The Hunter Brothers 1982 - 1988
Playing Participant in the Legends of Peterborough event March 16th 2008

John, Tony and Kevin Hunter, along with father John Hunter (snr), were instrumental in the starting of ice hockey in Peterborough. Having arrived back in the city after spending time in Canada, the foursome were keen to take advantage of the new facility with the three brothers having got a taste for the game on the other side of the pond.

Along with John Burke, John Hunter (snr) took charge of the influx of enthusiastic skaters who showed up for the early Sunday lunchtime “ice hockey sessions” and moulded a fledgling side that was ready to take on all comers by the summer of 1982. In that very first side were all three Hunter brothers and their experience and skating skills proved invaluable and vital to a side that was new to the sport ……. Tony can also lay claim to having scored Pirates first ever goal.

All three players rapidly became favourites with the growing first season Pirates fanbase, racking up 61 points between them and a crowd pleasing 151 in the PIMs column too !  Tony and Kevin were always battling for the family top points scorer spot and both chalked up good numbers in all of their seasons, John on the other hand was happy to patrol the Pirates blue-line.

All three players played in Pirates championship winning sides of 1984/85 and 1986/87 and although Kevin and John largely finished their top flight playing careers during 1986/87 (John played a handful of games the following season), Tony continued to play for a further season.

Tony returned to the Pirates camp in the 1995/96, putting his years of experience to good use as coach, a position he held for the 1996/97 season that saw him steer his beleaguered team through financial turmoil that threatened the very existence of hockey in the city.

Tragically, John Hunter lost his life in a motorcycle accident in 2001 and, whereas both of his brothers will be icing, his absence from the celebration game will be a particularly poignant one. Every Peterborough hockey fan should spare a thought for John when they offer deserved appreciation for the Hunter family on 16th March.