# Peter Bessone

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**Peter Angelo Bessone** (January 13, 1913 — December 5, 1989) was an American [ice hockey](/source/Ice_hockey) player and coach. Bessone played 6 games in the [National Hockey League](/source/National_Hockey_League) with the [Detroit Red Wings](/source/Detroit_Red_Wings) during the [1937–38 season](/source/1937%E2%80%9338_NHL_season). The rest of his career, which lasted from 1931 to 1952, was mainly spent in the [American Hockey League](/source/American_Hockey_League), though he also spent time in the [French](/source/Ligue_Magnus), [Swiss](/source/National_League_(ice_hockey)), and [Italian national leagues](/source/Italian_Hockey_League_-_Serie_A). Internationally Bessone played for the [American national team](/source/United_States_men's_national_ice_hockey_team) at the [1934 World Championships](/source/1934_Ice_Hockey_World_Championships), where he won a silver medal. He was inducted into the [United States Hockey Hall of Fame](/source/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](/source/West_Springfield_High_School_(Massachusetts)), playing [football](/source/American_football), [baseball](/source/Baseball) and, ice hockey.[1] Following his completion of high school Bessone began his hockey career locally playing in [Springfield, Massachusetts](/source/Springfield,_Massachusetts) for the [West Side Ranges](/source/West_Side_Ranges).[2] In 1931 Bessone left the United States to play hockey in [France](/source/France),[1] he joined the [Rapides de Paris](/source/Rapides_de_Paris),[3] leading to a very successful French career. While playing for [Stade Français](/source/Stade_Fran%C3%A7ais), Bessone was considered the top hockey draw in France and some even called him the [Babe Ruth](/source/Babe_Ruth) of hockey in [Paris](/source/Paris).[1]

In 1934 Bessone represented the [United States](/source/United_States) at the [World Championships](/source/1934_World_Ice_Hockey_Championships) in [Milan, Italy](/source/Milan,_Italy). In the semi-final versus Germany, Bessone scored two of the US' three goals. The Americans took the Silver medal finishing only behind [Canada](/source/Canada).[1]

### Return to the States

Following the 1936 season Bessone returned from France, with the intention of playing professionally in [North America](/source/North_America). Bessone joined the [Pittsburgh Yellowjackets](/source/Pittsburgh_Yellowjackets) of the [EAHL](/source/Eastern_Hockey_League#Eastern_Amateur_Hockey_League_.281933-1953.29), where he scored six goals and 10 points through 47 games. He so impressed that season that he was offered a contract by the [NHL's](/source/National_Hockey_League) [Detroit Red Wings](/source/Detroit_Red_Wings).[4] Bassone began the 1937–38 season with [Detroit Pontiacs](/source/Detroit_Pontiacs), a Red Wings' farm team. Thanks to an injury to Wing's defensemen [Ebbie Goodfellow](/source/Ebbie_Goodfellow) Bessone was called up, making his debut on January 16, 1938 against the [Montreal Maroons](/source/Montreal_Maroons). After his debut Bessone was believed to be a solid prospect.[5] However, after only six games with the Red Wings and 15 with the Pontiacs Bassone was sent to the [Pittsburgh Hornets](/source/Pittsburgh_Hornets) of the [AHL](/source/American_Hockey_League); he would never play in the NHL again.[4]

### AHL career

Bessone continued to play for the Hornets for the next five years.[4] In [1942](/source/1941%E2%80%9342_AHL_season) Bessone was selected to start in the AHL's first All-star game. The game was held in [Cleveland, Ohio](/source/Cleveland,_Ohio), with the intent of to raise money in support of American and Canadian armed forces serving in [World War II](/source/World_War_II), the contest raised $4,132 towards this goal.[6] Bessone's long tenure in [Pittsburgh](/source/Pittsburgh) finally came to a close in 1943 when the Hornets traded Bessone to the [Cleveland Barons](/source/Cleveland_Barons_(1937%E2%80%931973)) for defensemen [Fred Robertson](/source/Fred_Robertson).[7]

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](/source/1944%E2%80%9345_AHL_season) [Calder Cup](/source/Calder_Cup) as league champions.[8] 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](/source/Providence_Reds).

### Post-playing career

In 1947 Bessone returned to France to be the head coach of the [Paris Racing Club](/source/Paris_Racing_Club) hockey team.[4] He coached them for two seasons before returning to the states to coach the [Springfield Indians](/source/Springfield_Indians) of the [IHL](/source/International_Hockey_League_(1945%E2%80%932001)) he would play 4 games as a player-coach. Following the 1949–50 season Bessone retired from hockey for good.[1]

In 1978 Bessone was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of fame, 14 years later he was joined by his brother [Amo Bessone](/source/Amo_Bessone).[9]

## Career statistics

### Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs 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 —

## References

1. ["U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame: Pete Bessone"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110611041214/http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&id=228382&DetailedNews=yes). USA Hockey.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&id=228382&DetailedNews=yes) on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2010-04-23.

1. ["Yes, Indeed! Indians Are Our "Cousins"."](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19380302&id=1soaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EEwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4192,2400113). The Pittsburgh Press. 1938-03-02. Retrieved 2010-04-23.

1. ["BE"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100223204841/http://www.azhockey.com/Be.htm). A to Z Hockey.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.azhockey.com/Be.htm) on 2010-02-23. Retrieved 2010-04-23.

1. ["Pete Bessone"](http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11992). Legends of Hockey.net. Retrieved 2010-04-23.

1. Herbie Lewis (1938-01-17). ["Detroit Struggle Ends in Stalemate Before 8,000 Fans"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19380117&id=_IoxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WKgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6267,1667766). The Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2010-04-23.

1. Robert Ritzman (2009-01-22). ["Canadian transplanted to Wilbraham brought back the AHL All-Star game"](http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2009/01/canadian_transplanted_to_wilbr.html?category=Columnists&category=Falcons&category=Garry%20Brown). The Republican. Retrieved 2010-04-23.

1. Phil gundelfinger, Jr. (1944-01-26). ["Hornets meet Barons Here Tonight."](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19440126&id=9RMxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rGkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3054,802587). Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2010-04-23.

1. ["Calder Cup Champions: the Players"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100227101122/http://theahl.com/championship-players-s11575). The AHL.com. Archived from [the original](http://theahl.com/championship-players-s11575) on 2010-02-27. Retrieved 2010-04-23.

1. ["U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Enshrinees"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100223021406/http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&ID=191918). USA Hockey.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&ID=191918) on 2010-02-23. Retrieved 2010-04-23.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Peter Bessone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Bessone) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Bessone?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.