Peter Bessone
Encyclopedia
Peter Bessone was a retired ice hockey
player. Bessone played in the American Hockey League
with the Cleveland Barons, Providence Reds
, Pittsburgh Hornets and Springfield Indians
of the International Hockey League. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1978.
, 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
, he joined the Rapides de Paris, leading to a very successful French career. While playing for Stade, France Bessone was considered the top hockey draw in France and some even called him the Babe Ruth
of hockey in Paris
.
In 1934 Bessone represented the United States
at the World Championships
in 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
.
. Bessone joined the Pittsburgh Yellowjackets of the EAHL, were 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
Detroit Redwings. Bassone began the 1937-38 season with Detroit Pontiacs, a Redwings' 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 Redwings and 15 with the Pontiacs Bassone was sent to the Pittsburgh Hornets of the AHL
, he would never play in the NHL again.
Bessone was selected to start in the AHL's first All-star game. The game was held in Cleveland, Ohio
, with the intent of to raise money in support of American and Canadian armed forces serving in World War II
, the contest raised $4,132 towards this goal. 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 sent thee 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
.
of the IHL he would play 4 games as a player-coach. Following the 1949-50 season Bessone retired from hockey for good.
In 1978 Bessone was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of fame, 14 years later he was joined by his brother Amo Bessone
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. Bessone played in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
with the Cleveland Barons, Providence Reds
Providence Reds
The Providence Reds were a hockey team that played in the Canadian-American Hockey League between 1926–1936 and the American Hockey League from 1936 to 1977, the last season of which they played as the Rhode Island Reds. The team won the Calder Cup in 1938, 1940, 1949, and 1956...
, Pittsburgh Hornets and Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
of the International Hockey League. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
United States Hockey Hall of Fame
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
in 1978.
Early career
As a high school student Pete Bessone was a three sport athlete at West Springfield, HighWest Springfield High School (Massachusetts)
West Springfield High School is the city of West Springfield's high school. It is located near West Springfield Middle School and John R. Fausey Elementary, one of the city's five elementary schools. The school's mascot is the terrier. The high school houses many different sports teams, whose motto...
, playing football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and, ice hockey. Following his completion of high school Bessone began his hockey career locally playing in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
for the West Side Ranges. In 1931 Bessone left the united States to play hockey in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he joined the Rapides de Paris, leading to a very successful French career. While playing for Stade, France Bessone was considered the top hockey draw in France and some even called him the Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
of hockey in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
In 1934 Bessone represented the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the World Championships
1934 World Ice Hockey Championships
The 1934 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships were held between February 3 and February 11, 1934 in Milan, Italy.Like the previous year's World Championship twelve teams participated, with defending champion USA record and Canada advancing directly to the second round. The other ten teams split...
in 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
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Return to the States
Following the 1936 season Bessone returned from France, with the intention of playing professionally in North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Bessone joined the Pittsburgh Yellowjackets of the EAHL, were 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
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Detroit Redwings. Bassone began the 1937-38 season with Detroit Pontiacs, a Redwings' farm team. Thanks to an injury to Wing's defensemen Ebbie Goodfellow
Ebbie Goodfellow
Ebenezer Robertson "Poker Face" Goodfellow, "Ebbie" for short, was a Canadian ice hockey player who played in the NHL for fourteen seasons with the Detroit Red Wings from 1929 to 1944 as both a forward and defenceman...
Bessone was called up, making his debut on January, 16 1938 against the Montreal Maroons
Montreal Maroons
The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
. After his debut Bessone was believed to be a solid prospect. However after only six games with The Redwings and 15 with the Pontiacs Bassone was sent to the Pittsburgh Hornets of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, he would never play in the NHL again.
AHL career
Bessone continued to play for the Hornets for the next five years. In 19421941–42 AHL season
The 1941–42 AHL season was the sixth season of the American Hockey League. Ten teams played 56 games each in the schedule. The Indianapolis Capitals won the F. G...
Bessone was selected to start in the AHL's first All-star game. The game was held in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, with the intent of to raise money in support of American and Canadian armed forces serving in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the contest raised $4,132 towards this goal. 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
Fred Robertson
Frederick A. Robertson was a professional ice hockey player who played 34 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. He won the Stanley Cup in 1932 with Toronto.- References :...
.
Bessone sent thee 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
1944–45 AHL season
The 1944–45 AHL season was the ninth season of the American Hockey League. Seven teams played 60 games each in the schedule. The Cleveland Barons won their third F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy as West Division champions, and their third Calder Cup as league champions....
Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The 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
Providence Reds
The Providence Reds were a hockey team that played in the Canadian-American Hockey League between 1926–1936 and the American Hockey League from 1936 to 1977, the last season of which they played as the Rhode Island Reds. The team won the Calder Cup in 1938, 1940, 1949, and 1956...
.
Post playing career
In 1947 Bessone returend to France to be the head coach of the Paris Racing Club hockey team. He coached them for two season before returning to the states to coach the Springfield IndiansSpringfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
of the IHL he would play 4 games as a player-coach. Following the 1949-50 season Bessone retired from hockey for good.
In 1978 Bessone was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of fame, 14 years later he was joined by his brother Amo Bessone
Amo Bessone
Amo Bessone was a collegiate ice hockey player and head coach.Bessone was born in Sagamore, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he learned to play hockey....
.