▁the ▁worst ▁year ▁of ▁his ▁career ▁with ▁just ▁ 2 ▁goals ▁and ▁ 9 ▁points ▁in ▁ 5 2 ▁games . ▁He ▁would ▁re bound ▁to ▁have ▁an ▁improved ▁year ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 8 – 8 9 , ▁register ing ▁ 4 ▁goals ▁and ▁ 1 7 ▁points ▁in ▁ 6 6 ▁games ▁for ▁the ▁Wh al ers ▁while ▁anch oring ▁the ▁top ▁penalty - kill ▁unit ▁alongside ▁Dave ▁T ipp ett . ▁However , ▁at ▁the ▁conclusion ▁of ▁the ▁season ▁he ▁announced ▁his ▁ret irement ▁to ▁accept ▁a ▁co aching ▁position ▁with ▁the ▁Wh al ers . ▁ ▁Pet erson ▁finished ▁his ▁N HL ▁career ▁with ▁tot als ▁of ▁ 7 2 ▁goals ▁and ▁ 1 4 1 ▁ass ists ▁for ▁ 2 1 3 ▁points ▁in ▁ 6 2 0 ▁games , ▁along ▁with ▁ 4 8 4 ▁penalty ▁minutes . ▁He ▁added ▁ 4 ▁goals ▁and ▁ 4 ▁ass ists ▁for ▁ 8 ▁points ▁in ▁ 3 1 ▁play off ▁games . ▁ ▁Co aching ▁career ▁Following ▁his ▁ret irement , ▁Pet erson ▁spent ▁two ▁seasons ▁as ▁an ▁assistant ▁coach ▁for ▁the ▁Wh al ers ▁under ▁head ▁coach ▁Rick ▁Ley . ▁Following ▁Ley ' s ▁firing ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 1 , ▁Pet erson ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁Port land ▁Winter ▁Haw ks , ▁his ▁former ▁junior ▁team , ▁to ▁accept ▁a ▁head ▁co aching ▁position ▁there . ▁In ▁Port land , ▁he ▁would ▁establish ▁himself ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁top ▁coach es ▁in ▁Canadian ▁junior ▁hockey ,