Peterson had 28 points (eight goals, 20 assists) in 157 NCAA games with BC, which heavily recruited him from Cushing, York said.
“We knew he was going to be a good player, but I didn’t understand what he’d bring to the BC locker room,” said York, who coached at the school for 28 seasons until he retired in 2022 as the winningest coach (1,123-682-128) in NCAA men’s hockey history. “Such infectious personality, just livened the room up and was an outstanding teammate.”
Peterson went on to play 340 minor league games with Atlantic City, Johnstown, Florida and Phoenix of the ECHL, Albany and Grand Rapids of the AHL and Flint of the International Hockey League.
He retired as a player after the 2008-09 season and moved into sports representation, joining Acme World Sports, which was founded by Zito.
Wasserman acquired Acme in June 2020.
Nicknamed “Chubbs” after Chubbs Peterson in the 1996 Adam Sandler golf/hockey comedy “Happy Gilmore,” Peterson made the transition through connections with former BC teammates and a career-altering encounter with Zito.
“In the old days we had a pre-training camp training camp, and I represented Patrick Eaves and his brother, Ben,” Zito said. “They said, ‘Hey, can Chubbsie come to camp?’ I’m like, ‘Who’s that?’ They said, ‘You know, Brett Peterson, the D from our team.’ I just kind of wanted to keep it to our own guys. But begrudgingly, I was like, ‘Yeah, sure.’”
Zito said Peterson had an “It” factor about him on and off the ice that impressed him.
The brothers asked Zito if he would represent Peterson, and the agent, who became the Panthers GM on Sept. 2, 2020, replied that he’d do one better.
“I’m, like, ‘Yeah, I’ll represent him, I’m going to tell him to quit and come work with us,’ and I did,” Zito recalled. “He played a little while longer and then, when he was done, he came on board.”
