As a youth, Pettinger played in the 1994 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Victoria, British Columbia. Pettinger was drafted in the 2nd round, 43rd overall, by the Washington Capitals in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Before his professional career, Pettinger played a season and half for the University of DenverPioneers before joining the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League midway through the 1999–00 season. He spent his first few seasons in the National Hockey League splitting time between the Washington Capitals and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Portland Pirates, before earning a full-time roster spot with the Capitals in 2003–04. Pettinger played eight games for HDD Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia during the 2004–05 NHL lockout, then recorded a career-high 20 goals, 18 assists and 38 points as NHL play resumed the following season. On February 26, 2008, at the trade deadline, Pettinger was dealt from the Washington Capitals to the Vancouver Canucks for forwardMatt Cooke. Beginning the 2008–09 season back in the AHL with the Canucks' minor league affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, Pettinger was claimed on re-entry waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 21, 2008. He completed the season with 15 points in 59 games with the Lightning. Unable to sign with an NHL team in the 2009 off-season, Pettinger returned to the Manitoba Moose, signing a professional try-out contract on October 14, 2009. Before long, however, injuries to the Vancouver Canucks resulted in him re-signing with his former NHL club on November 2 to a one-year, two-way deal worth the league-minimum $500,000 at the NHL level. Seven games later, he was sent back to the Moose in expectation of forward Daniel Sedin's return from injury after clearing waivers on November 21. On April 6, 2010 Pettinger was recalled by the Vancouver Canucks. After 422 NHL regular seasons games, Pettinger finally made his post-season debut in playing a solitary game with the Canucks in a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Quarterfinals on April 15, 2010. On August 6, 2010, Pettinger left North America and signed a one-year contract with German team Kölner Haie of the DEL. After completing a second season with the Sharks, Pettinger opted to remain in the DEL for a third season, however opted to sign with fellow club, the Hamburg Freezers, on a one-year deal on April 9, 2012.
