Brent Peterson, 68, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on September 11 after living with and courageously battling Parkinson's Disease for the last 23 years, becoming an inspiration to so many others facing adversity and illness.

Son. Brother. Husband. Father. Grandfather. Uncle. Hockey player. Hockey coach. Broadcaster. Consummate Teammate. Team player on the ice and in life, and a Profile in Courage can all describe Brent.

However, it was his personality, his laugh, his sense of humor, his commitment to his work and passions along with his determination, his selflessness and decency to be a voice for others that friends, family and fans will remember most.

Known for his hockey playing and coaching ability, Brent left a much bigger impact on others later in life.

Brent was pre-deceased by his parents (Ron and Nurae) and is survived by his wife of 47 years, Tami (married June 13, 1979), children Ryan, Brad (Amanda) and Kristin (Aaron), four grandchildren (Madalynn, Jake, Brooklynn and Brady), and brothers Greg, Doug and Darren.

A multi-sport athlete in his youth, Brent excelled in both football and hockey. Notably, in his 10th grade year of high school, he was an All-Star quarterback for his high school senior team, the only player to achieve all-star status in 10th grade. In his 11th grade year, Brent decided to focus on hockey and left home to play for Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. He moved to Portland, where he met Tami; Brent enjoyed a sparkling junior career with the Portland Winter Hawks that culminated with his selection in the first round of the 1978 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. In 1981, Brent was traded to the Buffalo Sabres where he became one of the top face-off men and defensive centers in the NHL. Brent contributed timely goals, none more important than the only goal in a series opening playoff win in Montreal that propelled the Sabres to a three-game sweep.

From Buffalo, Brent would go on to play two seasons with the Vancouver Canucks and then two more with the Hartford Whalers before retiring from playing after 620 NHL regular season games and 31 playoff games.

Always known for his hockey IQ and understanding of the game, Brent transitioned to coaching, becoming an assistant coach with the Whalers in 1989. After two seasons with the Whalers, he returned to Portland and became head coach of the Winter Hawks where he and the team enjoyed great success, winning three division titles in seven seasons, including the Western Hockey League championship and the Memorial Cup in 1998.

Following the Memorial Cup, Brent was recruited to join Head Coach Barry Trotz and the expansion Nashville Predators. Brent would play an instrumental role in establishing the “Predators Way” and culture that laid the foundation for the franchise. He was an integral part of the Predators' first playoff team in 2003-04 and the team that won the franchise's first playoff series in 2011.

In 2002, Brent was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. He continued to coach through 2011 and then transitioned to a broadcasting role with the organization.

It was then that Brent and Tami made their greatest impact in the world of Parkinson's. Brent underwent a Deep Brain Stimulation procedure at Vanderbilt Medical Center in 2011 and also chose to be a public face for Parkinson's, creating the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson's with a focus on raising funds that could be used for research, expanding therapeutic programs available to those battling Parkinson's and to support caregivers.

Partnering with the Predators Foundation, the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson's has hosted an annual Petey's Party and Golf Tournament that have raised over $3 million during the last 15 years.

Beyond his hockey playing and coaching expertise and his commitment to Peterson Foundation for Parkinson's, Brent was an avid golfer, recording multiple hole-in-ones, with his most recent coming just one year ago. He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he held many positions in the church. He was especially fond of connecting with the youth and was often sought to speak at youth events for his abilities to touch them.

Most of all, though, he was devoted to Tami and his family. And he was a friend to everyone, always offering encouragement, support and a positive outlook on life.

There will be a celebration of Brent's life on Monday, September 21 at 12 p.m. at Bridgestone Arena.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson's (PetersonForParkinsons.org). Click HERE