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From Blimp Rides To Breaking Televisions To Waxed Doughnuts, LA Kings Trainer Emeritus Pete Demers Has Seen It All

June 29, 2011 by Gann Matsuda 18 Comments

FROZEN ROYALTY EXCLUSIVE — In Part nine of a series, Los Angeles Kings retired head athletic trainer Pete Demers shares more stories involving players, coaches and general managers he worked with during his long career.

Former Los Angeles Kings head athletic trainer Pete Demers, pictured here
behind the bench during the 1995-95 season.
Photo: Los Angeles Kings

LOS ANGELES — In a 41-year career in professional hockey, Los Angeles Kings retired head athletic trainer Pete Demers has certainly seen and heard enough to fill the pages of a good-sized book, sights and sounds that fans and even the media would virtually never have access to.

Whether it was the pre-game rituals some players adhered to game after game, the practical jokes, humorous stories, or just memories of the different characters in and out of the training room, Demers saw it all in 37 years with the franchise, beginning with three years with Springfield of the American Hockey League (the Kings’ minor league affiliate from 1967-75 and 1977-79) before he joined the Los Angeles Kings in 1972. Read more of this post

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Filed under Exclusives, History, NHL Tagged with Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins, Craig Johnson, Dave Taylor, Dave Williams, Don Perry, Dr. Vince Carter, Goodyear, Goodyear Blimp, Guy Lafleur, hockey, Ian Laperriere, LA Kings, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Kings, Marcel Dionne, Mario Lessard, Mathieu Schneider, Mattias Norstrom, National Hockey League, NHL, Pat Quinn, Pete Demers, Peter Demers, Robbie Ftorek, Rogatien Vachon, Rogie Vachon, Steve Duchesne, Tiger Williams, Vitali Yachmenev

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

June 17, 2011 by Gann Matsuda 15 Comments

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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 Bernie Nicholls, Bob Pulford, Daryl Evans, Dave Taylor, Dustin Brown, hockey, Jim Fox, John Holmes, LA Kings, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Kings, Marcel Dionne, Mark Hardy, Mark O'Neill, National Hockey League, NHL, Pete Demers, Peter Demers

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

March 9, 2011 by Gann Matsuda 16 Comments

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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 AHL, American Hockey League, Bernie Nicholls, Butch Goring, Charlie Simmer, Culver City, Culver Ice Arena, Dave Taylor, Denis Potvin, Dustin Brown, Gilles Marotte, hockey, Jim Fox, LA Kings, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Kings, Marcel Dionne, Mark Hardy, Mark O'Neill, Marty McSorley, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, NHL, Pete Demers, Peter Demers, Rhode Island Reds, Rogie Vachon, Scotty Bowman, Springfield Kings, Ted Lindsay, Tony Granato, Wayne Gretzky

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From Blimp Rides To Breaking Televisions To Waxed Doughnuts, LA Kings Trainer Emeritus Pete Demers Has Seen It All

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

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

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