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R.H. "Bob" Peters was named commissioner for the College
Hockey America conference on April 27, 2001.
"It is with great enthusiasm that I look
forward to extending my commitment to the growth and development
of colle-giate hockey," said Peters.
The CHA marks the third conference Peters has
been involved in as a founding member, and with 40-plus years of
experience in college hockey, Peters' leadership will prove
invaluable as the CHA evolves. "I am extremely enthusiastic
about this new aspect of my college hockey career," said
Peters. "We have a committed membership group with tremendous
vision and a very strong understanding of Division I hockey."
In addition to appointing Peters CHA commissioner, the CHA athletic
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directors approved the
recommendation by the coaches to name the regular-season
championship trophy in honor of Peters as the R.H. "Bob"
Peters Cup—an appropriate honor capping an illustrious coaching
career.
It was 1964 when R.H. "Bob" Peters
entered the college hockey head coaching ranks as bench boss of
the University of North Dakota. Two years later, Peters would take
the reins at Bemidji State where he shaped the Beaver hockey
program into a recognizable masterpiece. In 35 years with the
Beavers, Peters won 13 national championships and 702 games.
Overall, Peters won 744 games as a head coach
and in his final season as a coach, became the first coach to win
700 games at a single school.
"We skated outdoors during my first year at
BSU," Peters remembers. "But the program has developed
from NAIA college hockey to NCAA Division III, Division II and now
NCAA Division I."
Peters, the only coach to lead a team to a
national championship game in three divisions of college hockey,
ranks second on the all-time win list among college hockey
coaches. From BSU, he coached five NHL players, and several
Olympians and All-Americans.
Peters' influence on college hockey also
stretched outside the arena. He has proven his administrative
skills at Bemidji State by serving as athletic director and head
hockey coach, and he lent service to several committees. Under
Peters' guidance, BSU progressed from NAIA to NCAA Division III to
NCAA Division II, and in 1999, BSU elevated its hockey program to
Division I. He served on championship committees for the NAIA and
NCAA for over 20 years, and he currently serves on the Hobey Baker
Award National Committee.
The original concept for the CHA began with Air
Force head coach Frank Serratore and then-BSU head coach Peters at
the 1998 hockey meetings in Florida. The conference sprang forth
the following year with a full league schedule in the 1999-2000
season.
Peters and his wife Lou reside in Bemidji.
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