Horeck, Peter

HORECK, Peter “Pistol Pete“ - In loving memory of Peter “Pistol Pete“ Horeck, 86 years. After a long and courageous battle with prostate cancer and neuropathy, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 29, 2009 in Sudbury with loving family and friends at his side. Beloved brother of Steve, Nicholas, Russell, Andrew, John and George, all predeceased. Survived by his brother Daniel of Sudbury. Cherished uncle of Marlene, Brian, Sharon, Duane, Allen, Ron, Donna, Dee Jay, Jo-Ann and Wendy. Peter was born in Massey on June 15, 1923, son of the late John and Docia Horeck. Peter's youth was spend in the small railroad town of Capreol. Being from a family of eight boys, there was never a lack of players for any sport he wished to be involved in. Many winter evenings you would find Peter and his brothers John and Danny on the Vermillion River ice. John later coached as General Manager for the Chatham Maroons who later won the Allen Cup of Canada in 1960. Danny played for the Eastern League in the U.S.A. for a short time. Peter was determined at the age of 17 to become a professional hockey player. Armed with a wonderful gift of a new pair of skates, received from Mr. Howard Perry, a local train conductor, he proceeded to hitch a ride on the CNR freight train traveling to Parry Sound. Once arriving, he met Bill Peachy, then the General Manager of the Parry Sound Shamrocks, who offered him lodging and kept him under his wing. Peter then had the opportunity to play with hockey favourites such as Doug Orr (Bobby Orr's father) with the Parry Sound Shamrocks. With strong will and devotion to make hockey his career, he moved on to Atlantic City. Soon the Atlantic City hockey team - named the Seagulls - took him on. He remembers this team as being a very tough Eastern Atlantic League team. Tom Burlington was a well-known player of this time, being a competitive player back in 1944, regardless of his handicap of having only one eye! Tom and Peter played extremely well together. Tom ended up being the leading goal point scorer for three years. From 1944 to 1952 Peter was drafted by the Chicago Black Hawks where he played three complete seasons, and soon afterward moved on to Boston and Detroit “playing for whatever team came up with the most money“. After playing for the National Hockey League, Peter spent several years with the Sudbury Wolves. Peter then retired from professional hockey in 1952 to pursue other interests, and became active in Marketing. He always enjoyed a good discussion with friends over coffee and also vacationing with friends and family in Arizona and Mexico. He was a man with knowledge and wisdom and loved to share his experience in the stock market. He will be greatly missed by his devoted and loving friend Anita Bisaillon. Peter was the son of a striving shoemaker in a small rural town. Peter was the kid who hammered the puck on any solid structure. The town people loved to watch him play the rough quick Canadian game. They would say “Those Horeck boys“ - even people who didn't like them, loved them. Donations to the Extendicare Falconbridge Residents' Council, where he received good care and appreciated the friendship of the staff. Funeral Prayers in the R.J. Barnard Chapel JACKSON & BARNARD FUNERAL HOME, 233 Larch St., Sudbury, Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 at 2 pm. Cremation at the Park Lawn Crematorium. (Friends may call after 12 noon Tuesday). Flowers, donations or messages of condolence available online at www.lougheed.org