Countdown to the Peterborough Petes Home Opener: Lucas Karmiris Ready for Long-Awaited Petes Debut

By Scott Arnold

After missing all of last season while recovering from two knee surgeries, Lucas Karmiris is finally healthy and ready for his first season with the Petes.

Matthew perrerault put in a lot of work over the summer in preparation for his sophomore ohl season with the peterborough petes (photo by scott arnold)

Karmiris was acquired by the Petes from the Brampton Steelheads before last season, but his first year in Peterborough got off to a heartbreaking start when he suffered a knee injury on the opening day of training camp.

The injury eventually required two surgeries and kept the overage forward out for the entire 2025-26 season.

While his teammates were playing games, Karmiris spent much of the year working toward getting back on the ice.

“It’s been a lot of work. Long days, you know, six hours a day of rehab and working out in the pool, strengthening, skating. It’s been a long process.”

Missing an entire season was difficult, especially while trying to keep pace with everyone else, but Karmiris feels the work has paid off.

“You know, it’s hard when you miss that much, you know, keep up with everyone else that’s healthy. But I think I’ve done a good job and I feel great right now and I’m excited to get started.”

Now, the 19-year-old, who turns 20 on September 27th, is back with the Petes and looking forward to finally showing Peterborough what he can bring.

Karmiris has 96 points in 165 career regular season OHL games, all with the Steelheads organization. He says his game is built around playing with pace, contributing in all areas of the ice and creating offence.

“Yeah, I like to play with a lot of pace. I’d say I’m a 200 foot centerman. You know, I play in all zones in the game. And I like to create offense.”

After everything he has gone through to get back to this point, Karmiris is simply happy to be back with his teammates and wearing the Petes jersey.

“It feels great. I mean, it’s been a long time coming. Long process for me, a long journey, but I’m so excited to be here and be with the guys again and, you know, play for the Petes.”

And after waiting an entire season for the opportunity, Karmiris is looking forward to seeing what this group can accomplish.

“We have a good team this year and it’s going to be a fun year.”

The Petes will open their season at home against the Kingston Frontenacs on Thursday, September 17th, at 7pm at the Memorial Centre.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Petes Add Two Left-Handed Defencemen Ahead of Home Opener

By Scott Arnold

The Peterborough Petes have added a pair of left-handed defencemen to their lineup, making moves on September 10th and September 11th as the team gets set for the start of the new OHL season.

the peterborough petes have acquired left handed defenceman Jacob Xu from the London Knights (photo courtesy of the peterborough petes)

On Friday, September 11th, the Petes acquired 2008-born defenceman Jacob Xu from the London Knights in exchange for North Bay’s fourth-round pick in 2028 and a sixth-round pick in 2030.

Xu, a left-handed defenceman from Richmond Hill, was originally selected by the Kitchener Rangers in the eighth round, 157th overall, of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection.

Last season, he split time between Kitchener and London after being acquired by the Knights during the season. In 59 games between the two teams, Xu recorded one goal and 13 assists for 14 points.

He also has a Peterborough connection already, having played in last season’s Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Xu picked up one assist in the game.

The Petes say they’ve been keeping an eye on Xu since his U16 season, with General Manager and Vice President of Operations Mike Oke describing him as a big, physical defenceman who moves well.

Xu is currently committed to play hockey at Harvard University after his OHL career.

the Petes have Signed Defenceman James Buchan to OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement (photo courtesy of the peterborough petes)

The move comes one day after the Petes announced the signing of another young defenceman.

On Thursday, September 10th, the team signed 2009-born defenceman James Buchan to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.

Buchan, from Georgetown, Ontario, attended Petes Training Camp in August as a free agent invite after spending last season at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire.

He put up four goals and 19 assists for 23 points in 31 games, leading the school’s defencemen in scoring.

Before joining St. Paul’s School, Buchan played in the Oakville Rangers AAA system. He also made an impression during the Petes’ summer and preseason, including Development Camp in June, training camp and three preseason games this year. He has recorded six shots on goal in those three games.

Oke called Buchan an important piece for the future of the Petes and said the team believes he has the qualities it looks for both on and off the ice.

With both players now joining the organization, the Petes have added some size and experience to their group of defencemen while also bringing in a younger player the club sees as part of its future.

The Petes will open their season at home on Thursday, September 17th, but fans will get a chance to see their revamped lineup in preseason action on Saturday, September 12th, when they host the Niagara IceDogs at the PMC. Puck drop is set for 4:05pm.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Former Petes Star Jason Dawe Was in Manhattan When 9/11 Changed Everything

By Scott Arnold

Twenty-five years later, the former Peterborough Petes star still gets chills thinking about what he witnessed in New York City that morning.

Jason Dawe during his time with the Peterborough Petes (photo courtesy of the ontario hockey league)

For Jason Dawe, September 11th, 2001, wasn't something he watched unfold from a television screen.

He was in Manhattan.

Dawe, who played for the Peterborough Petes from 1989 to 1993 and helped the team win an OHL championship in 1993, was in New York as part of the Rangers organization when the terrorist attacks happened.

On the 25th anniversary of September 11th, Dawe shared his memories of that morning on Facebook, offering a glimpse into what it was like to experience the events from inside New York City.

He was at Madison Square Garden for New York Rangers training camp when, according to Dawe, he watched the first plane hit the World Trade Center.

At that moment, Dawe says, there was no way of knowing what was happening or what was still to come.

Then another plane hit.

The events of the morning continued to unfold, and what initially seemed impossible became a terrifying reality for those watching from Manhattan.

Dawe remembers the moment the towers came down especially vividly.

Madison Square Garden, several kilometres from the World Trade Center, felt like it had been hit by a massive earthquake.

His hotel room was at 34th Street and Lexington Avenue, giving him a view toward the Hudson River and the area around Ground Zero.

He was suddenly witnessing one of the most devastating days in American history from the heart of New York City.

Twenty-five years later, the memories haven't faded.

Dawe described September 11th as the craziest day of his life and said he still gets chills thinking about what happened.

For Peterborough, Dawe is best remembered as one of the greatest offensive players in Petes history.

He remains the franchise's all-time leading goal scorer with 169 goals and ranks second in career points with 337. After his time in Peterborough, Dawe was selected in the second round of the NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres and went on to play in the NHL with Buffalo, the New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens before joining the New York Rangers organization.

But on September 11th, 2001, none of that mattered.

He was simply a hockey player in New York who found himself watching history unfold from inside the city.

And 25 years later, he still remembers exactly what it felt like.

We remember September 11th, 2001, through the stories of the people who were there, and Dawe's is one that brings that day a little closer to home.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Countdown to the Peterborough Petes Home Opener: Matthew Perreault Is Bigger, Stronger and More Confident

By Scott Arnold

After a promising rookie year, Matthew Perreault is heading into his second OHL season with a clear idea of what he wants to bring to the Petes, both on the ice and in the dressing room.

Matthew perrerault put in a lot of work over the summer in preparation for his sophomore ohl season with the peterborough petes (photo by scott arnold)

The 16-year-old defenceman added muscle over the summer, spending plenty of time in the gym and on the ice as he prepared for his sophomore season with the Petes.

“Lots of training in the gym, five times a week, on the ice, eating a lot of food.”

That added size is something Perreault believes will help him compete at a higher level, while the work he put in on the ice should give him another weapon to bring to the Petes blue line.

“Obviously getting bigger as well. Don’t get pushed around as much. So just adding that size and that speed, that’ll really help me. And honestly, playmaking, helping my teammates and trying to be a leader on and off the ice.”

Perreault finished his rookie season with five goals and 25 assists for 30 points in 65 games, and now he returns with a year of OHL experience under his belt.

That experience has also brought confidence.

“Yeah, I feel very confident. I’m a lot bigger than last year. So yeah, honestly, confidence is key in this league and I feel really confident going into this year.”

He also knows the expectations around this Petes group are high.

The team has added a mix of young players and veteran leadership, and Perreault sees an opportunity to do something special.

“We got a good group here and we’re going to do something special this year.”

And when it comes to what that means, Perreault was clear.

“We expect the championship and nothing less.”

After a summer spent getting bigger, faster and stronger, Perreault heads into Year 2 with confidence and a clear idea of what he wants to help the Petes accomplish.

The Petes will open their season at home against the Kingston Frontenacs on Thursday, September 17th, at 7pm at the Memorial Centre.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Countdown to the Peterborough Petes Home Opener: Adam Levac’s Birthday to Remember

By Scott Arnold

For Adam Levac, turning 18 came with a birthday celebration he won’t soon forget, as the Peterborough Petes forward watched one of the biggest moments of his young hockey career unfold surrounded by his family.

Adam Novotný was back in Peterborough briefly after a busy summer that has seen him selected 24th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2026 NHL Draft. (photo by scott arnold)

The Peterborough Petes centre was celebrating with his family at a cottage on June 27th when the Detroit Red Wings selected him 108th overall in the fourth round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

It was the latest milestone in a breakout second season with the Petes, where Levac went from 10 points as a rookie to 44 points in 60 games, scoring 16 goals and adding 28 assists.

After a summer that included plenty of training and skating, Levac is heading into his third OHL season with a different role on the Petes.

With several younger players joining the team, he is now one of the veterans who can help show them the way.

“I just got to lead by example, welcome all the new guys and be a good teammate and a good leader for this team.”

On the ice, Levac has his own areas he wants to continue working on, including getting more shots on net and playing with confidence.

“I think just shooting the puck a bit more, playing hard now, it’s going to be my third year in the league. So just keep improving, keep playing with confidence and yeah, it should be a good year.”

And while Levac knows there is still plenty of work to do, there is a genuine belief inside the Petes dressing room that this group can make some noise this season.

“Yeah, it’s very exciting. I think we all feel it. We feel in the dressing room with the group of guys we have, coaching staff we have and the management. I think we have a good chance this year.”

Levac’s third season will bring a bigger role, a new group of teammates and a little extra attention after hearing his name called by the Red Wings on his birthday.

The Petes will open their season at home against the Kingston Frontenacs on Thursday, September 17th, at 7pm at the Memorial Centre.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Countdown to the Peterborough Petes Home Opener: Adam Novotný Is Just Getting Started

By Scott Arnold

The 18-year-old Peterborough Petes forward has spent much of the summer travelling between Peterborough, Vancouver and Czechia, preparing for the NHL Draft, attending the NHL Combine and eventually hearing his name called in the first round.

Adam Novotný was back in Peterborough briefly after a busy summer that has seen him selected 24th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2026 NHL Draft. (photo by scott arnold)

It’s been a whirlwind few months for Adam Novotný.

The Vancouver Canucks selected Novotný 24th overall in June, adding another major milestone to what has already been an impressive start to his North American career.

Now, he’s back in Peterborough briefly before heading west once again, this time for Vancouver’s rookie showcase and training camp.

“It feels unbelievable,” Novotný said of returning to the Memorial Centre. “It felt like I never left for the summer.”

That familiarity could be important for a player looking to take another step forward after a strong first season in Peterborough.

Novotný finished last season second on the Petes in both goals and points, scoring 34 goals and adding 31 assists for 65 points in 58 games. Only Kieran Walton, who had 40 goals and 88 points, finished ahead of him in both categories.

But despite the offensive numbers, Novotný isn’t satisfied.

After spending time at Vancouver’s development camp this summer, one of Novotný’s priorities is becoming more composed when he gets his chances.

“Obviously finishing a little bit more, be a little bit more calm in finishing maybe.”

That’s part of a bigger goal for Novotný, who wants to continue developing every aspect of his game.

“I just wanted to work on everything basically to just get better as an overall player.”

His summer experience in Vancouver also gave him a taste of what it takes to reach the next level. Being around NHL coaches, Novotný said, reinforced the importance of professionalism and provided lessons he can bring back to Peterborough.

Now, there’s another opportunity waiting for him in Vancouver.

For the rookie showcase, Novotný said he’s looking forward to getting back on the ice and competing for an opportunity.

“I’m just trying to get prepared for that now,” he said. “It’s super exciting to get there and do my best and fight for a spot.

A first-round selection was one highlight of Novotný’s summer. Now he gets another chance to show Vancouver what he can do.

The Petes will open their season at home against the Kingston Frontenacs on Thursday, September 17th, at 7pm at the Memorial Centre.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Peterborough Petes Hosting 2026 Season Ticket Member BBQ On Sept. 9

The Peterborough Petes are hosting its annual Season Ticket Member BBQ for 2026 on Sept. 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC).

Roger giving a high-five to a young Petes fan as gates open for the BBQ. photo by David Tuan Bui.

This year’s BBQ will feature food catered by Chemong Lodge, refreshments and inflatables from Castle Kid. The event will also feature introductions to the 2026-27 Peterborough Petes roster, including a team autograph session, and speeches from coaches and management.

“We’re really excited to bring back our Season Ticket Member BBQ here at the PMC,” said Tyler Hall, Petes manager of ticket sales. “It’s always a great chance to kick off the season, connect with our fans, and get everyone excited for another year of Petes hockey. We can’t wait to welcome our Season Ticket Members back and get things rolling ahead of the home opener on the 17th.”

Only Season Ticket Members (including corporate partners and suite holders) are invited. No RSVP is required. Season Ticket Members are invited to bring along their family to enjoy the event and are asked to enter the BBQ through the main entrance of the PMC (north side).

The Petes have their first home preseason game this Thursday against the Sting. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The game is streamed on the Petes YouTube channel.

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Peterborough Petes Reassign 17 Players After First Preseason Game

After the Peterborough Petes’ 3-2 preseason win over the Sarnia Sting on Friday night, the team reassigned another 17 players on Saturday.

Colton Lapierre (left) was one of the 17 reassigned players following the first preseason game. Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Petes.

The following is full list of reassigned players:

• Theo Finch

• Declan Ready

• Nolan Gerow

• Jonny Brooks

• Keegan Shirley

• Mason Quinn

• Colton Lapierre

• Sam Black

• Owen Knight

• Brandt Rooyakkers

• Joseph Szarka

• Harrison McLean

• Marcus Sulug

• Daniel Tout

• Tyson Cartier

• Cole McLennan

• Ethan Cosker

“As we progress further into the preseason, we’ve had to make some more very difficult decisions,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “These decisions are never easy, especially when you see the hard work and commitment that each player has put into camp. We will continue to monitor the development of these players moving forward for future opportunities with the Peterborough Petes.”

The Petes have their first home preseason game this Thursday against the Sting. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The game is streamed on the Petes YouTube channel.

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Peterborough Petes Reassign 20 Players Following Second Day of Training Camp

The Peterborough Petes have reassigned 20 players after the first two days of Training Camp, which included three scrimmages at Healthy Planet Arena.

Landon Roulston and Daniel Tout battling for the puck during training camp. Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Petes.

Following the third and final scrimmage, the following players have been reassigned:

• Quinn Creally

• Nathan Slack

• Hudson Clayton

• Chase MacKay

• Ty Gendron

• Matthew Crawford

• Jayden Mercier

• Aiden Plooy

• Shane Brown

• Eric Wood

• Marco Nichele

• Samuel Rivet

• Jax Conklin

• Josh Goodwin

• Ty Civello

• Ethan MacLeish

• Alex Spadafora

• Cale Williams

• Andrew Vaduva

• Zidane Jasey

“It has been a very competitive first two days on the ice,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “We’ve had to make some difficult decisions as we move forward with Training Camp. We will continue to monitor the progress and development of these players over the coming season for future opportunities with the Peterborough Petes.”

All scrimmages will take place on the Sign-A-Fied pad at Healthy Planet Arena and are open to the public.

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Peterborough Petes Release 2026 Rookie Camp Rosters

The Peterborough Petes have unveiled their roster for the 2026 Rookie Camp, with all games to be held at the Healthy Planet Arena, starting Monday.

Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Petes.

The following is the full 41-player roster:

Forwards:

• Pacey Adduono

• Jonny Brooks

• Elijah Chavez

• Ty Civello

• Jax Conklin

• Matthew Crawford

• Quinn Creally

• Sebastian Dzieciol

• Theo Finch

• Ty Gendron

• Nolan Gerow

• Chase MacKay

• Ethan MacLeish

• Jayden Mercier

• Mason Quinn

• Kieran Raynor

• Declan Ready

• Brody Robertson

• Brandt Rooyakkers

• Landon Roulston

• Nathan Slack

• Alex Spadafora

• Cale Williams

Defence:

• Shane Brown

• James Buchan

• Tyson Cartier

• Hudson Clayton

• Josh Goodwin

• Colton Lapierre

• Cole McLennan

• Marco Nichele

• Aiden Plooy

• Samuel Rivet

• Keegan Shirley

• Joseph Szarka

• Daniel Tout

• Eric Wood

Goaltenders:

• Ethan Cosker

• Luka Gelinas

• Zidane Jasey

• Andrew Vaduva

The following is a full schedule for the rookie camps:

Rookie Camp

• Monday, Aug. 24

  • 4 p.m. – GAME – Rookie Maroon vs Rookie White (Healthy Planet Arena)

• Tuesday, Aug. 25

  • 10 a.m. – GAME – Rookie Maroon vs Rookie White (Healthy Planet Arena)

  • 4 p.m. – GAME – Rookie Maroon vs Rookie White (Healthy Planet Arena)

All scrimmages will take place on the Sign-A-Fied pad at Healthy Planet Arena and are open to the public.

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