Pete Stemkowski

Who is Pete Stemkowski?

Peter David Stemkowski is a former player in the National Hockey League. Over fifteen seasons, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, and Los Angeles Kings. Stemkowski is best remembered for his heroics in the 1970–71 Stanley Cup semifinals when he scored two overtime goals for the New York Rangers in an eventual series loss to the Chicago Black Hawks. He won the Stanley Cup in 1967 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Pete Stemkowski, who played centre, is also remembered as one of the top faceoff players of the NHL.

In the 1971 semifinal against the Black Hawks, "Stemmer" or "Stem" scored the game winner in Game 1 after just 1:37 of overtime. The Rangers would lose Game 5 in overtime, only to be in the same position in Game 6. Facing elimination, the Rangers forced a deciding seventh game when Stemkowski scored at 1:29 of the third overtime – a total of 41:29 of extra time. The MSG Network special The 50 Greatest Moments in Madison Square Garden History placed the Game 6 triple overtime winner at number 18.