Trent Kaese – from NHL to Peterborough Pirates Folklore

The story of one of the Heineken era's most prolific imports

For supporters who followed British ice hockey during the early 1990s, Trent Kaese is a name requiring little introduction.

Big, powerful and capable of scoring at an extraordinary rate, the Canadian forward became one of the outstanding imports of his era, most notably during three memorable spells with the Peterborough Pirates.

But the Kaese story began thousands of miles from Peterborough.

Born in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Kaese grew up playing both football and hockey before eventually choosing the ice. He recalled that a talented group of youngsters developed together from around eight to sixteen years of age, giving them the opportunity to attract the attention of scouts.

That attention ultimately took Kaese towards the NHL.

From Nanaimo to the Buffalo Sabres

Playing junior hockey with the Lethbridge Broncos, Kaese knew NHL scouts were beginning to take an interest when clubs started interviewing him.

Buffalo were particularly keen.

In the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, the Sabres selected him in the eighth round, 161st overall.

His first Buffalo training camp brought him into contact with some of the biggest names in hockey — and one particularly memorable meeting with legendary coach Scotty Bowman.

Called into Bowman's office expecting a discussion about his hockey development, Kaese instead found himself talking about fishing back home on Vancouver Island.

They talked fishing for the entire meeting.

Bowman then told him he'd see him next year.

For a teenager sitting opposite one of hockey's great coaching figures, it was an unforgettable introduction to professional life.

One night in the NHL

Kaese's opportunity eventually arrived during the 1988–89 season.

Playing for Rochester in the AHL, he received a telephone call telling him Buffalo wanted him to fly to Quebec to face the Nordiques.

Kaese assumed it was a prank — and hung up.

It wasn't.

On 25 March 1989, Trent Kaese became an NHL player.

The occasion was made even more memorable by Buffalo arranging for Kaese, playing his first NHL game, to sit alongside Mark Napier, who was appearing in his 1,000th.

Kaese recorded five shots on goal and came close to scoring. It proved to be his only NHL appearance, but it was an achievement relatively few players ever experience.

Peterborough comes calling

After scoring 56 goals and 107 points in 57 ECHL games for Winston-Salem in 1989–90, Kaese received an opportunity that would change the direction of his career.

Teammate Danny Shea knew Peterborough coach Rocky Saganiuk and asked whether Kaese fancied joining him in England.

Kaese spoke to Saganiuk and agreed.

Peterborough was certainly different from North America. Kaese remembered being collected from Heathrow and proudly being told that the city had just opened its first McDonald's drive-through.

More importantly, he quickly discovered the warmth of the Pirates supporters.

“The Peterborough fans were lovely. They were incredible.”

They soon had plenty to cheer.

68 goals in 26 league games

Kaese's first season in Peterborough was spectacular.

Elite Prospects records 68 goals and 32 assists for 100 points from just 26 Heineken League games in 1990–91. He added 17 goals in eight Autumn Cup appearances and another 18 in eight playoff games.

Peterborough finished third — at the time their highest league position — and qualified for their first Wembley playoff weekend.

Waiting in the semi-final were reigning playoff champions Cardiff Devils.

The Pirates trailed 3–2 after two periods.

Twenty minutes later, British hockey had witnessed one of Peterborough's most memorable victories.

The Pirates won 7–4.

Kaese remembered the determination within the dressing room and the contribution of Peterborough's British players:

“We played our guts out.”

The following afternoon Peterborough faced Durham Wasps in the final.

The Pirates scored first but Durham eventually prevailed 7–4. Kaese felt that Peterborough had expended an enormous amount physically and emotionally in overcoming Cardiff the night before.

For the Pirates, however, simply reaching that final represented another significant step in the club's development.

Goals, rivalries and British hockey culture

Kaese quickly learned that British hockey was about considerably more than what happened on the ice.

The atmosphere inside some of the country's old rinks left a lasting impression.

He remembered the battles with Cardiff and Durham, and the strength of the British players those clubs possessed. He also remembered just how close supporters could get to the action — particularly at some of the more intimidating away venues.

Yet one of his strongest memories was what happened afterwards.

Players and opposition supporters could meet in the bar, discuss the game and share a drink.

Kaese described it simply as a “hockey family.”

Once the jersey went on, everything possible was done to win.

When the game finished, it was finished.

It is perhaps one of the best descriptions of the Heineken era and why so many supporters still remember it so fondly.

Captain of the Pirates

Kaese's Peterborough story wasn't finished after his initial departure during 1991–92.

He returned for 1992–93 and was named Pirates captain.

His scoring reached another extraordinary level.

In 36 league appearances Kaese produced:

81 goals
45 assists
126 points

He then added another 27 points in six relegation games.

Across his Peterborough career, Elite Prospects currently credits Kaese with 199 goals and 314 points in 91 appearances across all competitions.

Those figures alone explain why his name remains so closely associated with the Pirates.

From Peterborough to Milton Keynes

For 1993–94, Kaese moved to Milton Keynes Kings.

Several former Peterborough players were heading in the same direction and the objective was straightforward: assemble a side capable of winning the championship and promotion.

It worked.

Milton Keynes won the First Division title, but their promotion campaign almost ended dramatically against Telford.

After losing 6–3 away, the Kings fell another three goals behind at home.

Kaese then struck a third-period hat-trick as Milton Keynes fought back to win 10–7.

The Kings earned promotion, giving Kaese another memorable chapter in his British career.

He returned the following season before moving to Blackburn, where another familiar figure was waiting — Rocky Saganiuk.

By then, however, Kaese's priorities were changing.

He had a young family and was beginning to consider life beyond professional hockey.

Trading hockey sticks for golf clubs

After returning to Canada, Kaese and his family embarked on a completely different adventure.

His father had experience developing golf courses and identified an opportunity near Nanaimo.

The family acquired the land and began creating what became Cottonwood Golf Course.

First came nine holes.

Then a clubhouse.

Then another nine.

By 1999 the course was fully operational, hosting tournaments, weddings and other events.

Kaese and his wife Jackie eventually bought out the other investors and became the owners themselves.

Hockey, though, never completely disappeared.

When he joined Old Time Hockey UK for an extensive interview in 2023, Kaese revealed that he was still playing recreational hockey on Monday evenings.

No referees.

No hitting.

Just a chance to skate, work up a sweat — and laugh.

“It's like a band of brothers”

Perhaps the most revealing moment of the Old Time Hockey UK conversation came towards the end.

Asked what he missed about professional hockey, Kaese didn't mention scoring goals.

He didn't mention Wembley.

He didn't mention the NHL.

He talked about the dressing room.

The travelling. Team meals. Stories. Friendships. The relationships formed by spending so much time together.

“It's like a band of brothers.”

It is a fitting reflection from a player whose career took him from junior hockey in Western Canada to the Buffalo Sabres, through the North American minor leagues and ultimately into the heart of British hockey.

For Peterborough supporters in particular, though, Trent Kaese will always be remembered for something much simpler:

Goals. Lots and lots of goals.

And more than thirty years later, his 199 goals in 91 overall Peterborough appearances remain numbers worthy of the description:

LEGEND OF THE GAME. 🏒

🎙️ LISTEN: TRENT KAESE – OLD TIME HOCKEY UK PODCAST INTERVIEW

Hear Trent tell the stories himself — his childhood in Nanaimo, being drafted by Buffalo, meeting Scotty Bowman, his NHL debut, Peterborough, Wembley, Milton Keynes and his life after professional hockey.

👉 Trent Kaese Podcast Interview - Listen Here

🎙️ Related Listening

Hear from Trent Kaese’s former Peterborough Pirate's teammate Kenny McKie as he looks back on his career and his time in British ice hockey.

👉 Kenny McKie Podcast Interview - Listen Here