George Pesut

George Matthew Pesut (born June 17, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played 92 games in the National Hockey League for the California Golden Seals over two seasons. He also played 17 games in the World Hockey Association with the Calgary Cowboys during the 1976–77 season. The rest of his career was mainly spent in the minor leagues and in Europe.

Early years

Pesut began his hockey career in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, in the city of Saskatoon. He played his minor hockey in the Saskatoon system and eventually began his junior career with the A level Saskatoon Macs of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Pesut entered the major junior hockey ranks in the 1971–72 season with the Victoria Cougars of the Western Canada Hockey League.

Professional career George Pesut was drafted early in the second round at #24 of the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft by St. Louis Blues. At the same time, Pesut was also drafted by the fledgling World Hockey Association's Cleveland Crusaders, at exactly the same draft position. However, Pesut opted begin his professional career in the NHL and to accept a contract offer with the Blues.

After attending the St. Louis Blues training camp in 1973, he was sent down to begin and develop his pro career with the Blues' minor league affiliate, the Denver Spurs in the Western Hockey League. He played only 7 games before being traded in November 1973 to the Philadelphia Flyers for Bob Stumpf. In his first full NHL season in 1975 with the California Golden Seals, Pesut put up a respectable 13 points in 47 games.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1970–71 Saskatoon Macs SAHA — — — — — — — — — — 1971–72 Victoria Cougars WCHL 38 3 13 16 83 — — — — — 1971–72 Flin Flon Bombers WCHL 25 3 8 11 73 — — — — — 1971–72 Saskatoon Blades WCHL 2 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 1972–73 Saskatoon Blades WCHL 68 12 25 37 98 — — — — — 1973–74 Denver Spurs WHL 7 0 2 2 19 — — — — — 1973–74 Richmond Robins AHL 38 3 5 8 4 — — — — — 1974–75 Richmond Robins AHL 8 0 1 1 7 — — — — — 1974–75 California Golden Seals NHL 47 0 13 13 73 — — — — — 1975–76 Salt Lake Golden Eagles CHL 7 2 0 2 10 — — — — — 1975–76 California Golden Seals NHL 45 3 9 12 57 — — — — — 1976–77 Calgary Cowboys WHA 17 2 0 2 2 — — — — — 1976–77 Tidewater Sharks SHL 14 4 6 10 19 — — — — — 1976–77 Erie Blades NAHL 25 5 7 12 62 9 1 2 3 6 1977–78 HC Davos NLB — — — — — — — — — — 1978–79 EHC Dübendorf NLB — — — — — — — — — — 1979–80 EHC Chur NLB 28 28 20 48 100 — — — — — 1980–81 Wichita Wind CHL 53 6 21 27 33 16 3 4 7 39 1981–82 Hamburger SV GER-2 32 18 16 34 84 — — — — — 1982–83 EC Hannover GER-3 22 22 23 45 60 — — — — — 1982–83 Berliner SC Preussen GER-3 12 10 11 21 38 — — — — — 1983–84 Berliner SC Preussen GER-2 42 16 24 40 42 — — — — — 1984–85 Berliner SC Preussen GER-2 42 15 37 52 72 — — — — — 1985–86 Chamonix FRA — — — — — — — — — — 1986–87 Berliner SC Preussen GER-2 35 3 29 32 28 18 0 3 3 13 1987–88 ECD Iserlohn GER 14 4 2 6 8 — — — — — 1987–88 SV Bayreuth GER-2 6 1 6 7 10 — — — — — 1988–89 EHC 80 Nürnberg GER-2 33 5 30 35 46 — — — — — 1989–90 EHC 80 Nürnberg GER-2 34 8 34 42 35 — — — — — 1990–91 ECD Sauerland GER-2 17 10 20 30 20 — — — — — 1991–92 EC Kassel GER-2 38 9 24 33 34 — — — — — 1992–93 EC Kassel GER-2 40 5 18 23 40 — — — — — 1993–94 EC Kassel GER-2 7 0 0 0 0 — — — — — WHA totals 17 2 0 2 2 — — — — — NHL totals 92 3 22 25 130 — — — — —

After hockey Along with a career as a consultant in the mining industry, Pesut also assisted other current hockey pros or alumni with hockey schools in the British Columbia interior. In December 2024, Pesut published his memoir, "The Fourth Period-Between The Ice Sheets: Hockey on Two Continents", which chronicles his rise from junior hockey to his life in the professional ranks.

Awards, honors and accomplishments

Best Defenceman Award Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL Major Junior) 1972–73 season; WCHL All-Star Team, 1972–73; Voted the Best Defenceman in Swiss hockey three consecutive seasons; German Championship winner with Berlin, first team All-star for consecutive seasons in Germany.