Pete Horeck

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.

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

Career Pre NHL 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.

NHL 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 league's 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 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 he retired from hockey in 1960.

Later life 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. He is considered a hero in his hometown of Massey.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1940–41 Parry Sound Pilots OHA B — — — — — — — — — — 1941–42 Atlantic City Sea Gulls EAHL 59 24 30 54 66 14 2 5 7 6 1942–43 Washington Lions AHL 1 1 1 2 2 — — — — — 1942–43 Providence Reds AHL 16 8 8 16 18 — — — — — 1942–43 Cleveland Barons AHL 43 16 11 27 38 4 1 1 2 2 1943–44 Cleveland Barons AHL 54 34 29 63 29 11 4 5 9 14 1944–45 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 50 20 16 36 44 — — — — — 1945–46 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 50 20 21 41 34 4 0 0 0 2 1946–47 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 18 4 6 10 12 — — — — — 1946–47 Detroit Red Wings NHL 38 12 13 25 59 5 2 0 2 6 1947–48 Detroit Red Wings NHL 50 12 17 29 44 10 3 7 10 12 1948–49 Detroit Red Wings NHL 60 14 16 30 46 11 1 1 2 10 1949–50 Boston Bruins NHL 34 5 5 10 22 — — — — — 1950–51 Boston Bruins NHL 66 10 13 23 57 4 0 0 0 13 1951–52 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 60 9 11 20 22 — — — — — 1952–53 Sault Ste. Marie Indians NOHA 19 4 8 12 18 3 0 1 1 7 1953–54 Sudbury Wolves NOHA 12 3 5 8 25 11 2 4 6 18 1954–55 Sudbury Wolves NOHA 38 18 18 36 42 — — — — — 1955–56 Sault Ste. Marie Indians NOHA 36 12 24 36 30 7 2 1 3 22 1956–57 Sault Ste. Marie Indians NOHA 47 22 20 42 91 10 3 2 5 18 1957–58 Louisville Rebels IHL 15 6 7 13 69 — — — — — 1957–58 Chatham Maroons OHA Sr 15 7 4 11 34 — — — — — 1959–60 Charlotte Clippers EHL 15 1 1 2 22 — — — — — NHL totals 426 106 118 224 340 34 6 8 14 43