{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1977)}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | name = Peter Worrell | image = | image_size = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|8|18}} | birth_place = Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 7 | weight_lb = 250 | position = Left wing | shoots = Left | played_for = Florida Panthers<br>Colorado Avalanche | draft = 166th overall | draft_year = 1995 | draft_team = Florida Panthers | career_start = 1997 | career_end = 2006 }}
'''Peter J. Worrell''' (born August 18, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Worrell played seven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Florida Panthers and the Colorado Avalanche. During that time he was considered one of the most feared enforcers in the game,<ref name=echl/> leading the major junior leagues in penalty minutes in 1996–97, as well as the NHL in 2001–02. In 2018 he was hired as an assistant coach by the Fayetteville Marksmen of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL)
==Career==
===Amateur career=== As a youth, Worrell played in the 1991 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from the North Shore of Montreal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|title=Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA|year=2018|website=Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament|access-date=2019-02-01|archive-date=2019-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Worrell was a member of the Hull Olympiques for his three junior seasons.<ref name="cbc2018">{{cite news |last1=Worrell |first1=Peter |title=The racist incident I'll never forget |url=https://www.cbc.ca/playersvoice/entry/the-racist-incident-ill-never-forget |accessdate=28 October 2018 |publisher=CBC Sports; Radio-Canada |date=23 October 2018}}</ref> During these three seasons Worrell was part of two QMJHL championship teams (1994–95 and 1996-97) and part of the 1997 Memorial Cup winning team.<ref name=loh>{{cite web |url= http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=15181 |title = Peter Worrell's player profile |publisher = Legends of Hockey.net| accessdate =2010-05-17}}</ref> Worrell totaled 464 PIMs during the 1995-96 season, which was the fifth highest total in league history.<ref name=loh/> Worrell also scored 23 goals and 36 assists for a total of 59 points in 63 games that same season. The following season, Worrell's final in junior, he improved his point total to 63 in 62 games, despite his goals scoring decreasing to 17. Worrell added a goal and 3 assists in his four Memorial Cup games. By the end of his junior career Worrell had collected close to 1,200 penalty minutes while collecting 131 points.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}
===Professional career=== Worrell was selected by the Florida Panthers in the 7th round, 166th overall, in the 1995 NHL entry draft. Following his final season with the Olympiques Worrell began his pro career in 1997 with the Beast of New Haven in the American Hockey League. The 1997-98 season also saw Worrell make his NHL debut with the Panthers, playing in 19 games, accumulating 153 PIMs, but failing to register a single point. On February 8, 1999, Worrell scored his first NHL goal in a game vs. the St. Louis Blues.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/09/sports/nhl-last-night-san-jose-gains-in-race.html |title = N.H.L.: LAST NIGHT; San Jose Gains In Race|work = New York Times|date =1999-02-09 |accessdate =2010-05-17}}</ref> During the 1999–2000 season, Worrell missed 34 games with a knee injury, but managed to match his 9 points from the previous year.<ref name=loh/> The season also saw Worrell become involved in a notorious incident with New Jersey Devils defenseman Scott Niedermayer. After a collision along the boards where Worrell appeared to elbow Niedermayer in the face, Niedermayer hit Worrell on the top of the helmet with his stick. A scrum ensued and as Worrell was being escorted off the ice by the referees, he made throat-slashing gestures to the Devils bench. Niedermayer was suspended 10 games (the Devils 9 final regular season games and their first playoff game). Worrell missed six games after suffering a concussion.<ref>{{cite news |last=Canavan |first=Tom |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-25861057.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513081958/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-25861057.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-05-13 |title=Devils' Niedermayer To Return |publisher=Associated Press |date=2000-04-14 |accessdate=2013-07-06}}</ref>
On July 18, 2003, he was traded from the Florida Panthers along with a 2nd-round pick in the 2004 draft to Colorado Avalanche for Eric Messier and Vaclav Nedorost.<ref>{{cite news | title=Nedorost, Messier head to South Florida | publisher=ESPN| url=http://a.espncdn.com/nhl/news/2003/0719/1582932.html| date=2003-07-19 | accessdate=2010-06-02}}</ref> Worrell missed the first 27 games of the season with another knee injury. Worrell made his Avalanche debut on December 11, 2003; the game marked his first in eight months.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-112056495.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121104083729/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-112056495.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2012-11-04 |title = Worrell Playing Catch-up For Avs Tough Guy, Goals a Sure Sign He's Making Strides.(Sports) |publisher = Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) |date =2004-01-08 |author= Benton, Jim | accessdate =2010-05-17}}</ref> Worrell played in 49 games for Colorado collecting 3 goals and an assist, it was his lowest NHL point total, yet marked the first time that he was a plus player ending the season with a plus-2 rating.
Following his first season with the Avalanche the NHL lockout caused the cancellation of the 2004–05 NHL season. Worrell did not play professionally during the lockout like many other NHLers and considered himself retired.<ref name=echl>{{cite web|url= http://www.echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news|title= Worrell Pays Dues, Teaches With Checkers|publisher= Naples Daily News|date= 2005-11-20|author= Andy Kent|accessdate= 2010-05-17|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://archive.today/20100520180924/http://www.echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news&cat=1&id=6068|archivedate= 2010-05-20}}</ref> However, once the NHL returned Worrell decided that he would attempt to make a comeback and signed with the New York Rangers. The Rangers assigned first to the Hartford Wolfpack in the AHL but never played a game for them.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3238865|title = Falardeau, Bruckler to Hartford, Worrell to Charlotte|publisher = Our Sports Central.com|date = 2005-11-09|accessdate = 2010-05-17}} (Archived by WebCite at )</ref> Hartford sent Worrell to the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL to work on his conditioning.<ref name=echl/> Worrell played 37 games for Charlotte; it was the last time he played professionally.
===Post-playing career=== On May 18, 2010, it was announced that Worrell agreed to become the head coach for the Florida Atlantic University hockey club team. He also coached North Broward Preparatory School's varsity ice hockey team, located in Coconut Creek, Florida.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/fau-owls/peter-worrell-fau-051810,0,5924919.story |title= Former Panther Peter Worrell to coach FAU hockey team |publisher= Sun-Sentinel |date= 2010-05-18 |author= Ted Hutton |accessdate= 2010-05-24 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100521161452/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/fau-owls/peter-worrell-fau-051810,0,5924919.story |archive-date= 2010-05-21 |url-status= dead }} [(Archived by WebCite at )]</ref> Worrell currently works for the Fayetteville Marksmen as an assistant coach.
==Facing racism== Worrell was born in Canada to Barbadian parents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://upmyhockey.com/2020/07/peter-worrell/|title=Peter Worrell|date=July 3, 2020}}</ref> During his career Worrell has often had to deal with racism; beginning in junior, Worrell had spectators throw bananas at him while he was in the penalty box, a fan with a bullhorn yelled out "go back to Africa", and someone once brought a sign that read "6-foot-6 of pure shit go back to hell".<ref name=harris>{{Cite book| last = Harris| first = Cecil| title = Breaking the Ice: The Black Experience in Professional Hockey| publisher = Insomniac Press | year = 2003| location = Toronto, Ontario, Canada| pages = 152, 173| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=8E74agb2dk4C&q=peter+worrell+court&pg=PA173| isbn =1-894663-58-6 }}</ref> While playing the Washington Capitals in a 1997 game Craig Berube called Worrell a "monkey". Berube received a one-game suspension from the league for his actions.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/11/30/rash-of-racial-slurs-hits-league/ |title = Rash Of Racial Slurs Hits League|publisher = Chicago Tribune.com|date =1997-11-30 |author= Rich Strom | access-date =2010-05-18}}</ref> In a 1998 game vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning, Darcy Tucker and Sandy McCarthy allegedly taunted Worrell by making ape like gestures to him while all three were in their respective penalty boxes. Following the game Tucker and Worrell got into an argument when Tucker, according to a Panthers staff member, called Worrell a "big ape".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1998-10-06/news/9810060046_1_worrell-panthers-sandy-mccarthy |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120315112906/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1998-10-06/news/9810060046_1_worrell-panthers-sandy-mccarthy |url-status= dead |archive-date= March 15, 2012 |title = Panthers Say Tampa Players Used Racial Slurs, Gestures|publisher = Sun-Sentinel.com|date =1998-10-06 |author= Michael Russo | accessdate =2010-05-18}}</ref> The NHL investigated the incident, reviewing videotape, interviewed players and employees of both teams, off-ice and on-ice officials and arena and security personnel. The NHL concluded that there was "insufficient evidence" to support the claims.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1998-10-09/news/9810080646_1_racial-slur-sandy-mccarthy-worrell |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120729130137/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1998-10-09/news/9810080646_1_racial-slur-sandy-mccarthy-worrell |url-status= dead |archive-date= July 29, 2012 |title = Nhl: Worrell Case Closed, League Finds No Evidence Of Racial Remarks|publisher = Sun-Sentinel.com|date =1998-10-09 |author= Michael Russo | accessdate =2010-05-18}}</ref> Also in 1998 Flyers forward Chris Gratton was alleged to have used a racial slur against Worrell following a scuffle in the game. A newspaper reporter claimed that he read Gratton's lips and printed the story. Gratton denied using the slur telling reporters "We said some stuff behind the net.... What I said was, Learn how to play the game, basically, with a couple of words I don't want to use."<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.mcall.com/1998/11/14/press-gets-a-lashing-for-reporting-slur-story-flyers-forward-gratton-who-tussled-with-the-florida-panthers-worrell-says-its-something-i-would-never-do/ |title = Press Gets A Lashing For Reporting Slur Story * Flyers Forward Gratton, Who Tussled With The Florida Panthers' Worrell, Says 'It's Something I Would Never Do.'|publisher = The Morning Call.com|date =1998-11-14 |author= Gary R. Blockus | access-date =2010-05-18}}</ref> Worrell helped to clear Gratton's name when he told the NHL that he never heard the slur.<ref name=harris/>
==Legal troubles== Worrell had his license suspended twice because of two convictions for drunken driving. In June 2002, he was arrested for DUI, leaving the scene of an accident and criminal mischief for kicking a police car's window off its track. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 10 days in jail for those incidents.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fake ID? Police say Worrell claimed to be Lilja |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=1975106 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=August 28, 2023 |date=January 25, 2005}}</ref>
==Career statistics== <small>'''Bold''' indicates led league</small>
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 1993–94 | Lac St–Louis Lions | QMAAA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1994–95 | Hull Olympiques | QMJHL | 56 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 243 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 91 |- | 1995–96 | Hull Olympiques | QMJHL | 63 | 23 | 36 | 59 | 464 | 18 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 81 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1996–97 | Hull Olympiques | QMJHL | 62 | 17 | 46 | 63 | 437 | 14 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 83 |- | 1997–98 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 153 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1997–98 | Beast of New Haven | AHL | 50 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 309 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |- | 1998–99 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 62 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 258 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1998–99 | Beast of New Haven | AHL | 10 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 1999–2000 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 48 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 169 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2000–01 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 71 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 248 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2001–02 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 79 | 4 | 5 | 9 | '''354''' | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2002–03 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 63 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 193 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2003–04 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 49 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 179 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2005–06 | Charlotte Checkers | ECHL | 37 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 139 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 391 ! 19 ! 27 ! 46 ! 1554 ! 4 ! 1 ! 0 ! 1 ! 8 |}
==See also== *List of black NHL players
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Ice hockey stats}} *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9btyR8HEvJo Worrell-Niedermayer incident on Youtube]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Worrell, Peter}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Anglophone Quebec people Category:Beast of New Haven players Category:Black Canadian ice hockey players Category:Black Canadian sportsmen Category:Canadian ice hockey left wingers Category:Canadian sportspeople of Barbadian descent Category:Charlotte Checkers (1993–2010) players Category:Colorado Avalanche players Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:Florida Panthers draft picks Category:Florida Panthers players Category:Hull Olympiques players Category:Ice hockey people from Montreal (region) Category:People from Pierrefonds-Roxboro