Andrew Peters was selected 34th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1998 NHL draft. Peters wouldn't even have to leave the area for team relations as the Draft was held in Buffalo that year. However, "Prime Time" remained with his OHL Oshawa Generals and his final year with the Kitchener Rangers until 2000-01 when he joined the AHL Rochester Americans. While in Rochester, Andrew got into an on-ice fight with his brother Geoff Peters. Andrew stated in an interview after the game that he did not know it was his brother that he was fighting. Later on, for a short time, the two brothers played together for the Amerks. In Peters 2nd year with the Amerks, he lead the league with 388 penalty mins.
In Peters' 1st season with the Sabres, Peters played 42 games, scored 2 goals, and had 151 Penalty mins. Peters had taken over right where Rob Ray left off. The two hard nose enforcers even were engaged in a fight during a Sabres VS Ottawa contest. Peters continued to harass players around the NHL. February 22, 2007 was no different.
On February 22, 2007 Sabres Captain Chris Drury was hit by Sens Enforcer Chris Neil. Drury was taken out of the game with a concussion but the next play is when everything occurred. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff sent out his top fighters to send a message to the Sens that they weren't going to be messed with. As soon as the whistle blew, everyone was looking for a partner including the goaltenders. Marty Biron went after Ray Emery and the scrambled for awhile. After the referees attempted to break up the brawl, Peters skated over to Emery and had some unfinished business to accomplish. The two of them started to go at it for awhile before being split up by the refs. However as this was going on, the coaches also wanted a piece of each other. The coaches started a huge yelling match between the benches. Coincidentally, Rob Ray was once again in the middle of this as he was doing TV work for the Sabres. Peters and a few others were thrown out after the fight. Peters was not only trying to go after Emery, he really wanted a piece of Chris Neil who was sitting in the penalty box during the brawl from the previous hit.
Surprisingly enough, on January 6, 2009 Peters was once again involved in an incident with the Senators. Sens forward Jarkko Ruutu and Peters started to get into a scrum. Ruutu was unhappy with Peters and grabbed his hand and bit him. Ruutu denies he ever bit Peters but it was clear he really did. Ruutu even stated, "I had his fingers in my mouth but didn't bite." The next day Ruutu was suspend for 1 game by the NHL. Peters was very shocked by the incident and said he never saw anything like that before.
Following the 2009 season, Peters would not return to the Sabres. He was invited to the Devils training camp and later signed to a 2 year deal. However after a poor season, the Devils waived Peters and he was bought out of his 2nd year. He signed with the Panthers the following year and was sent to the Amerks. In October, he was traded to the Canucks and following being kicked off the Amerks, Peters announced his retirement 3 months later.
Peters now resides in the Buffalo area and is part of the Buffalo Sabres Alumni. He is frequently spotted attending Sabres games and still very involved with the team. Aside from hockey, in his free time, Peters helps numerous charities, and made several visits to Children's Hospitals in both Buffalo and Rochester during his career.He was also a featured member at Ryan Miller's "Catwalk for Charity" events. In 2008, Peters would tend bar at the Pearl St. Grill and Brewery during the summer with all tips going to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.Peters and his wife also did work to promote the Family Justice Center of Western New York, which works with women who have been victims of domestic violence.In 2010, Peters was a big part of two charity hockey games. In the first ever "Hockey Night in St. Catharines" he was able to gather some other NHL players from the area to play in the game which ended up raising over $100,000 for the United Way. Also, he participated in a game in Rochester for the late Craig Charron, who was a former teammate of Peters.
Andrew is always very kind with fans. Always willing to talk and chat. He will also willingly sign autographs for fans who ask. Peters has always been known as a piratical prankster. Peters is also now involved with the Time Warner Sports show Enforcers with Rob Ray.
Andrew was a great guy and did his job for the sabres. They haven't had a guy that scared anyone since he left. He was truly missed
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