Former New York Arrows player Peter Jianette will be among six individuals who will be inducted into the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame this Saturday.
Ceremonies will be held at the Huntington Hilton in Melville, N.Y.
He will be inducted into the Hall, along with Doc Lawson, Nicky Megaloudis, John Lignos, Jean Varas and Mary Theresa Varas.
Peter Collins, the late president of the Long Island Junior Soccer League, will receive the Paul LeSueur Ambassador of the Game Award.
The Hall also will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Arrows, who won their fourth and final MISL championship in 1982.
Jianette, a high school phenom, was drafted as the first-round territorial pick by the Arrows in 1980 and was a third-round pick by the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League draft. He signed with the Arrows in December 1980 during his senior year at Hicksville High School, where he recorded 67 goals and 27 assists in 65 games.
On Feb. 10, 1982, he made his professional debut and tore his ACL. Jianette spent three years with the club before signing with the Phoenix Pride (MISL). He played 34 games during the 1983-84 season with Phoenix before re-injuring his right knee. In 1981, Jianette participated in the FIFA World Youth Cup. In 1985 he played for the New York Express during its inaugural season as he led the team in scoring with nine goals in six games. He was named MVP of the team’s first match, a 8-5 win over the Arsenal indoor team. Jianette, however, tore his MCL and meniscus in the same knee during a game in Dallas on Dec. 12, 1986, ending his professional career.
Jianette also performed for the U.S. Under-16, U-17 and U-20 national teams. He wound up playing in 31 games in 14 countries on five continents with 16 full youth international appearances. The Hicksville native also participated in 9 international tournaments from 1978-82, highlighted by the 1981 U-20- World Championship in Australia.
“The Class of 2022 is an extraordinary example of the amazingly rich history of soccer on Long Island,” LISPHOF founder Kevin L. McCrudden said. “In the early days of men’s and women’s soccer in America, you can find the footprints of some of the greatest and most influential players in America on Long Island. Never mind one of the most influential people in American soccer history, Mr. Peter Collins. Truly one of the ‘founding fathers’ of youth soccer on Long Island and America.”
Added Hall executive director Jim Kilmeade: “The Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame not only represents world class athletes, but world class human beings. On behalf of our board of directors, we look forward to learning about their individual life stories and are honored to induct this distinguished Class of 2022. These seven individuals have collectively inspired and impacted the lives of thousands of young soccer players, coaches and fans across Long Island and the Country. We look forward celebrating the 1981-82 national champion – NY Arrows and the careers of Doc Lawson, Peter Jianette, Mary Theresa Varas, Jean Varas, Nick Megaloudis John Lignos and the man at the forefront of the sport on Long Island, Mr. Peter Collins.”
