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Frozen Royalty Audio: Interviews From The Pete Demers Series

August 1, 2011 by 13 Comments

Los Angeles Kings retired head
athletic trainer Pete Demers.
Photo: Noah Graham/Getty Images
via the Los Angeles Kings

A twelve-story series on just about any topic requires a considerable amount of source material to draw from, and that is exactly what Los Angeles Kings retired head athletic trainer Pete Demers provided for the series of stories on his 41-year career in professional hockey, 37 in the Kings organization, that was completed on July 29, 2011.

Indeed, I sat down with Demers in three separate sessions—two in late December 2010, and one in early January 2011. In the end, we talked for more than four-and-a-half hours (4:37:52, to be exact), with Demers sharing story after story, along with unique insights about hockey, and about the work of the athletic trainer that so few know about.

It was fascinating, funny, and highly entertaining.

Former Kings players and coaches also shared their thoughts about Demers, along with some stories involving him. Some are quite amusing. Read more of this post

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Filed under Audio/Video, Exclusives, History, NHL Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Los Angeles Kings Retired Head Athletic Trainer Pete Demers Is A King For Life

June 17, 2011 by 15 Comments

FROZEN ROYALTY EXCLUSIVE: With the Boston Bruins having won the 2011 Stanley Cup, the 2011 off-season begins in earnest, so it is time to resume Frozen Royalty’s series on the career of Los Angeles Kings retired head athletic trainer Pete Demers. In this installment, former Kings players and coaches, including Bob Pulford, Marcel Dionne, Jim Fox, Daryl Evans, Mark Hardy, and Bernie Nicholls, along with current Kings right wing Dustin Brown, share their thoughts and anecdotes about Demers. Part eight of a series.

Los Angeles Kings retired head athletic trainer Pete Demers, circa 2001.
Photo: Los Angeles Kings

LOS ANGELES — Retired head athletic trainer Pete Demers spent 34 years in the Los Angeles Kings training room, and he quickly earned the deep respect of the players, coaches, general managers, owners, and team staff, many of whom continue to maintain friendships with him.

“[Demers] was a young guy who came into Los Angeles when I was there,” said Bob Pulford, who played on left wing for the Kings from 1970-71 to 1971-72, and was their head coach from 1972-73 through the 1975-76 season. “In those days, there was two of them [Demers and assistant athletic trainer John Holmes], and they did all the work. He was a hard working guy, and I demanded a lot from him. He learned to do the work, and he did it very well.” Read more of this post

Filed under Exclusives, History, News Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

LA Kings Retired Trainer Pete Demers Dealt With Much More Than Injuries To Players

March 9, 2011 by 16 Comments

FROZEN ROYALTY EXCLUSIVE: In part five of an exclusive series based on an extensive interview with Los Angeles Kings head athletic trainer emeritus Pete Demers, Frozen Royalty takes a look at the most visible aspect of his job, caring for injured players…and trainers are definitely not immune from injury or illness, either…

Los Angeles Kings head athletic trainer
emeritus Pete Demers, circa 1982.
Photo: Demers Family Collection

LOS ANGELES — For athletic trainers in the National Hockey League, their most important job is to treat injured players and help them recover from their injuries, and in a 34-year career with the Los Angeles Kings, retired head athletic trainer Pete Demers has probably treated more injuries and illnesses than any of his colleagues, past or present, and not just those suffered by players.

To be sure, caring for injured players is the one aspect of the athletic trainer’s duties that is the most visible, and for Demers, it was no different. Like other trainers, he was most noticeable whenever he jumped over the boards and scurried out onto the ice to care for an injured player.

Even before he made it to the NHL, Demers already had experience dealing with serious injuries. Read more of this post

Filed under Exclusives, History, News, NHL Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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