Former NHLer Stephen Peat surrenders to police in B.C., charged with arson

Former NHLer Stephen Peat, who played 130 games with the Washington Capitals from 2000-2005, turned himself in to B.C. police last week in connection with arson charges.

Former NHL right winger Stephen Peat, who appeared in 130 games for the Washington Capitals from 2001-2005, surrendered to Royal Canadian Mounted Police in British Columbia last week and stands accused of arson in connection with an alleged attempt to burn down a Brookswood, B.C. home.

Originally from Princeton, B.C., Peat reported to the RCMP March 19 and has been in their custody since that time. The 35-year-old is charged with one count of arson with a disregard for human life, and one count of arson causing damage to property. He had a court appearance scheduled for the morning of March 23.

According to the Langley Advance, the home targeted in the alleged attack is registered to a Walter Peat. And the RCMP says a March 17 dispute at the residence between a father and son resulted in a late-evening arson attempt that same night. The alleged act of arson was spotted by a passerby who attempted to stop the fire, but the house and vehicles in the driveway were extensively damaged. No one was hurt.

Peat spent his junior hockey career in the Western League with Red Deer, Tri-City and Calgary before making the jump to the pros with Portland of the AHL in 2000-01. He was selected by Anaheim in the second round (32nd overall) of the 1998 NHL draft, but was dealt to the Capitals in June of 2000 for a fourth-round pick. He bounced between the AHL and NHL (scoring eight goals and 10 points in those 130 games) before finishing his career playing for Hershey, Albany and Lowell in 2006-07.