Peter Scamurra

Peter Vincent Scamurra (born February 23, 1955) is an American-born former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played 132 games in the National Hockey League with the Washington Capitals from 1975 to 1979. He was drafted 19th overall in 1975 by the Capitals and 50th overall by the Cleveland Crusaders of the World Hockey Association.

Hockey career

Early career Scamurra was born in Buffalo, New York and raised in Williamsville, New York. He started playing ice hockey in fifth grade while attending Nichols School. He attended high school at Amherst Central High School and captured the Erie County Interscholastic Conference first singles tennis title, while ranked as a top-ten tennis player in the area.

Scamurra played for the Petes again in 1974-75, leading defensemen in goals, and finishing with 52 points in 62 games.

Professional Hockey Scamurra was selected 19th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1975 NHL Draft, as the highest American taken in the draft that year. At the time he was the first player drafted in the NHL from the Buffalo area, and remained the highest selected from the region until Patrick Kane was selected first overall in the 2007 NHL Draft.

He was invited to a tryout for Team USA in the 1976 Canada Cup but did not make the final team.

Scamurra played in parts of four seasons for the Capitals between 1974 and 1980, but was often sidelined, having four knee surgeries throughout his career.

In 2019, Scamurra was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

Personal life Scamurra's daughter, Hayley Scamurra, is a professional ice hockey player who currently plays for Montreal Victoire of the PWHL and also represented the United States in the 2022 Winter Olympics, winning the silver medal with the team. Haley Scamurra won a gold medal winner with the women's hockey team in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1972–73 Niagara Falls Flyers SOJHL 55 12 30 42 48 — — — — — 1973–74 University of Wisconsin B1G 13 2 1 3 18 — — — — — 1973–74 Peterborough Petes OHA 35 3 11 14 12 — — — — — 1974–75 Peterborough Petes OMJHL 62 12 40 52 45 11 2 5 7 12 1975–76 Washington Capitals NHL 58 2 13 15 33 — — — — — 1975–76 Richmond Robins AHL 18 2 1 3 12 — — — — — 1976–77 Washington Capitals NHL 21 0 2 2 8 — — — — — 1976–77 Springfield Indians AHL 11 2 5 7 6 — — — — — 1977–78 Binghamton Dusters AHL 13 2 2 4 20 — — — — — 1978–79 Washington Capitals NHL 30 3 5 8 12 — — — — — 1979–80 Washington Capitals NHL 23 3 5 8 6 — — — — — 1980–81 SaiPa FIN 14 1 3 4 10 — — — — — 1980–81 Binghamton Whalers AHL 6 1 2 3 4 — — — — — NHL totals 132 8 25 32 59 — — — — —

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1974 Canada WJC 5 2 0 2 12 Junior totals 5 2 0 2 12