Former Red Wings first-round pick Brent Peterson dies at age 66

Brent Peterson, a first-round selection by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1978 NHL Draft, died Friday in the Nashville area at age 66. The former defensive forward and penalty killer played 620 games during an NHL career that included stints with Detroit, the Buffalo Sabres, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Hartford Whalers. Following his retirement as a player, Peterson transitioned into coaching and served as an assistant for the Nashville Predators. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2002 while working in that role. In 2009, Peterson and his wife, Tami, founded the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson’s to provide support for those affected by the condition. He continued to coach in the NHL until 2011 while becoming a prominent advocate for Parkinson’s disease awareness within the hockey community.

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