Cavanagh, Peter
(1934 - 2003)
With the Australian National Senior Team, en route to the IIHF World Championships, 1962.
CAREER SUMMARY
Birth
June 27th 1934
Ireland
Death
August 8th 2003
Melbourne Victoria Australia
Clubs
VIHA Pirates
Goodall Cups
1961, '62
Olympics
1964 playoffs Ice Hockey
World Championships
1962, '64 Ice Hockey
Life Memberships
Nil
BORN JUNE 27TH 1934 in Ireland, [1, 2] he played 214 Games in net for the Pirates over an 18-year career in the Victorian league between 1952 and 1970. The Pirates did not win their first premiership until 1976. A contemporary of Rob Reid and Noel McLoughlin, in 1955 he finished third in the league for the Hawley Trophy behind Reid and Dave Campbell, facing 227 shots for a save percentage of almost 90.
In 1956, he finished the season as the league's Best Goalkeeper with a save percentage of 91. In 1957, he placed third behind Reid and McLoughlin, on a save percentage of 91.7. [5] Over the years that followed up until 1964, he finished third, fourth or fifth and first again in 1962 on a save percentage of 86.5. His 213 career games in net are 12th most in the history of the state association since 1946. [2]
He won two Goodall Cups with Victoria in 1961 and 1962, played in 1963 when NSW won at Prince Alfred Park, and possibly others. He represented Australia in the 1962 B-Pool World Championships with New South Wales goaltender, Roddy Bruce. The IIHF ruled Bruce ineligible, leaving Cavanagh to mind net for all five games of the tournament. He was in net for Australia's first international victory against Denmark — 2-2, 4-0, 0-0 — at Denver Coliseum on March 15th 1962. He faced 211 shots in the 5 games, allowing 51 goals against for a save percentage of 75.8. He represented Australia a second time in the unsuccessful 1964 Olympic playoffs team in Japan with netminder, John Stuart.
Towards the end of his goaltending days, Cavanagh embarked on a successful career as a television actor, hockey commentator and writer. He is best known for his roles in Homicide (1969 to '76), Division 4 (1969 to '75) and Rush (1974). He played Constable Ray Preston in Division 4 from episode 109. [4] He also had roles in the TV series Cash and Company (1975), Matlock Police (1971 to '74) and The Long Arm (1970). He worked as an ice hockey TV commentator and wrote ice hockey news for the local Melbourne press during the early 1970s. He played the radio interviewer in the TV mini-series, The Lancaster Miller Affair, released in 1985.
Cavanagh died of a heart attack in Melbourne on August 8th 2003. [3] He was 69.
Ross Carpenter, 'Cavanagh, Peter (1934-2003)', Legends of Australian Ice, Melbourne, Australia, http://icelegendsaustralia.com/legends-2/bio-cavanagh.html, accessed online 11 November 2015.
The God's Crossing: Australia's Elimination from the 1964 Games, Ross Carpenter, 2015. Online
Australia's Red Letter Day: March 15th 1962, Ross Carpenter, 2015. Online
Writings
Canadians Hold Key, Peter Cavanagh, unidentified Melbourne newspaper, 1970, courtesy Kevin Harris, Beryl Black Archive.
Monarchs look far too strong all-round, Peter Cavanagh, unidentified Melbourne newspaper, undated, courtesy Ray Noble? Beryl Black Archive.
Prelim Final could be a repetition of last year, Peter Cavanagh, unidentified Melbourne newspaper, 1970, courtesy Ray Noble? Beryl Black Archive.
[2] IHV player stats, McCrae Williamson files, Vic ice hockey association, courtesy Paul Rice.
[3] Entry for Peter Michael Cavanagh, Springvale Botanical Cemetery deceased person records. Birth date shown as 22 June 1934, not 27 June 1934.
[4] IMDb website, Peter Cavanagh entry.
[5] Ice Hockey Guide, VIHA, 23rd August 1955, p 7; 7th Sep 1957, p 12; 23rd Aug 1957 p 12.
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With the VIHA Tigers
VIHA A-grade champions, St Moritz Ice Palais, Melbourne, 1949.
With the VIHA Pirates
VIHA A-grade runners-up, St Moritz Ice Palais, Melbourne, 1954.
With Team Australia, 1962
Cavanagh is front row, fifth from left. IIHF B-Pool World Championships, 1962.
Versus France
IIHF B-Pool World Championships, Colorado Springs, USA, March 20th 1962
Versus Denmark
"At long last..." article, Denver Post, Colorado, USA, 1962. Courtesy Tony Martyr.
Victorian National Team Members
St Moritz Ice Palais, Melbourne, prior to departure for IIHF B-Pool Worlds, Colorado, USA, 1962. Courtesy Tony Martyr.
Olympic Playoffs
Program and roster, Japan v Australia, Tokyo, 1963.
Olympic Playoffs
Poster, Japan v Australia, Tokyo, 1963. Courtesy Harry Coles.
With Olympic Playoffs Team
Sanyo Building rooftop, Tokyo, 1963. Bud McEachern (Coach), Russ Carson (Manager) and Syd Hudson (Asst Manager and Trainer) Forwards: Russell Jones (C), Phil Hall (AC), Noel Derrick (AC), Harry Coles, Anthony Martyr, John Thomas, John Miller, Edward Mustar, Ken Pawsey, Tim Spencer. Goalies: Peter Cavanagh, John Stuart. Defence: John Nicholas, Charles Grandy, Elgin Luke, Ken Wellman, John Purcell.
With the VIHA Pirates
A-grade team, Melbourne, 1963.
With the VIHA Pirates
A-grade team, Melbourne, 1973.