Peter Patton

Peter Patton was known as “The Father of British Ice Hockey” and was also responsible for spreading the sport across Europe. As a player, he spent many years as captain of the Prince’s team from its formation, and in 1912, was in the Les Avants team that beat Lausanne 2-1 to win the Swiss Championship. Patton played for, and captained, England on many tours and events across Europe. He skippered them to victory at the inaugural European Championship in 1910, and at Chamonix in 1924, led them to victory in the International Ice Hockey League, after beating Germany, Bohemia, France, Switzerland and Belgium, with 50 goals scored and just five conceded. He played his final match for England in 1930 at the age of 54, by which time he had moved from an outfielder to net minder.

A civil engineer by profession, Patton was the son of Brigadier General Henry Bethune Patton, and went on to become president of the International Ice Hockey Federation. He was also president of the British Ice Hockey Association from its formation in 1914 to 1934, and played a major part in the formation of the English Ice Hockey League in 1931. He donated the Patton Cup to the winners of the annual match between England and Scotland for the British Championship, and in 1923 donated the Major “Peter” H Patton Challenge Trophy to be contested by the winter sports teams of Oxford and Cambridge universities. It was a seven-event competition which included curling, speed skating and tug of war!

Patton served in the Army with the 3rd Somerset Regiment and saw duty in France between 1914-16 before serving with the Serbian Army he retired from service in 1921 have attained the rank of major.