Peter Zezel
Peter Zezel | |||
---|---|---|---|
![]() Zezel in 1992 | |||
Born |
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada | April 22, 1965||
Died |
May 26, 2009 Toronto, Ontario, Canada | (aged 44)||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) | ||
Position | Centre | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for |
Philadelphia Flyers Washington Capitals St. Louis Blues Toronto Maple Leafs Dallas Stars New Jersey Devils Vancouver Canucks | ||
NHL Draft |
41st overall, 1983 Philadelphia Flyers | ||
Playing career | 1984–1999 |
Peter Zezel[a] (April 22, 1965 – May 26, 2009) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who spent 15 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1984 to 1999. He was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario. Zezel was an alumnus of Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute. His father Peter Zezel Sr immigrated from Serbia (Yugoslavia).
Playing career[]
Zezel was selected 41st overall in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. While he joined the NHL as a skilled offensive player and put up high scoring numbers in his first eight seasons, he spent the second half of his career primarily as a defensive specialist noted for his strong faceoff skills.
Zezel joined the Flyers' lineup in the 1984–85 at the age of 19 and made an instant impact, finishing fifth in rookie scoring with 61 points and setting a team record 46 assists by a rookie. He was part of a young Flyer team (with eight regulars under the age of 22, and only Mark Howe over the age of 27) which surprised the hockey world by reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, where they were defeated by the Edmonton Oilers. The Flyers' head coach at the time was Mike Keenan, who became one of Zezel's biggest influences, and who would re-acquire Zezel several times later in their careers. When Zezel was in Philadelphia, his family hosted young Wendel Clark. Clark would stay in Zezel's room during the regular season with Zezel's family.
After a 54-point sophomore campaign, Zezel had his best year in 1986–87, registering career highs of 33 goals and 72 points (despite missing nine games to injury) while continuing to impress with his mature all-around game. That spring, he would again help the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals, registering 13 points before the team was again bested by the Oilers.
The Flyers dealt Zezel to the St. Louis Blues midway through the 1988–89 in exchange for Mike Bullard. Zezel played some of the best hockey of his career for the Blues, finishing the season with a career high 49 assists and 70 points. In the playoffs that year, he led the Blues with 6 goals and 12 points in just 10 games. In 1989–90, he had another fine season, posting 25 goals and 72 points.
In 1990, St. Louis dealt him to the Washington Capitals for Geoff Courtnall. His stay in Washington was brief, as he appeared in only 20 games before being dealt to his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs in a deal for Al Iafrate. He finished the 1990–91 season with 40 points in 52 games due to injury. In 1991–92, he recorded 49 points in 64 games in another year hampered by injury.
The hiring of Pat Burns as the Maple Leafs' head coach in 1992 represented a turning point in Zezel's career. While he had previously always been given a great deal of offensive responsibility, the defensive-minded Burns employed Zezel almost exclusively as a checking line center, and his numbers plummeted. Additionally, he continued to be plagued by injuries, missing half the 1993–94 season with an ongoing back problems that had bothered him for several years. However, when healthy he was still an effective player, and helped Toronto reach the Western Conference Finals in both 1993 and 1994, including a Game 1 overtime winner in 1994.
In the summer of 1994, Zezel was awarded to the Dallas Stars as compensation for the Leafs' signing of free agent Mike Craig. His one season in Dallas was a disappointment, as he was limited to just 30 games and 11 points by a knee injury. For 1995–96, he was signed by the St. Louis Blues and his old coach Keenan.
Dealt to the New Jersey Devils in 1997, his career hit a low point in the 1997–98 campaign when he was sent to the minors for the first time in his career. He performed well in the AHL with 50 points in 35 games for the Albany River Rats. Keenan, who was now coaching in Vancouver at the time, had Zezel acquired by the Canucks in February 1998. There, Zezel was given a chance to contribute offensively alongside star winger Alexander Mogilny, and he responded with 17 points in 25 games, including a goal on his first shift as a Canuck.
Zezel's career ended abruptly at the trade deadline late in the 1998–99 season. Zezel's niece Jilliann was terminally ill with cancer in Toronto and he requested a trade from the Canucks (who were far out of the playoff race) to an Eastern Conference (NHL) team so he could be closer to his family.[1] Instead, Vancouver General Manager Brian Burke dealt him to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, the furthest stop from Toronto in the league. Zezel retired from the NHL and returned home, with Burke and Canucks' management receiving criticism from a media and public sympathetic to Zezel's situation and for the callous way they thought he was treated.[2] Burke had the Canucks buy out the remainder of Zezel's contract ($110,000[2]) and made a charitable donation in the same amount,[3] to an organization the Canucks supported for terminally ill children.[2]
He finished his career playing 873 games, scoring 219 goals and 389 assists, with a total of 608 points.
Soccer career[]
Personal information | |||
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Position(s) | Forward | ||
Youth career | |||
Wexford SC | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1982 | Toronto Blizzard | 0 | (0) |
1984 | Toronto Italia | ||
1991 | North York Rockets | 2 | (0) |
National team | |||
1982 | Canada U20 | 2 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Zezel was an impressive soccer player in his youth. Although eventually choosing to concentrate on hockey, during off seasons early in his career, he continued to play competitively. Zezel was drafted by the Toronto Blizzard of the North American Soccer League,[4] and appeared as striker in three exhibition games for them in 1982.[5][6] He never appeared in an official NASL game.[7] In 1984, he played in the National Soccer League with Toronto Italia.[8] During the summer of 1991 he played for the North York Rockets of the Canadian Soccer League.[9]
In May 2010, the Soccer Hall of Fame & Museum Board of Governors selected Zezel as the first recipient of the Brian Budd Award.[9] Peter's father (Peter Sr.) was an accomplished soccer player for the Serbian White Eagles FC.[9] Peter played his youth soccer for Wexford SC.[9]
The skills he honed during his years on the pitch helped him on the ice. His soccer background made him a very strong player along the boards, and one of the best face-off men in the NHL.[9] He was called up to the Canadian U16 camp in 1981, and the next year when he was 17, Zezel was a member of the Canadian national under-20 team at the 1982 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament appearing in two matches.[10][11]
Personal[]
Zezel had a small role in the 1986 film Youngblood.[12]
Zezel was first cousin to Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson.[citation needed] At the time of his death he was engaged to his long time partner Alida Fidani, mother of 2 sons from a previous relationship.
Retirement and death[]
Since 1998, Zezel operated the Peter Zezel Hockey and Sports Camps in Etobicoke, Ontario. The camps teach and improve the hockey and soccer skills of young players from the ages of 5 to 14 years.
In October 2001, Zezel almost died of the rare blood disorder that eventually claimed his life: hemolytic anemia. At the time he made a full recovery, but in 2009 his condition worsened and he was "close to death".[13] Zezel underwent chemotherapy and had his spleen removed as part of his treatment.
Shortly after his splenectomy, Zezel began complaining of serious headaches. Roughly 12 hours later, he once again underwent surgery, during which time surgeons had found hemorrhaging in his brain. He slowly lapsed into a coma, and was placed on life-support once his organs began to fail. Because Zezel wanted to donate his organs, his family made the decision to remove him from life support so that the organs might be preserved. Zezel died on May 26, 2009, with the service taking place at the All Serbian Saints Serbian Orthodox Church in Mississauga.[14] Zezel never married and had no children.[15]
Zezel was laid to rest in Pine Valley Cemetery.
In July 2014, a street in a new development in Scarborough was named Zezel Way to honour Zezel.[16]
Career statistics[]
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1981–82 | Don Mills Flyers AAA | Midget | 40 | 43 | 51 | 94 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1982–83 | Toronto Marlboros | OHL | 66 | 35 | 39 | 74 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | ||
1983–84 | Toronto Marlboros | OHL | 68 | 47 | 86 | 133 | 31 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 4 | ||
1984–85 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 65 | 15 | 46 | 61 | 26 | 19 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 28 | ||
1985–86 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 79 | 17 | 37 | 54 | 76 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | ||
1986–87 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 71 | 33 | 39 | 72 | 71 | 25 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 10 | ||
1987–88 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 69 | 22 | 35 | 57 | 42 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | ||
1988–89 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 26 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1988–89 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 52 | 17 | 36 | 53 | 27 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 4 | ||
1989–90 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 73 | 25 | 47 | 72 | 30 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 | ||
1990–91 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 20 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1990–91 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 32 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1991–92 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 64 | 16 | 33 | 49 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1992–93 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 70 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 24 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | ||
1993–94 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 41 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | ||
1994–95 | Kalamazoo Wings | IHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1994–95 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 30 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
1995–96 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 57 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 12 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | ||
1996–97 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 35 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1996–97 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 18 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||
1997–98 | Albany River Rats | AHL | 35 | 13 | 37 | 50 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1997–98 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1997–98 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 25 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1998–99 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 41 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2002–03 | Cambridge Hornets | OHASr | 8 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2003–04 | Cambridge Hornets | OHASr | 18 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2004–05 | Cambridge Hornets | MLH | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
NHL totals | 873 | 219 | 389 | 608 | 435 | 131 | 25 | 39 | 64 | 83 |
Annotations[]
References[]
- ^ "Peter Zezel Laid To Rest". CityNews.ca. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Simmons, Steve (2 April 1999). "The hardest hit of all". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ^ Teaford, Elliott (25 March 1999). "Zezel's Refusal to Report Voids Deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ^ "Toronto Mls Fc: Sunday Morning Roundup + Trivia Answers". Torontomls.blogspot.com. 2007-02-18. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
- ^ Hunter, Paul (26 May 2009). "Former Leaf favourite Peter Zezel dies". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ^ "1983 NHL Entry Draft -- Peter Zezel".
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2008-05-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ Kennedy, Peter (June 13, 1984). "Soccer star aims for a hockey spot with Philadelphia". Toronto Star. p. F10.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e OSA (2010-05-28). "The Late Peter Zezel to Receive First-Ever Brian Budd Award". Archived from the original on 2011-08-28. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
- ^ Adler, Mike (July 11, 2014). "Street naming ceremony remembers great 'Scarborough son' Peter Zezel". Scarborough Mirror.
- ^ "Peter Zezel Canada Soccer profile". Canadian Soccer Association.
- ^ Barry, Sal (August 7, 2016). "The Making of 'Youngblood: An Oral History". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ "CANOE - SLAM! Sports - NHL - Zezel loses battle with blood disorder". Slam.canoe.ca. 2009-05-26. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
- ^ Funston, Mike (May 29, 2009). "Peter Zezel remembered as 'special human being'". The Star.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Hornby, Lance (11 July 2014). "Scarborough street named after Peter Zezel". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
External links[]
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peter Zezel. |
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database
- Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com
- Peter Zezel at IMDb
- Hunter, Paul. "Former Leaf favourite Peter Zezel dies," Toronto Star, Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
- McKee, Don. "Former Flyer Peter Zezel dies at 44," The Philadelphia Inquirer, Wednesday, May 27, 2009.
- Soccer Canada profile
- 1965 births
- 2009 deaths
- Albany River Rats players
- Canada men's youth international soccer players
- Canadian ice hockey centres
- Canadian people of Irish descent
- Canadian people of Serbian descent
- Eastern Orthodox Christians from Canada
- Canadian National Soccer League players
- Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992) players
- Canadian soccer players
- Dallas Stars players
- Deaths from anemia
- Disease-related deaths in Ontario
- Kalamazoo Wings (1974–2000) players
- New Jersey Devils players
- North York Rockets players
- Philadelphia Flyers draft picks
- Philadelphia Flyers players
- St. Louis Blues players
- Soccer players from Toronto
- Sportspeople from Scarborough, Toronto
- Toronto Blizzard (1971–1984) players
- Toronto Italia players
- Toronto Maple Leafs players
- Toronto Marlboros players
- Vancouver Canucks players
- Washington Capitals players
- Ice hockey people from Ontario
- Serb diaspora sportspeople
- Association football forwards