Shannon Hope 1984-1985, 1999-2000
Playing Participant in the Legends of Peterborough event March 16th 2008

Shannon made his UK debut for the Pirates at the start of the 1984/85 season as defensive backstop to the polific strike force of Lawless and Jutras. Shannon’s silky smooth skills and defensive breakouts were a complete revelation to a fanbase who had been brought up on the rugged, even brutal talents of predecessor Rob Carnegie.

While Lawless and Jutras caused carnage up front, Shannon kept things tidy at the back and Pirates ran away with the league to secure promotion to the top flight. A return to Canada at the end of the season appeared to end his brief and successful UK visit but that was all to change as John Lawless called on his talents to help jump start the new Cardiff Devils side in 1987/88 and Shannon went on to play eleven straight seasons in South Wales, securing numerous Team GB appearances in the process.

Having apparently ended his career in Cardiff and UK hockey when he hung up the skates to set up his own business at the end of the 1997/98 season, his contribution to Peterborough hockey was set be extended in the most unlikely manner. As Pirates battled to survive the late 2000 financial crisis, then manager and close friend of Shannon’s, Doug McEwen persuaded the 37 year old to lace them up once more for a series of brief cameo performances in Pirates post-season play-off campaign …… he even managed to light the lamp one more time !

Despite a relatively short time with Pirates, Shannon remains as popular today as he was as the fun-loving 22 year old Pirate in 1984. Another true legend of UK hockey who started it all here in Peterborough.