Peter Bessone

Peter Angelo Bessone (January 13, 1913 — December 5, 1989) was an American ice hockey player and coach. Bessone played 6 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings during the 1937–38 season. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1931 to 1952, was mainly spent in the American Hockey League, though he also spent time in the French, Swiss, and Italian national leagues. Internationally Bessone played for the American national team at the 1934 World Championships, where he won a silver medal. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978.

Career Early career As a high school student, Pete Bessone was a three-sport athlete at West Springfield, High, playing football, baseball and, ice hockey. Following his completion of high school Bessone began his hockey career locally playing in Springfield, Massachusetts for the West Side Ranges. In 1931 Bessone left the United States to play hockey in France, leading to a very successful French career. While playing for Stade Français, Bessone was considered the top hockey draw in France and some even called him the Babe Ruth of hockey in Paris. Bassone began the 1937–38 season with Detroit Pontiacs, a Red Wings' farm team. Thanks to an injury to Wing's defensemen Ebbie Goodfellow Bessone was called up, making his debut on January 16, 1938 against the Montreal Maroons. After his debut Bessone was believed to be a solid prospect. However, after only six games with the Red Wings and 15 with the Pontiacs Bassone was sent to the Pittsburgh Hornets of the AHL; he would never play in the NHL again. Bessone's long tenure in Pittsburgh finally came to a close in 1943 when the Hornets traded Bessone to the Cleveland Barons for defensemen Fred Robertson.

Bessone spent three seasons in Cleveland. His short time with the Barons however saw the high point of Bessone's career, as the Barons won the 1944-45 Calder Cup as league champions. It was the only North American Championship Bessone would win. After his time in Cleveland Bessone spent one more year in the AHL playing for the Providence Reds.

Post-playing career In 1947 Bessone returned to France to be the head coach of the Paris Racing Club hockey team.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1931–32 Stade Français FRA — — — — — — — — — — 1932–33 Stade Français FRA 2 3 0 3 2 — — — — — 1933–34 Rapides de Paris FRA 2 2 0 2 — — — — — — 1934–35 Stade Français FRA 2 2 0 2 — — — — — — 1935–36 Stade Français FRA 2 1 0 1 — — — — — — 1936–37 Pittsburgh Yellowjackets EAHL 47 6 4 10 53 — — — — — 1937–38 Detroit Red Wings NHL 6 0 1 1 6 — — — — — 1937–38 Detroit Pontiac McLeans MOHL 15 6 2 8 38 — — — — — 1937–38 Pittsburgh Hornets IAHL 16 1 1 2 4 1 0 0 0 0 1938–39 Pittsburgh Hornets IAHL 53 3 8 11 87 — — — — — 1939–40 Pittsburgh Hornets IAHL 54 4 8 12 100 9 0 2 2 20 1940–41 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 17 0 3 3 22 — — — — — 1941–42 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 53 2 18 20 102 — — — — — 1942–43 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 54 10 16 26 92 2 0 0 0 4 1942–43 Cleveland Barons AHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1943–44 Cleveland Barons AHL 50 6 20 26 119 11 0 1 1 6 1944–45 Cleveland Barons AHL 60 6 26 32 100 12 1 2 3 18 1945–46 Cleveland Barons AHL 50 2 14 16 88 8 0 0 0 9 1946–47 Providence Reds AHL 54 4 9 13 94 — — — — — 1947–48 Racing Club de France FRA — — — — — — — — — — 1948–49 Racing Club de France FRA — — — — — — — — — — 1949–50 Springfield Indians AHL 4 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 1949–50 Young-Sprinters Hockey Club NLA — — — — — — — — — — 1950–51 HC Milan Inter ITA — — — — — — — — — — 1951–52 Young-Sprinters Hockey Club NLA — — — — — — — — — — IAHL/AHL totals 466 38 123 161 810 43 1 5 6 57 NHL totals 6 0 1 1 6 — — — — —

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1934 United States WC 4 2 0 2 — Senior totals 4 2 0 2 —