Pete Demers

Pete Demers extraordinary life in hockey began in his hometown of Providence, Rhode Island, where, as a young “rink rat,” he swept stands and cleaned ice for the privilege of skating. By age 12, he was an assistant stick boy for the Providence Reds. That early love of the game became the foundation of an unprecedented career in professional sports.

Pete proudly served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam era from 1961 to 1965 before attending Brown University and the University of Rhode Island to study athletic training and sports medicine. He earned his certification from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association in 1970 and began building a career grounded in pride, professionalism, compassion, and trust.

Pete Demers spent 37 years with the Kings organization, joining in 1969 as head athletic trainer for the AHL’s Springfield Kings before moving up to the Los Angeles Kings in 1972, where he served as head athletic trainer for 34 seasons until retiring after 2005-06.

Demers worked an unmatched and extraordinary 2,632 consecutive regular-season games without ever missing one, a record that speaks to his dependability and devotion. Beyond tending to injuries for stars like Wayne Gretzky, Pete’s truest legacy is found in the countless people he has cared for, protected, encouraged, and inspired during his career.

To Pete, the job “trainer” meant far more than treating injuries. It encompassed rehabilitation, conditioning, nutrition and player safety, as well as being there for his players whenever they needed him, day or night 24/7. This promise to care for his sports family remains today.

Pete’s contribution to the athletic trainers’ profession extended far beyond Los Angeles. His international career took him to Moscow, Rome, Vienna, Helsinki, and 1998 Nagano Olympics, as well as the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and Gold in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. He also served for a decade on the NHL Injury Committee and became a tireless champion for athletic trainers, serving three terms as PHATS president after two decades on its board, where he successfully advocated for improved benefit packages for professional trainers and equipment managers.

His career contributions have earned him recognition in the Los Angeles Kings Hall of Fame 1997, the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society Hall of Fame 2007, Hockey Hall of Fame honoree with a plaque on the wall of honor at the HHOF in Toronto 2007, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame 2016, the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame 2019, and now the 2026 Los Angeles Sports Walk of Fame.

In retirement, Pete continues to leave a legacy of service to the greater Los Angeles community, representing the Los Angeles Kings Alumni, volunteering at the Los Angeles Mission and Kings community events, and supporting fellow veterans at the VA Greater Los Angeles campus. He enjoys spending time with his family, listening to bluegrass music, and fishing with friends.

Once a King, always a King!

Photo compliments of ©2007 SCPIX