Peter DeBoer’s background is similar to many in the game of hockey.
He grew up in a small Canadian farming community in southern Ontario, his father worked for a steel factory and his mother was an X-ray technician at a hospital. DeBoer left home at 16 to pursue major junior hockey in Windsor with the goal of playing pro hockey.
What separates the 46-year-old Dunville, Ontario, native from others is the fact he possesses a law degree, something none of San Jose’s previous seven head coaches held.
“I feel I use the law degree every day in coaching,” said DeBoer, who on Thursday was introduced as the Sharks’ head coach.