Peterborough Blogs
U10 AAA Peterborough Petes Spread Holiday Cheer By Giving Gifts To Young Patients at PRHC
/The U10 AAA Peterborough Petes were in the giving spirit as the team gave presents to children treated at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) on Thursday.
There were 17 Petes who participated in the event along with their families and coaches to spread holiday cheer to the PRHC. The team collaborated with the health centre a week ago to arrange a day for all the children to meet for the gift exchange.
Each Pete was given a gift request from the children at the PRHC. The team fulfilled those wishlists and returned with nine presents for the hospitalized children.
“It was a good learning curve for the U10s to give back and that’s what we wanted to teach them,” said Chad Cavanaugh, U10 Petes head coach. “We wanted to do something for the community and the kids wanted to give back.”
This act of generosity was a feeling of moral obligation that Cavanaugh wanted to instill in his players. That there is more to life than just hockey and giving back was vital, regardless of status.
“I think it’s good for kids to learn lessons outside of hockey and help kids that they may not have the skills or health that they have,” he explained.
The team participated in an exhibition of parents versus kids hockey on the same night.
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Ryan Foster Named Head Coach to the U16 AAA Peterborough Petes
/Former assistant coach Ryan Foster has been named the head coach of the U16 AAA Peterborough Petes for the 2024-2025 season.
Foster was an assistant coach for former head coach Michael Farrugia for the Peterborough Elite Court Sports U16 AAA Petes 2022-2023 season. The latter was hired as an assistant coach for the Oshawa Generals in late November.
Foster was a coach and player in the Peterborough Petes minor system. During the 1993-94 season, he was part of the Peterborough Petes Provincial Jr. A team.
He has had several coaching stints with the Petes from 2016-2018 and 2021-2023 in peewee, bantam and midget divisions.
“I’m really thankful to get the opportunity to coach in the PMHC, particularly the U16 program,” said Foster. “I have been very lucky to work alongside some terrific coaches, hockey people and players these last few years and I am looking to bring that knowledge and experience to the 2024/25 team.
The U16 Petes had a successful last season as runner-ups to the Steve Richey Cup in January (in a 1-0 loss), crowned Ontario Minor Hockey Association champions in March (in triple overtime) and semi-finalists in the OHL Cup.
“The U16 program has been top-notch in recent years and we are looking to continue that trend with a team that is hard-working, disciplined and competitive,” said Foster.
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Local Hockey Coach Michael Farrugia Hired to Oshawa Generals Coaching Staff
/AAA Petes head coach Michael Farrugia is joining the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals as an assistant coach announced by the team on Thursday night.
Farrugia spent three seasons as the head coach with the minor bantam, U15 and U16 Peterborough Petes AAA program.
Last year, he coached the U16 Petes to the 2023 OMHA Championship and had 13 of his players taken in the most recent OHL Priority Draft.
The Brampton native spent the beginning of this season as the head coach of the U15 Prep Team with Okanagan Hockey Ontario.
He was the associate coach of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Wellington Dukes, where they were finalists in the 2018 RBC Cup and with the Cobourg Cougars in 2017 as a skill development coach.
“We wanted a coach that would come in and be able to adapt quickly and work on the finer details of development and we thought Michael was the perfect fit,” in a statement made by the Oshawa Generals.
Farrugia had his first practice with the team Thursday before his first full weekend with the team in their three-in-three weekend.
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Hometown PTBO: The Peterborough Minor Hockey Association Giving Back to the Community With a $80,000 Surplus
/This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Walter DiClemente and Chad Cavanagh of the Peterborough Minor Hockey Association about how they are giving back to community organizations with an $80,000 surplus from the Peterborough Petes championship season.
U16 Minor Petes Ben Radley Commits to Brantford Bulldogs to a Standard Player Agreement
/Peterborough Elite Court Sports U16 AAA Petes defenseman Ben Radley has signed with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Brantford Bulldogs to a Standard Player Agreement.
Radley was taken in the third round, 58th overall. He was the third U16 Minor Pete to be drafted into the OHL and joins Petes teammate Joshua Avery (who was drafted before him in the same round).
The Iroquois native had 14 goals and 32 assists for 46 points in 36 regular season games with the Petes. He had three goals and assists during that playoff run in eight games. He had a goal and an assist in six games at the OHL Cup. Radley won the Ontario Minor Hockey Association Championship with the Petes in his final season.
“We are excited to receive a commitment from Ben Radley.” said Matt Turek, Bulldogs interim general manager. “Ben brings all the tools we look for in a Bulldog to the table. On the ice, his skating, vision and ability to process the game are all beyond his age. Off the ice, Ben carries himself with that same maturity that makes him a great all-around addition to our group.”
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U16 Peterborough Petes and Cavan's Joshua Avery Signs With the Brantford Bulldogs
/Former Peterborough Elite Court Sports U16 AAA Petes centreman Joshua Avery has committed to a standard player agreement with the Brantford Bulldogs announced on Monday afternoon.
Avery was a member of the U16 Petes that won the Ontario Minor Hockey Association’s (OMHA) playoff championship, made the finals of the Steve Richey tournament and the OHL Cup semi-finals this year.
He was selected in the third round, 54th overall in the 2023 Ontario Priority Selection.
Avery posted 31 goals and 32 assists for 63 points in 35 regular season games with the Petes. He had four goals and 11 assists for 15 points through eight playoff games and another four goals and two assists for six points in six games at the OHL Cup.
“The Brantford Bulldogs are very happy to receive a commitment from Joshua Avery,” said Matt Turek, Bulldogs interim general manager. “Joshua is one of the most offensively gifted players in this past draft and brings a style of game that will get our fans out of their seats. Off the ice, Joshua is a young man we are looking forward to having in our community and representing what it means to be a Bulldog.”
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U16 Peterborough Petes Andrew MacNiel Commits to Kitchener Rangers
/Former Peterborough Elite Court Sports U16 AAA Petes defenceman Andrew MacNiel has committed to a standard player agreement and education package with the Kitchener Rangers announced on Monday afternoon.
“We are excited to welcome Andrew and his family to our organization,” said Mike McKenzie, Rangers general manager. “Andrew had a very strong development camp. His size, hockey sense, mobility and puck-moving ability will give him a chance to be a very good defenseman as he matures. We are excited to add him to our already strong group of 2007-born prospects that will be the building blocks of the hockey club’s future.”
The Cobourg product captained the Petes to an Ontario Minor Hockey Association’s (OMHA) playoff championship, the finals of the Steve Richey tournament and the OHL Cup semi-finals this year.
“It’s a dream come true,” said MacNiel. “I imagined playing in the OHL my whole life so to be able to get drafted and eventually sign with the Rangers means everything to me. I never would have believed this would happen so quickly but it’s an amazing feeling and I cannot wait to get started.”
MacNiel had six goals and four assists for 10 points in 24 regular season games with the Petes and had six points in eight playoff games.
The former U16 Petes captain will wear number 43 for the Rangers.
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U16 AAA Peterborough Petes Wil McFadden Signs With Guelph Storm
/Former Peterborough Elite Court Sports U16 AAA Petes Wil McFadden has committed to Standard Player Agreement with the Guelph Storm.
McFadden was taken 31st overall in the U16 Priority Selection and was the first Pete to be drafted among 13.
He led the team with 41 goals and 41 assists for 82 points in 36 games. McFadden added 11 goals and seven assists for 18 points in eight playoff games for the U16 Peterborough Petes. He won the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) championship with the Petes. He also netted four goals and five assists at the OHL Cup.
“I would also like to thank all the people who have helped me get to this point,” said McFadden. “I have a lot of hard work and training ahead of me as I look to fulfill my dream of playing in the OHL with the Guelph Storm. I look forward to contributing to my team and community.”
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U16 AAA Petes Have 13 Players Drafted to OHL
/The Peterborough Elite Court Sports U16 AAA Petes are having 13 players go to the next level as they were drafted in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection on Friday and Saturday.
The team had a memorable year as they were the finalists in the Steve Richey tournament in late January, won the OMHA Championship in late March and made the semifinals of the OHL Cup in early April.
“Such an amazing journey that I was so proud to be a part of,” Michael Farrugia, U16 AAA Petes head coach. “These players and their teammates worked so hard and achieved great things.”
The following are the players drafted to the OHL:
Second round, 31st overall: Wil McFadden, C, Guelph Storm
Third round, 54th overall: Joshua Avery, C, Brantford Bulldogs
Third round, 58th overall, Ben Radley, LD, Brantford Bulldogs
Fourth round, 70th overall, Andrew MacNiel, RD, Kitchener Rangers
Fourth round, 78th overall, Lukas Moore, RD, Kingston Frontenacs
Sixth round, 112th overall: Masen Johnston, G, Peterborough Petes
Seventh round, 136th overall, Graydon Jones, LD, Saginaw Spirit
Seventh round, 138th overall, Cohen Bidgood, RW, London Knights
Eighth round, 159th overall, Kaiden Harmon, C, Barrie Colts
Ninth round, 181th overall, Kayden Buller, LW, North Bay Battalion
10th round, 190th overall, Nathan McHattie, LD, Guelph Storm
13th round, 249th overall, Owen Fitzgerald, LW, Brantford Bulldogs
14th round, 282nd overall, John Lumsden, LD, Ottawa 67’s