Our community celebrated a hockey legend earlier this month as Jeff Twohey was officially inducted into the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures in local hockey history.
Born in Lindsay, Ont., Twohey has called Peterborough home for more than 40 years, building a career that has touched every level of professional hockey. His journey with the Peterborough Petes began humbly in 1980 as a part-time scout, but his dedication and hockey acumen would soon propel him through the organization's ranks.
By 1983, Twohey had transitioned into a trainer/scout role, and over the following decades, he would serve in virtually every capacity imaginable—marketing, Assistant General Manager, and ultimately General Manager. His impact on the Petes organization cannot be overstated: he was instrumental in four OHL Championship-winning teams (1989, 1993, 1996, and 2006) and guided the team through four Memorial Cup appearances.
As General Manager, Twohey's record speaks volumes. He led the Petes to more than 600 victories and helped develop the next generation of hockey talent. During his tenure, 54 players were selected in the NHL Draft, including nine first-round picks—a testament to his eye for talent and commitment to player development.
But Twohey's influence extended far beyond Peterborough. From 1979 to 1999, he served as a part-time scout with the Dallas Stars, contributing to the organization's Stanley Cup victory in 1999. His expertise was sought throughout the hockey world, as he served on numerous OHL committees including Priority Selection, Competition, Officiating, CHL Import Draft, Protected List, NCAA Issues, All-Star Selection and the CHL Canada-Russia Series Selection Committee. He also represented the OHA in evaluating Canada's U18 and U20 national team prospects.
The hockey community has long recognized Twohey's contributions. He received the Bill Long Award for Distinguished Service in 2006 and the OHL Milestone Award for 25 years of distinguished service in 2008. That same year, he was inducted into the Lindsay and District Sports Hall of Fame.
After departing the Petes in 2010, Twohey's career continued to flourish. He spent two seasons with the NHL's Arizona Coyotes before returning to the OHL as General Manager of the Oshawa Generals. From 2012 to 2018, he served as Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting for the Coyotes, scouting more than 250 live games and further cementing his reputation as one of hockey's most astute talent evaluators.
In 2020, Twohey joined the Kingston Frontenacs as a senior advisor before moving into a scouting role with the Florida Panthers in 2021. His winning ways continued with the Panthers organization, as he added two more Stanley Cup championships to his resume in 2024 and 2025.
With three Stanley Cup rings and a career spanning more than four decades, Jeff Twohey's induction into the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to a man who has given so much to our community and to the sport of hockey. His legacy lives on in the countless players he mentored, the championships he helped secure, and the standard of excellence he established for hockey operations throughout the game.
