Hockey fans in Peterborough are in for a special treat as the Peterborough Petes have announced that they’ll be hosting an alumni night that will reunite the legendary team that represented Canada in the first-ever World Junior Hockey Championships back in 1973-74. The special night will see the team honoured on Saturday, before the Petes take on the Oshawa Generals at the Memorial Centre.
The team was coached by Roger Neilson and featured several future NHL’ers, including Paul McIntosh, Paul Evans, Don “Red” Laurence, Tony Cassolato, Doug Halward, Peter Scamurra, Stan Jonathan and their captain, Doug Jarvis
Jarvis, a well-known figure in the hockey world, who had a lengthy career in the NHL as both a player and a coach, began his hockey journey with the Petes in 1972, playing three seasons for the maroon and white.
Reflecting on his early days with the team, Jarvis says he was struck by the organization’s culture of excellence and commitment to developing young talent. It was a special time for the young Jarvis, who hailed from Brantford, Ontario, marking his first move away from home to pursue his hockey dreams.
One of the memorable moments of Jarvis’ tenure with the Peterborough Petes was being named team captain in his second season. When talking about the honour of wearing the C, he emphasized the importance of the legacy of previous captains, such as Colin Campbell and Doug Gibson, who served as co-captains in his rookie year.
Their leadership left a lasting impression on Jarvis, setting high expectations for him as a captain and for the team’s performance.
When asked about his coach, Roger Neilson, Jarvis had nothing but praise, describing Neilson as a great teacher and mentor of the game, emphasizing the profound respect he had for his players. Neilson’s teaching, especially in terms of a defensive style of play that covered the entire ice, made an impact on Jarvis, providing him with valuable skills and knowledge that served him well in his future NHL career.
One of the most unique experiences for Jarvis and his teammates was representing Canada in the first-ever World Junior Championship in Leningrad, Russia during the 1973-74 season. Despite being a club team, the Peterborough Petes embraced the opportunity to represent their country, bringing home a bronze medal, a significant achievement for the local team.
Jarvis recalls the surprise of being selected to participate in the tournament, considering the closed nature of the Soviet Union at the time.
Jarvis is eagerly looking forward to reconnecting with friends and teammates during the alumni weekend, while reliving the camaraderie that was formed during his three years in Peterborough.
Saturday’s alumni night will offer a unique opportunity for fans to honour the players from the team that made their mark on the international stage, while recognizing the contributions they made to Canadian hockey history.
You can hear the full interview with Doug Jarvis below
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
