David Richard Peterson (January 5, 1931July 17, 1997) was an American ice hockey coach. He grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota, graduated from Hamline University, and played semi-professional hockey as a goaltender for the Minneapolis Millers. He served as head coach of ice hockey at Southwest High School from 1955 to 1982, where he also taught business. His teams qualified for 14 Minnesota State High School League tournaments, which included an undefeated 1969–70 season to win the state championship.
Peterson was the director of coaching and player development for USA Hockey, wrote its coaching manual for goaltenders, served as the goaltender coach on the United States men's team at the 1984 Winter Olympics, and was head coach of the team at Ice Hockey World Championships in 1985, 1986, and 1987. As head coach of the United States men's team at the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, his teams finished in seventh and fourth place respectively. He also served as head coach of the United States men's junior team which won its first World Junior Championship medal with a bronze in 1986. He verbally sparred with media at the 1988 Winter Olympics, and was criticized for his coaching strategy, player selection, and gruff disposition.
The American Hockey Coaches Association recognized him with the John "Snooks" Kelley Founders Award in 1993. He was inducted into the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the Minneapolis Hockey Hall of Fame. USA Hockey annually gives the Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year to a junior ice hockey goaltender. Minnesota Hockey operates an annual Dave Peterson CCM High Performance Goalie Camp for high school students, and gives the Dave Peterson Award to a high school coach for leadership in developing hockey.
Early life and playing career
David Richard Peterson was born on January 5, 1931, in Superior, Wisconsin, to parents Hiram and Marie Peterson. Peterson was the son of a barber, his family had German, Irish, and Norwegian heritage, and moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota, when he was two years old. As a youth, he played ice hockey outdoors at a local park, and also played baseball and American football.
First playing as a hockey goaltender as a freshman at Harding Senior High School in Saint Paul, Peterson then participated in the Minnesota state hockey championships during his senior year. His high school hockey team won the Region IV championship in 1948, then won the consolation championship at the Minnesota State High School League tournament, with Peterson winning two games as their goaltender.
Peterson attended Hamline University to play football, and earned a teacher's degree. He was a top-scoring placekicker in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and also played offensive and defensive guard. He also played hockey at Hamline in addition to football, and also played semi-professional hockey for per game.
Coach John Mariucci signed Peterson to play for the Minneapolis Millers in the American Amateur Hockey League, during the 1951–52 season. Peterson returned to the Millers for the 1952–53 season, now in the Central Hockey League, and later played for the Minneapolis Bungalows in the Minnesota Hockey League during the 1954–55 season.
Minnesota high school coaching
In 1953, Peterson began teaching business and coaching basketball at Braham, Minnesota, then moved to Minneapolis North High School in 1954. After one season of coaching hockey at Minneapolis North, he became head coach of hockey and assistant coach of football at Southwest High School in 1955. He also served as the school's first soccer coach, and taught business classes including typing, shorthand, and bookkeeping. He coached hockey at Southwest High School from 1955 to 1982, and retired as a teacher in 1984.
Peterson maximized practice time for the senior hockey team by maintaining an outdoor rink at Pershing Park with assistance from the players, rather than travelling longer distances to an indoor rink. He also made goaltender masks for high school players. Peterson's teams at Southwest High School qualified for 14 Minnesota State High School League tournaments, including one state championship, one second-place finish, two third-place results, and one consolation championship. His 1969–70 team had an undefeated season, and won the state championship versus Edina High School.