Blaine Peterson

7 NHL Games

November 27, 1976 Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks. 4-3 win.

December 1, 1976 Vancouver Canucks vs Detroit Red Wings. 2-5 loss.

December 3, 1976 Vancouver Canucks vs Colorado Rockies. 2-3 loss.

December 5, 1976 Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks. 4-2 win.

December 7, 1976 Vancouver Canucks vs Washington Capitals. 3-4 loss.

December 8, 1976 Vancouver Canucks vs Toronto Maple Leafs. 4-3 win. 

December 11, 1976 Vancouver Canucks vs Colorado Rockies. 4-4 tie. 

   Late November, 1976 the Vancouver Canucks lost goalie Cesare Maniago to injury. Curt Ridley took over in net but the Canucks rushed to find him a backup. Enter local overage junior goalie Blaine Peterson, who was placed on Vancouver's negotiation list and signed to a 10-game NHL tryout to be their new #2 goalie. Because Peterson had been passed over in the NHL draft, he was free to sign with the NHL club. "When some of the guys told me I was going to be with the Canucks, I thought it was just a prank," Peterson told the local newspaper. "I didn't believe it until Ernie (his coach) told me to pack my things. I couldn't believe it even when I was sitting on the bench. It was a super thrill just to be skating on the same ice as Bobby Orr. To tell you the truth, I didn't know what was going on." When it was discovered that Maniago would be out for longer than expected, the Canucks decided to keep Peterson on the roster instead of recalling someone from their farm team. "You gotta be pleased when they show that much faith in you," said Peterson. " I still don't understand what I'm doing here anyway. They have goalies in Tulsa and Charlotte and I keep wondering. Why me? Anyways, if I don't have it, I don't have it and I guess I'll find out fast. But if hockey doesn't work out it's not the end of the world. At least 1 can say I tried and I was there." Peterson was "there" for 7 NHL games, as a member of the Vancouver Canucks. When the team recalled a more experienced goalie in Bruce Bullock from Tulsa, Peterson was returned to his junior club. (1) 

   Peterson finished that season with a Memorial Cup win as a member of the New Westminster Bruins. However, a disappointed Peterson was not invited to Vancouver's 1977 NHL training camp. Instead, he went to the Kalamazoo Red Wings IHL camp, a Detroit Red Wings affiliate. He played one game before being cut. That marked the end of his hockey career. 

• Wore #1 with Vancouver Canucks

Career stats from hockeydb.com
Born Jan 7 1956 -- St. Anne, MAN

Height 5.11 -- Weight 175

RS Scoring			RS Goalie Stats										PO Scoring
Season	Team	Lge	GP	A	PIM	Min	GA	EN	SO	GAA	W	L	T	Svs	Pct	GP	A	PIM
1973-74	Brandon Travellers	MJHL	33	0	12	1842	109	1	1	3.55				877	0.889
1973-74	Brandon Wheat Kings	WCHL	5	0	0	222	18	0	0	4.91	1	0	1	148	0.892
1974-75	Brandon Wheat Kings	WCHL	30	1	21	1700	143	0	0	5.04	9	15	5	838	0.854	2	0	0
1975-76	Brandon Wheat Kings	WCHL	10	0	2	560	41	0	0	4.39	3	3	3	274	0.870	-	-	-
1975-76	New Westminster Bruins	WCHL	30	1	2	1660	92	0	2	3.33	20	7	1	806	0.898	10	0	0
1976-77	New Westminster Bruins	WCHL	46	2	2	2507	139	0	2	3.33	26	10	4	1219	0.898	11	0	2
1977-78	Kalamazoo Wings	IHL	1	0	0											-	-	-

Program from Peterson's last NHL game

(1) Jack Leonard. The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Nov. 30, 1976 Pg. 13