Peterborough Petes Introduce Dave Lorentz as New Team President; Dave Pogue Steps Down From Role After Seven-Year Tenure

The Dave Loretz era began as he was introduced to the public as team president in a press conference at the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday afternoon.

(From Left to Right) Petes Board of Directors Rod McGillis, Dave Lorentz, George Gillespie and Dave Pogue. Loretz becomes the second team president to ever play for the Petes behind the late Pat Casey who passed away peacefully last Saturday. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Lorentz takes over the role after former president Dave Pogue announced his retirement at the Petes 2023 Awards Banquet on March 28. The latter remains on the Board of Directors as Past President and Alternate Governor after a seven-year tenure with the Petes.

“I think it's time for a different voice. Eventually, you could become white noise in certain circles so it was time,” explained Pogue. “I've got some other ventures that I want to concentrate on and I'm going to start on the board assisting Dr. Bob Neville at the league level because I've made some good relationships with other owners in the league and just trying to work on bettering the Petes within the league and certainly to get a new facility.”

Pogue has fully endorsed Lorentz as the new team president and says he will be able to maintain the high standards and championship aspirations that the team exhibited last year when they captured the OHL title.

“Dave helped create that standard. We have been working very hard as a group to get to this point and 17 since our last championship, we've learned a lot over those years and Dave has been part of the driving force there,” he said. It won't be 17 years before we win another one, I can tell you that.”

Lorentz played three years for the Petes from 1987 to 1990 and was captain of Peterborough’s 1989 OHL Championship team. The team made deep playoff runs including a championship in the 1988-89 season. Lorentz wants to maintain the current atmosphere and mentality as team president to win another OHL Championship and hopefully a Memorial Cup title.

“I think building a culture of winning, building a culture that you're going to go for it when you have the opportunity and be successful builds champions,” he explained. “I'm expecting in the near future that we will do this again because I really want a Memorial Cup ring.”

Lorentz added that he did not want to change much in terms of the face of the organization but to put an emphasis on the Petes to foster a positive experience for everyone in the company.

“My focus is going to be directed to the players and the staff, trying to find ways that we can enhance their experience in Peterborough,” he said. “As a former player and alumni, I want those players coming here to experience the best that they can because not all of them are going to make the pros but they're going to go on to great careers. If we can provide them with every opportunity to achieve their goals then that's what we need to do.”

Single-game tickets for the Petes go on sale this Friday at 9:30 a.m. through the PMC Grant Thornton Box Office.

Fans can get tickets by visiting the Grant Thornton Box Office in person, calling (705) 743-3561 or going online.

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