Bob Priestley

Robert R. "Bob" Priestley of Pocasset, Massachusetts is the kind of hockey player whose story reads like a movie script. At age 82, playing with a 101-degree fever in the deciding game of a championship, he scored the tying goal with 34 seconds left — sending Team USA to victory over Canada on wins differential.

That championship moment came at the 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame tournament in Burlington, Ontario in October 2023. But Bob's hockey legacy stretches back decades before that night.

A Hockey Family from Hockeytown

Bob grew up in Melrose, Massachusetts — a city so passionate about the sport it earned the nickname "Hockeytown." He comes from a true hockey family: his father and three uncles all played for Melrose High School, and all four are in the school's Hall of Fame. Bob followed in their skates, playing for Melrose High before continuing at Norwich University in Vermont, where his 1965 team is enshrined in the university's Sports Hall of Fame.

A Life of Service and Competition

After Norwich, Bob served in the US Army, stationed in Germany for two years during the Vietnam War era. He built a career as a mechanical engineer at General Electric — all while never straying far from the rink. He and his wife Dorothy have been married 56 years.

International Competitor

Bob has traveled the world with hockey. As a member of the Cape Cod Sharks from Falmouth, he competed in Iceland (2016), the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Austria (2018), and Austria and Germany (2020). In 2014 he played in the Snoopy Men's Senior Hockey Tournament in Santa Rosa, California, and in 2016 his age 70+ team won the USA Hockey national championship.

The Winning Goal

The Burlington championship game in 2023 was a nail-biter — Team USA trailed Canada with under a minute left. Bob took the shot. The puck found the back of the net with 34 seconds remaining, tying the game. On wins differential, Team USA was crowned champions. The twist? That morning Bob had woken up with a 101-degree fever and nearly didn't play. A negative COVID test changed everything.

"Bob said to me, 'Well, let's go to the rink anyways.' When we got to the parking lot, the COVID test was negative, and of course he had his bag with him, so he went in and he played the game and got the winning goal!"

The 2025 Legends Game

Bob brought that same winning energy to the 2025 USA 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Game in Superior, Colorado on October 4, 2025 — scoring the game-winning goal for Team USA in a 4-3 victory over Team Colorado. Watch the goal below.

Still Going Strong

Today Bob skates several times a week at Gallo Ice Arena, competing in both the 50+ and 60+ age groups. He also plays at the Falmouth Ice Arena and Martha's Vineyard Ice Arena, where his wife notes he is the oldest player at those facilities. Younger players in their 50s, 60s, and 70s look up to him as a role model.

"Just keep on playing. It kind of keeps you going, keeps you on your toes."

• Grew up in Melrose, MA — father and three uncles all in Melrose High School Hall of Fame
• Played college hockey at Norwich University — 1965 team in university's Sports Hall of Fame
• US Army veteran — stationed in Germany during Vietnam War
• 2016 USA Hockey national champion — age 70+ division
• International competitor — Iceland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria, Germany
• 2023 Canada Cup championship — scored tying goal with 34 seconds left, playing with 101-degree fever
• 2025 Legends Game — scored the game-winning goal for Team USA in a 4-3 victory
• 2026 USA 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee