Peter "Pistol Pete" Horeck (June 15, 1923 — August 29, 2009) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, and Boston Bruins between 1944 and 1952.

Pete Horeck
Born(1923-06-15)June 15, 1923
Massey, Ontario, Canada
DiedAugust 29, 2009(2009-08-29) (aged 86)
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight158 lb (72 kg; 11 st 4 lb)
PositionLeft wing
ShotLeft
Played forChicago Black Hawks
Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins
Playing career1941–1960

Early life

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Horeck was born and raised in Massey, Ontario, a small town located about 100 km southwest from Sudbury, Ontario. He was one of eight boys in his family. He took up the sport of hockey in the town.[1]

Career

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Pre NHL

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Horeck left his hometown to play for the Parry Sound Pilots along with Doug Orr, the father of Bobby Orr. After his tenure in Parry Sound, He played one year in the Eastern Hockey League and four years in the American Hockey League.

Horeck started his National Hockey League career with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1944. In his second season, he recorded a career high 20 goals and 21 assists for 41 points in all 50 games to make him one of the leagues top scorers that year.

Horeck was traded midway through the 1946–47 season to the Detroit Red Wings where he would spend another three years. He recorded 3 goals and 7 assists for 10 points in 10 games during the 1947–48 playoffs where Detroit would lose to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the final.

Horeck joined the Boston Bruins before the 1950–51 season. With his production starting to decline, He left the NHL after the 1951–52 season.

Post NHL

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Horeck moved back up north to the Northern Ontario Hockey Association where he would play for five years for the Sudbury Wolves and the Soo Indians. He would then spend the rest of his career in various minor leagues until his retirement from hockey in 1960.

Later life

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After his retirement, Horeck would settle in Northern Ontario for the rest of his life until his death after a long battle with prostate cancer and neuropathy on Saturday, August 29, 2009, in Sudbury, Ontario.[2] He is considered a hero in his hometown of Massey.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1940–41Parry Sound PilotsOHA B
1941–42Atlantic City Sea GullsEAHL5924305466142576
1942–43Washington LionsAHL11122
1942–43Providence RedsAHL16881618
1942–43Cleveland BaronsAHL431611273841122
1943–44Cleveland BaronsAHL54342963291145914
1944–45Chicago Black HawksNHL5020163644
1945–46Chicago Black HawksNHL502021413440002
1946–47Chicago Black HawksNHL18461012
1946–47Detroit Red WingsNHL381213255952026
1947–48Detroit Red WingsNHL501217294410371012
1948–49Detroit Red WingsNHL60141630461111210
1949–50Boston BruinsNHL34551022
1950–51Boston BruinsNHL6610132357400013
1951–52Chicago Black HawksNHL609112022
1952–53Sault Ste. Marie IndiansNOHA1948121830117
1953–54Sudbury WolvesNOHA12358251124618
1954–55Sudbury WolvesNOHA3818183642
1955–56Sault Ste. Marie IndiansNOHA3612243630721322
1956–57Sault Ste. Marie IndiansNOHA47222042911032518
1957–58Louisville RebelsIHL15671369
1957–58Chatham MaroonsOHA Sr15741134
1959–60Charlotte ClippersEHL1511222
NHL totals42610611822434034681443

References

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  1. ^ "Pete Horeck at Massey Area Museum". Massey Area Museum. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Northern Life.ca Obituaries". northernlife.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
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