paper bag over his head and say the Leafs had a 'Mystery Coach" but Neilson refused and coached the next game as if nothing had happened. In 1980, Neilson left the Leafs and joined the Buffalo Sabres for just one season for the 1980,1981 season. He moved on from Buffalo and coached Vancouver for 1982-1984 and became well know for his "White Towel Waving" in a playoff game in 1982 against the Blackhawks. Vancouver was losing and the refs were calling everything against the Canucks. The refs called four penalty in a row and Neilson had enough. He decided to "surrender" and put a white towel on the end of a hockey stick, his players joined him in doing this. This well-known events would have a impact on hockey forever. The next home game for the Canucks, the fans decided to bring white towels and waved them during the game. This started the tradition that is still used to this day, the Winnipeg and Phoenix "white out", Anaheim's 'Paint it Orange" and all hockey teams that request their fans to wear a specific colour to their home playoff games. After his team in Vancouver, he coached the LA Kings, New York Rangers, and Florida Panthers from 1984 to 1995.

In 1998, Roger Neilson was announced as the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. On September 12, 1998 Roger Nelson brought the Flyers to Peterborough to hold their training camp prior to the start of the regular season. This was the first time the Flyers trained in Peterborough and was chosen because it was the summer home for Neilson and the area supports his summer camps for children.

Neilson felt that Peterborough was a great place for the team to do some bonding. He thought it was great scenic city and had a lot to offer the Flyers. The city had all star athletes like Eric Lindros, John LeClair, Rob Brind'Amour, Mark Recchi and former Peterborough Pete players Luke Richardson and Jody Hull. Neilson would stay with the Flyers until the 2000 season. In December 1999 well coaching the Flyers, Neilson rannoucened that he was diagnosed with bone cancer. During the team, team doctor Jeff Hartzell felt Neilson could make a full recovery from the cancer. This chance gave Neilson the hope to battle against it. "Cancer is never good news, but at least it looks optimistic for the future," said Neilson to reporters on the day of his cancer announcement.

He would finished his career with the Ottawa Senators as an assistant coach but was allowed to coach the final two games of the season so that he could hit the 1000 game mark)

In 2001, well coaching in Ottawa Neilson announced that his bone cancer had spread and it became skin cancer. It would take the life of the great Roger Neilson on June 21, 2003, just five days after his 69th birthday. His funeral services were held in Peterborough, Ontario.

Before his death he was awarded a Doctor of Laws by McMaster University in 2001, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in November 2002. He was also appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2002. The city Roger called home and loved, Peterborough renamed George Street South to "Roger Neilson Way" in 2003.

The Ottawa Senators named their coaches office "The Roger Neilson Room".

After Rogers death, the Ontario Hockey League created an award for the top academic player attending college or university and named it the Roger Neilson Memorial Award in 2005. Roger was a huge believer in development and helping children. The Ottawa Senators Foundation honoured Roger by building the Roger House. The house is used as a care facility for children.

In September 2004, a elementary school in Peterborough was opened and named Roger Neilson Public School. opened. The name was chosen because of Roger's commitment to teaching and he exemplified the qualities of the Character Education program of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board.

In 2010, The Peterborough Petes announced that they'd be naming their new team mascot in memory of Petes great, Roger Neilson. The name fit perfectly because Mr.Neilson was known as a dog lover and would often bring hid dog to the rink. In 2010 the Petes released these statements about the new mascot. The Petes mascot is being "Named in memory of Roger Neilson, this furry friend will be loved by all, as Roger was in the hockey world." and "Roger Neilson was a caring, competitive, fun-loving person who always had time for others. It was because of these qualities the name Roger was chosen,"

Petes fans will forever remember Roger Neilson and the changes he made to hockey and this city. Just remember every time you're in the Memorial Centre just look to the rafters and you'll see Roger and everything he did for this town.

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