Photos: Peterborough Petes Alumnus Chris Pronger Holds Whiskey Bottle Signing At Local LCBO

/

It was a spirited homecoming for Peterborough Petes Alumnus and Stanley Cup champion Chris Pronger as he held a bottle signing of his whiskey brand ‘JRNY’ at the LCBO on Lansdowne Street and Goodfellow Road on Thursday afternoon.

Roughly 20 people were lined up outside the LCBO prior to his bottle signing and several more joined in throughout the two-hour timeframe to get autographs including on their respective hockey apparel and photographs.

The whiskey was created alongside his brother and former NHLer Sean Pronger who was also present during the bottle signing.

Chris played for two seasons with the Petes from 1991 to 1993. The Hart Memorial Trophy-winning defenceman scored 32 goals and 107 assists in two seasons with the Petes.

Chris is performing the ceremonial puck drop for the Peterborough Petes game as they host the rival Oshawa Generals on the same night.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough Petes Alumnus Brennan Othmann Has Memorable NHL Debut With the New York Rangers

/

It was a birthday that Peterborough Petes alumnus and OHL champion Brennan Othmann will not forget in his NHL debut with the New York Rangers against the Chicago Blackhawks at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.

Othmann scored eight goals and 17 assists during the playoffs with the Petes last postseason to help the team win an OHL Championship. Photo by David Tuan Bui

During warmups, Othmann got a solo lap around the Rangers’s side of the ice and got a few shots in before the rest of the team joined him. The game was on the eve of his 21st birthday.

The Rangers defeated the visiting Blackhawks 4-1. While Othmann did not register a point, the Pickering native had five shots on net, three hits and one blocked shot for 12:26 time on ice. It was the most shots on goal by a debuting Rangers player since Mario Marois had seven in 1977.

“I just wanted to have fun and just play my game, I think,” said Othmann. “My game is physicality and shooting and just kind of bringing a presence on the ice.”

Othmann had a few shifts on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider when Blake Wheeler had a five-minute fighting major penalty.

After the game, Rangers forward Artemi Panarin gave Othmann a hat and had him give a speech. The former Pete had few words but drew applause from his teammates.

“Thanks for the welcome, boys. Good two points, see you on the plane,” said Othmann.

The Rangers are likely to continue using Othmann as the team has several injuries such as Tyler Pitlick (lower body) is week-to-week while Kaapo Kakko (lower body) and Filip Chytil (upper body) are on injured reserve.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough Petes Alumnus Brennan Othmann to Make NHL Debut With New York Rangers Thursday Night

/

Peterborough Petes alumnus and OHL champion Brennan Othmann is making his NHL debut with the New York Rangers against the Chicago Blackhawks at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.

Othmann scored eight goals and 17 assists during the playoffs with the Petes last postseason to help the team win an OHL Championship. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

The Pete alumnus is being placed on the third line with Nick Bonino and Jonny Brodzinski. The two were on his line in Hartford before he was recalled to New York on Nov. 28.

Othmann replacing Tyler Pitlick who is out week to week with a lower-body injury.

He was acquired from the Flint Firebirds on Nov. 12, 2022. The Petes traded Artem Guryev, Peterborough’s third-round priority selections in 2023 and 2026 and Hamilton’s second-round selection in 2024 for Othmann.

The Scarborough native, in 40 regular-season games, scored 18 goals and 25 assists with the Petes. Othmann scored eight goals and 17 assists during the playoffs with the Petes last postseason.

The New York Rangers drafted him in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, 16th overall. In 28 games with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, he recorded nine goals (tied for seventh in the league) and 14 assists this season before getting called up. His goal and assist totals are tied for seventh and eighth among rookies league-wide, respectively.

Othmann is a two-time IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship Gold Medal winner with Team Canada back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023 with the latter as a Peterborough Pete.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough Pete Alumnus Zach Bogosian Traded From Tampa Bay Lightning to Minnesota Wild

/

Former Peterborough Pete Zach Bogosian has been traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick, announced by the NHL on Wednesday afternoon.

Zach Bogosian as a Peterborough Pete. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Prior to his NHL career, Bogosian spent two years with Peterborough from 2006-08 and was the highest-drafted Pete in the NHL (with Mason McTavish in 2021). He had 18 goals and 76 assists as a Pete in two seasons.

He was selected third overall in the 2008 NHL draft by the Atlanta Thrashers (now Winnipeg Jets) after Steven Stamkos and Drew Doughty of the Lightning and Los Angeles Kings, respectively.

The 33-year-old defenseman has had a slow start to the season, with no points in four games with Tampa Bay.

The former Pete is in the final season of his three-year $2.55 million contract.

Bogosian won a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2020. He has had stints with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion Mitchell Stephens Re-Signs One-Year Deal With Montréal Canadiens

/

Two-time Stanley Cup champion and Peterborough’s Mitchell Stephens is remaining in Quebec as he signed a one-year two-way contract with the Montréal Canadiens on Monday.

Photo courtesy of the Montréal Canadiens.

The 26-year-old forward played 68 games with the Laval Rocket in 2022-23, scoring 20 goals and 21 assists.

Stephens has played 72 career NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning (winning back-to-back Stanley Cups) and Detroit Red Wings. He tallied three goals and 10 assists for 13 points.

The Peterborough forward also played 203 career AHL games with the Syracuse Crunch and the Laval Rocket, netting 57 goals and 68 assists.

Stephens was selected in the second round, 33rd overall by the Lightning in 2015.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Hometown PTBO: Kerry Huffman On Famous NHL Players and Coaches He Grew Up With and His Memorial Cup Run

/

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks to former NHL defenceman Kerry Huffman about players and coaches he grew up with, his Memorial Cup win and his NHL tenure as a player and beyond.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Former Peterborough Petes Captain Dallas Eakins Released From Anaheim Ducks Head Coaching Duties

/

Former Peterborough Petes captain Dallas Eakins will be looking for a new job as he is not returning to his head coaching role with the Anaheim Ducks following the end of the 2022-23 NHL regular season announced on Friday.

Eakins was coaching former Peterborough Petes Mason McTavish during his four-year Wikipedia image.

The announcement came a day after the Ducks completed their final regular season game in a 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings that resulted in a last-place finish on Thursday night. This was Anaheim’s 13th consecutive loss.

Eakins spent eight years with the Ducks organization. His first four years were with the AHL-affiliate San Diego Gulls from 2015-19 then spent the past four season with the Ducks.

“We thank Dallas for his eight years with the organization as head coach of both the Ducks and Gulls,” said Henry and Susan Samueli, Ducks co-owners. We know Dallas will succeed in his future endeavors, as character people often do.”

"This was a very difficult decision, one that comes after careful and considerable deliberation," said Pat Verbeek, Ducks general manager. "At the end of the day, I simply feel that a fresh perspective and new voice will be beneficial for the team. Dallas has handled himself with class and character through a difficult season and we wish him the best in the future."

Eakins played his entire junior career with the Peterborough Petes. He was drafted in the 10th round, 208th overall to the Washington Capitals in 1995.

The loss clinched Anaheim’s last-place finish and will have a 25.5 per cent chance of drafting number one overall in the 2023 NHL draft. Connor Bedard is the current number one consensus pick.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Peterborough's Nolan Burke Signs Three-Year Entry-Level Contract to Nashville Predators

/

Peterborough’s Nolan Burke is headed to the Music City as he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators on Monday.

Burke spent 2016-2018 with the U15 AAA and U16 AAA Peterborough Petes. Photo courtesy of the Nashville Predators.

“Dream come true to announce I have signed my first NHL contract with the Nashville Predators,” Tweeted Burke. “Big thanks to my family, friends, coaches and trainers for helping me get to this point!”

Burke is in his fourth season with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Sarnia Sting. During that time, he’s scored 55 goals and 41 assists in 137 games.

Prior to the OHL, Burke native spent two seasons in the Ontario Junior Hockey League with Pickering Panthers and Trenton Golden Hawks from 2017-19.

During 2016-18, Burke played for the U15 AAA and U16 AAA Peterborough Petes.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Peterborough's Kerry Huffman Named Pittsburgh Penguins Director of Professional Scouting

/

Peterborough’s Kerry Huffman has been promoted to the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins director of professional scouting announced on Tuesday.

Huffman was teammates with Penguins general manager Ron Hextall in Philadelphia from 1987-92 and 199 and with Quebec in 1992-93. Photo courtesy of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Huffman duty is to oversee Pittsburgh's four-person pro scouting staff and coordinate the team's pro scouting efforts in the NHL and AHL.

The 54-year-old joined the team last season as a professional scout. He served as an assistant coach for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers AHL affiliate) from 2016-21 prior to the Penguins. The Phantoms had a 170-86-22-12 record in those five seasons that include an Atlantic Division title in 2017-18.

Huffman has played 401 NHL games over a decade as a defenseman from 1987-96. He’s recorded 145 points (37 goals and 108 assists) with Philadelphia, Quebec and Ottawa.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

/ /
,

David Tuan Bui


Former Peterborough Petes Assistant Coach Hired As Arizona Coyotes Development Coach

/

Former Peterborough Petes assistant coach Kurtis Foster has been hired as an Arizona Coyotes development coach.

Foster has been the defensive partner for Tampa Bay Lightning’s Victor Hedmen in the 2009-10 season. Photo courtesy of the OHL.

Foster is working under Lee Stempniak, director of player development on a day-to-day basis according to the Coyotes’ press release.

“Arizona has many high-level prospects that will be rewarding to work with,” said Foster.

The 40-year-old was an assistant coach with the Peterborough Petes from 2016-17 but had stints with the Kingston Frontenacs from 2017-20. He was their head coach from 2018-20, coaching high-end prospects such as Jason Robertson and Shane Wright.

“I feel through my playing and now my coaching career, I should be able to relate and communicate to these players on many levels and ultimately help them develop into NHL players,” reflected Foster.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.