Pete Demers

---

Peter Gilmore Demers (born Nov. 4, 1943) is a retired head athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. He is a member of the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society Hall of Fame (2007), and a Hockey Hall of Fame honoree (2007). His induction plaque hangs in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto (2007). He successfully advocated for improvements to the trainers and equipment managers’ benefit package that took effect in 2006.

He is a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame (2016) and the L.A. Kings Hall of Fame (1997).

He served for three terms as president of the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society (1994-2000) after serving on the board for 20 years. He worked with Olympic athletes, and international hockey teams. He retired in 2006 after 2,632 consecutive regular season NHL games as the team athletic trainer. He has two children, Aimee Demers, and Thomas Demers.

A Life in Hockey

Demers was born Nov. 4, 1943 in Providence, Rhode Island. His parents were Kathleen and Arthur Demers. He grew up near the Rhode Island Auditorium, and became a “rink rat,” earning time on the ice in exchange for cleaning the ice and sweeping the stands. At 12 years old, he became an assistant stick boy for the visiting team at Rhode Island Reds of the American Hockey League. A Vietnam-era veteran, Demers served in 1961-1965 as a jet aircraft mechanic with the U.S. Air Force. Upon his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he worked as an aircraft mechanic at Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island, becoming the assistant trainer for the Rhode Island Reds, under the mentorship of long-time trainer George Army. He chose to leave his job at the air station to devote his time to athletic training, enrolling at Brown University and the University of Rhode Island to study athletic training and sports medicine. In 1970, he received a certification from the National Athletic Trainers Association.

After three seasons with the Rhode Island Reds (1965-68), Demers worked as the head athletic trainer with the Columbus Checkers (International Hockey League) for one season before joining the Springfield Kings (1969-1972) as head athletic trainer. The Springfield Kings was an L.A. Kings farm team.

Joining the L.A. Kings (1972-2006)

In 1972, Demers was appointed head athletic trainer to the L.A. Kings. In those days, the Kings played at the Forum in Inglewood, California (1967-1999). Demers, a first responder with one assistant, treated injuries, planned players’ off-ice and off-season conditioning programs, did massage therapy, physical therapy, and attended to the team’s nutrition needs. He also handled equipment. Demers tended to players’ injuries of all kinds with the Kings, including torn ligaments and muscles, broken bones, concussions, cuts, and bruises.

He arrived early, and worked late, and often had to rely on pay phones to communicate among doctors, coaches, managers, and players. The injuries Demers treated ranged from serious cuts, to joint injuries, muscle tears, strains, and concussions. The treatments included traditional ice and ultrasound, along with TENS (transcutaneous electronic stimulation), and for more serious injuries, doctor’s care.

On April 10, 1982, the Kings experienced the “Miracle on Manchester” when they were down 5 to 0 playing against the Edmonton Oilers, and Wayne Gretzky, in game three of the playoff before the Kings came back to win it 6-5 in overtime on goal by Daryl Evans.

Change Comes to the Kings (1988-1996)

In 1988, one of hockey’s greatest players joined the Kings, making the team hugely popular – and more successful than ever. Demers was present when Wayne Gretzky held his first press conference, and considers himself “very lucky to see him play.” Demers supported Gretzky through back, knee, and rib injuries and watched the team make it to the 1993 Stanley Cup finals – a first for the Kings.

In addition to caring for injuries of all kinds, he was known for his speed in getting to players on the ice, too. "He was pretty fast, too,” said Rogie Vachon. “When someone was injured on the ice, it took him two seconds. He was right there.” Jim Fox, after taking a heavy blow to his jaw, said he knew he would get immediate care on the ice. “That was my first thought. … that someone is going to take care of you, and that guy was Pete.”

On Ice (1996-2006)

File:Pete Demers Injury Analysis Committee Letter.pdf

Letter from the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society (PHATS) and the Society of Professional Hockey Equipment Managers (SPHEM)

With time, teams focus more on protecting players, and Demers was part of that transition. Over the years, he kept a journal of injuries and illness that allowed him to identify the key issues. Demers was the athletic trainers’ liaison to the NHL team physician and on the first NHL injury analysis panel designed to record all hockey injuries.

Despite those efforts, several injury-plagued seasons hit the Kings in the early 2000s. The Kings had the unfortunate distinction of an unofficial record-setting season in 2002-2003, when it lost 536 man-games, that is, games during which injured players had to sit out. These were caused by contact injuries, illnesses, and chronic injuries, among the causes. The team led the league in concussions at one point.

Departure, Return, and Retirement (2006-2008)

After four years with record-setting injuries combined with a change in management for the team, and Demers’ own path to retirement, he left the Kings in 2006. In 2007, he was asked to join the team again, and worked with the development camp, rookie camp and training camp for two years before fully retiring in 2008.

Since that time, Demers remains close to the team and works with the L.A. Kings Alumni Association, socializing with fans, participating in charity events, and visiting schools. Demers serves as an volunteer at the L.A. Mission, and participates at Children’s Hospital events. He frequently appears at various Kings community events including Habitat for Humanity, YMCA, and “Tip a King” visiting fans at games. He participates with the Kings Care Foundation.

Noteworthy Games and Tournaments

Olympics

Demers was often tapped to serve Olympians and other international competitors. In 1998, he was with Team USA at the XVIII Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. In 1984, he served as the U.S. Olympic Committee trainer-coordinator for basketball, serving teams from all over the world, and attending 63 games in 10 days.

“To get selected to go to the Olympics is paramount,” Demers said of that experience representing his country.

World Championships

Demers served as trainer during several International Ice Hockey Federation World (IIHF) World Championships

• 1997, Finland, with Team USA

• 1996, Austria, with Team USA
• 1994, Italy, with Team USA (US National Team)
• 1986, Moscow, with Team Canada (Canadian National Team, with then-Kings coach Pat Quinn, bronze medal)

National Hockey League All-Star games

• 2002, L.A.
• 1993, Montreal
• 1981, L.A.
• 1977, Vancouver

World Cup of Hockey

He also served as athletic trainer for the U.S. championship team at the World Cup of Hockey Champions (1996).

Calder Cup

He was also the athletic trainer for the American Hockey League Calder Cup Champion Springfield Kings (1971).

Honors, Awards, and Achievements

Demers was inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame (2016). He has a ring from the Stanley Cup Championship (2012). He was inducted into the L.A. Kings Hall of Fame (1997).

In 2007, Demers was recognized as an honoree into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the trainers category, and his induction plaque hangs in the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was inducted into the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society Hall of Fame. Demers has also been honored with the USA Hockey Bob Johnson Award (1996), which was presented by USA Hockey to the World Cup of Hockey Champions. He also received the Springfield Kings Unsung Hero Award (1971-72).

In 2018, he was honored by the Rhode Island Reds Heritage Society with the Rhode-Island Native-Born Hockey Achievement Award.

After serving as president of the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society for three terms, and on the executive board for 20 years, in 2006 the improved trainer benefits he worked for was approved.

He has fished all over the world. He caught a 1,005-pound bluefin tuna that was featured on Hockey Night in Canada, and striped bass that won the Mass Saltwater Fishing Derby, 1987.

Quotes

“We stick together, that’s what makes our game so much fun. It’s like no other game. It all goes back to the players. They’re character people. They come from good, solid homes, they have great upbringing.

“A lot of other sports have that also, but the teamwork it takes to play a hockey game is pretty unique in the surroundings and the sacrifices that kids have to make to play the game of hockey. You can go out and play basketball or baseball on any field. But you go to a rink at 5 in the morning—[but as a young hockey player] that’s the only time you can get ice time. Parents have to come, there’s a big expense for gear and ice time, you make a commitment to be on a little team.  ….. I’m not saying that other sports don’t have good, character players. But hockey is different.”

The camaraderie and sense of family that we have in our game is like no other business."

“It’s all about fun. You can’t stay at your job unless you have the enthusiasm, attitude, and work as hard as you possibly can, but it’s fun."

This article "Pete Demers" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Pete Demers. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

This page exists already on Wikipedia.

---