Peterborough Blogs
Hometown Boy Masen Johnston Picks Up First OHL Shutout As Petes Blank Erie 4-0
/By Scott Arnold
Masen Johnston recorded his first OHL win at home and first career shutout, while Lucas Karmiris returned to the OHL scoresheet and Adam Novotný scored one of the nicest goals you'll see at the Memorial Centre as the Peterborough Petes shut out the Erie Otters 4-0 Thursday night.
Masen Johnston made 32 saves for the petes on route to his first win at home and first career shutout as the petes defeated the otters 4-0 (photo courtesy of the peterborough petes, via kenneth Andersen)
The Petes improved to 2-4 on the season with the win, while Johnston stopped all 32 shots he faced in front of the hometown crowd.
Peterborough opened the scoring on the power play when Novotný won a puck battle along the boards, worked his way toward the net and brought the puck through his legs before ripping a shot into the top corner.
It was a goal that drew plenty of attention inside the Memorial Centre and gave the Petes a 1-0 lead.
Karmiris then doubled the lead with just 37 seconds left in the opening period, scoring his first goal as a Pete with assists from Aiden Young and Braydon McCallum.
It was Karmiris' first OHL game since March 28th, 2025. The Peterborough native was acquired by the Petes from the Mississauga Steelheads before last season but suffered a training camp injury and missed the entire 2025-26 season after undergoing double knee surgery.
The Petes led 2-0 after the first period.
Yanis Lutz added to the lead early in the second period, scoring on the power play with assists from Matthew Perreault and McCallum.
Peterborough carried a 3-0 lead into the third period before Leon Kolarik scored the game's final goal at 10:47, with assists from Landon Roulston and Ben Radley.
Johnston took care of the rest, stopping all 32 Erie shots to earn his first OHL win at home and his first career shutout.
peterborough native masen johnston holds up the game puck from his first career ohl shutout after the petes blanked the erie otter 4-0 on thursday night. (photo via x, formerly twitter, @petesohlhockey)
The Petes went 2-for-4 on the power play, while Erie went 0-for-4.
Petes Scoring: Adam Novotný (1G), Lucas Karmiris (1G), Yanis Lutz (1G), Leon Kolarik (1G), Braydon McCallum (2A), Adam Levac (1A), Cooper Dennis (1A), Aiden Young (1A), Matthew Perreault (1A), Landon Roulston (1A), Ben Radley (1A)
The Petes also announced a goaltending move before the game, acquiring 2007-born Matthew Koprowski from the Owen Sound Attack for a conditional 15th-round pick in 2028. The trade came just days after Owen Nelson left the team to pursue an NCAA opportunity.
The Petes return to action Friday night when they visit Kingston to face the Frontenacs.
Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc
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Goaltender Owen Nelson Leaves Peterborough Petes and the OHL for NCAA Scholarship
/By Scott Arnold
After a couple days of social media speculation, the rumours surrounding Owen Nelson were confirmed Tuesday, with the Peterborough Petes goaltender leaving the team for an NCAA opportunity.
less than two weeks into the regular season the petes have lost goaltender owen nelson to the ncaa (photo courtesy of the peterborough petes, via kenneth Anderson)
Nelson has accepted a scholarship to play NCAA Division I hockey at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The Minnesota native joined the Petes as a free agent from the USHL's Tri-City Storm and had quickly established himself in Peterborough's crease. He started three of the team's first five games this season, including Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Ottawa 67's.
His departure leaves the Petes with Masen Johnston and Luka Gelinas as their current goaltending options.
Johnston has started two games this season, while Gelinas has yet to appear in an OHL regular-season game.
Nelson's departure comes as the NCAA has opened its doors to Canadian Hockey League players following a rule change in 2024 that made CHL players eligible to play NCAA hockey.
The Petes are 1-4 to start the 2026-27 season and return to action Thursday, October 1st against the Erie Otters at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.
Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc
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The NHL Season Starts Tonight: 14 Peterborough Connections You Should Know
/By Scott Arnold
The 2026-27 NHL season gets underway Tuesday night, with a number of former Peterborough Petes and Peterborough natives listed on season opening rosters across the league.
after suiting up for the flyers their final nine regular season games last season, and ten playoff games, peterborough native porter martone is getting set for his official rookie year (photo via X, formerly twitter, @nhlflyers)
There are 14 players with Peterborough ties entering the new NHL season, including eight former Petes and six players who were born in or have strong Peterborough ties.
Former Petes
Brennan Othmann - Calgary Flames
Othmann won an OHL championship with the Petes in 2023. He spent last season between the New York Rangers and their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, before being traded to Calgary in March.
He is on the Flames' opening-night roster this season.
Season opener: Thursday, October 1st at 9pm vs. the Seattle Kraken
Jordan Staal - Carolina Hurricanes
Staal won an OHL championship with the Petes in 2006 and has gone on to become the captain of the Hurricanes.
This will be his 21st NHL season. Staal has been with Carolina since 2012 and helped the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup last season, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
Season opener: Tuesday, September 29th at 5pm vs. the Florida Panthers
Nick Lardis - Chicago Blackhawks
Lardis played parts of two seasons with the Petes from 2021 to 2023 before being traded to the Hamilton Bulldogs.
He spent last season between the Blackhawks and their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, and is on Chicago's opening-night roster.
Season opener: Tuesday, September 29th at 10pm vs. the Vegas Golden Knights
Zach Bogosian - Minnesota Wild
Bogosian played two seasons with the Petes from 2006 to 2008.
He is entering his 19th NHL season and his fourth with Minnesota after re-signing with the Wild this summer.
Season opener: Thursday, October 1st at 8pm vs. the Nashville Predators
Declan Chisholm - New Jersey Devils
Chisholm played four seasons with the Petes from 2016 to 2020.
After playing for the Washington Capitals last season, he was acquired by New Jersey in June. He is on the Devils' opening roster.
Season opener: Thursday, October 1st at 7pm vs. the Philadelphia Flyers
Nick Robertson - Pittsburgh Penguins
Robertson played three seasons with the Petes from 2017 to 2020.
His 55 goals in 46 games during the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season remain one of the most impressive scoring seasons in Petes history. He joined Pittsburgh this summer after spending the past several seasons in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.
Season opener: Wednesday, September 30th at 7:30pm vs. the Philadelphia Flyers
Mason McTavish - St. Louis Blues
McTavish played just over a season with the Petes, appearing in the 2019-20 season before the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the OHL schedule.
He returned to Peterborough for five games in 2021-22 before being traded to the Hamilton Bulldogs, who went on to win the OHL championship that season.
McTavish joined St. Louis in the offseason and is on the Blues' opening-night roster.
Season opener: Friday, October 2nd at 9pm at the Dallas Stars
Akil Thomas - Vancouver Canucks
Thomas briefly played for the Petes after being acquired from the Niagara IceDogs during the 2019-20 season.
He signed with Vancouver this summer and is listed on the Canucks' roster, but he will not be in the lineup to start the season.
Season opener: Tuesday, September 29th at 10pm vs. the Edmonton Oilers
Peterborough Natives
Porter Martone - Philadelphia Flyers
Martone was born in Peterborough and joined the Flyers late last season after completing his first NCAA season with Michigan State.
He played nine regular-season games with Philadelphia, scoring four goals and adding six assists, before appearing in 10 playoff games and recording two goals and three assists.
This will be his official rookie season, and he is the only Flyer on the opening-night roster who qualifies as a rookie.
Season opener: Wednesday, September 30th at 7:30pm vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins
Owen Tippett - Philadelphia Flyers
The Peterborough native is entering his seventh NHL season.
Tippett began his career with the Florida Panthers before joining Philadelphia, where he has spent the last four and a half seasons.
Season opener: Wednesday, September 30th at 7:30pm vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins
Vince Dunn - Seattle Kraken
Dunn is entering his 10th NHL season and sixth with Seattle after starting his career with the St. Louis Blues, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2019.
The Kraken open their season Thursday in Calgary.
Season opener: Thursday, October 1st at 9pm at the Calgary Flames
Barrett Hayton - Utah Mammoth
Hayton was selected fifth overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2018 NHL Draft before the franchise relocated to Utah.
Born in Peterborough, Hayton remains the highest-drafted Peterborough-born player in NHL history. He is on Utah's opening-night roster.
Season opener: Thursday, October 1st at 9:30pm vs. the Chicago Blackhawks
Corey Perry - Los Angeles Kings
Perry is entering his 22nd NHL season at age 41.
The Peterborough native is one of the NHL's oldest players and returns to Los Angeles after signing with the Kings this summer. He is on the team's opening-night roster.
Season opener: Wednesday, September 30th at 10pm at the Colorado Avalanche
Chase Stillman - Detroit Red Wings
Stillman played two seasons with his hometown Petes from 2021 to 2023 and was part of the team's 2023 OHL championship.
He spent last season in the AHL with the Vancouver Canucks' affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, and signed a one-year, two-way contract with Detroit this summer.
Stillman is listed on Detroit's roster but will not be in the lineup when the Red Wings open their season Friday.
Season opener: Friday, October 2nd at 6:30pm vs. the New York Rangers
From Stanley Cup winners and longtime veterans to players beginning their first full seasons in the league, there will be plenty of Peterborough storylines to follow during the 2026-27 NHL season.
Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc
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Petes Battle Back From Early Deficit But Fall 6-3 to Ottawa on Saturday Night
/By Scott Arnold
The Peterborough Petes erased a two-goal deficit to tie the game in the second period, but the Ottawa 67's scored four times in the third to hand the Petes a 6-3 loss Saturday night at the Memorial Centre.
Petes goaltender Owen Nelson makes a save on saturday as defenceman Jacob xu and ottawa forward spencer bowes look on from in front of the net (photo courtesy of peterborough petes, via kenneth anderson)
Ottawa opened the scoring just over four minutes into the game when Spencer Bowes found the back of the net, then added another from Jaiden Newton with 32 seconds left in the opening period to take a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
The Petes responded in the second.
Adam Levac got Peterborough on the board midway through the period, assisted by captain Carson Cameron and Grayden Strohack. Leon Kolarik then tied the game 2-2 on the power play late in the frame, with Adam Novotný and Levac picking up the assists.
The Petes and 67's headed to the second intermission tied 2-2.
Ottawa regained the lead early in the third when Theo Avila scored, and Andrew Laurin added a power-play goal just past the midway point of the period to make it 4-2.
The Petes weren't done. Novotny cut the deficit to one on the power play with just over two minutes remaining, assisted by Cooper Dennis and Kolarik.
Ottawa added two empty-net goals in the final minute, including Bowes' second of the night and Jack Johnson's first, to seal the 6-3 win.
Petes Scoring: Adam Levac (1G, 1A), Leon Kolarik (1G, 1A), Adam Novotny (1G, 1A), Cooper Dennis (1A), Carson Cameron (1A), Grayden Strohack (1A)
Owen Nelson made 25 saves on 29 shots for the Petes while Jaeden Nelson picked the win for Ottawa with 30 saves on 33 shots.
The Petes went 2-for-1 on the power play, while Ottawa went 1-for-3.
The loss drops Peterborough to 1-4 on the season with their next game set for 7pm on Thursday, October, 1st, against the Erie Otters at the PMC.
Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc
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Adam Novotný Picks Up Four Points in Return to Peterborough as Petes Pick Up First Win of Season
/By Scott Arnold
Adam Novotný made an immediate impact in his first game back with the Peterborough Petes, while captain Carson Cameron recorded his first career multi-goal game as the Petes picked up their first win of the season Thursday night.
adam Novotný wasted no time making an impact in his peterborough debut, scoring two goals while adding two assists and being named the game’s first star (photo courtesy of the peterborough petes, via kenneth anderson)
Peterborough beat the Sarnia Sting 7-4 at the Memorial Centre, moving their record to 1-2 on the season.
Sarnia opened the scoring early in the first period when Tyler Challenger found the back of the net, but Novotny answered with two goals just 25 seconds apart. His firt was unassisted while the second was set up by Adam Levac and Cooper Dennis, putting the Petes ahead 2-1.
Novotný, who had been away at Vancouver Canucks training camp, finished with four points in his return, adding two assists to his two goals. Levac finished with two assists and Dennis added two assists of his own.
The Petes led 2-1 after the first period.
Walos tied the game for Sarnia on the power play early in the second, but Peterborough answered with three goals. Braydon McCallum restored the lead on the power play with assists from Yanis Lutz and Aiden Young before Cameron scored twice.
James McMurray assisted on Cameron's first goal, while Francis Parish picked up the helper on his second, which gave the Petes a 5-2 lead. Cameron's second goal marked the first multi-goal game of his career.
Peterborough carried that 5-2 advantage into the third period.
Leon Kolarik extended the lead to 6-2 on the power play, with assists going to Dennis and Novotny. Walos scored his second of the night to make it 6-3 before Brenner Lammens brought Sarnia within two with just over two minutes remaining.
Dennis answered just 19 seconds later with his first goal as a Pete, assisted by Novotný and Levac, to make it 7-4.
Dennis finished with three points on the night, while Kolarik had a goal and an assist. McCallum had one goal, while Lutz, Parish, McMurray and Aiden Young each recorded an assist.
Owen Nelson stopped 38 of 42 shots to pick up his first career OHL win.
The Petes went 2-for-4 on the power play, while Sarnia went 3-for-6.
Petes Scoring:
Adam Novotny (2G, 2A), Carson Cameron (2G), Cooper Dennis (1G, 2A), Leon Kolarik (1G), Braydon McCallum (1G), Adam Levac (2A), Yanis Lutz (1A), Aiden Young (1A), James McMurray (1A), Francis Parish (1A)
The Petes now hit the road for a quick turnaround, travelling to Brantford Friday night to take on the Bulldogs before returning home Saturday to host the Ottawa 67's.
Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc
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Adam Novotný Set to Give Petes a Big Boost After Being Assigned Back to Peterborough by the Canucks
/By Scott Arnold
Peterborough Petes fans will get to see Adam Novotný back in the lineup after the Vancouver Canucks assigned the 18-year-old forward to Peterborough on Wednesday.
after gaining some preseason nhl experience, the vancouver canucks have assigned Adam Novotný back to the peterborough petes (photo via X, formerly twitter, @canucks)
Novotný spent the last two weeks in Vancouver, appearing in two Canucks preseason games against the Calgary Flames and Seattle Kraken. He was held off the scoresheet in both games but looked impressive against some of the league’s top players.
The 2026 first-round pick was selected 24th overall by Vancouver after an impressive rookie season with the Petes, recording 34 goals and 31 assists for 65 points in 58 games.
Novotný finished second on the Petes in scoring last season, behind Kieran Walton, and his return will be a welcome addition to the 0-2 Petes lineup.
During media day a couple of weeks ago, Novotný expressed his excitement and love of Peterborough, emphasizing how much it means to him to be a Pete.
The Petes are back in action on Thursday, September 24th, when they host the Sarnia Sting at 7pm from the PMC.
Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc
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Peterborough Petes Bringing Back Indigenous Heritage Night to the PMC Thursday
/By Scott Arnold
The Peterborough Petes will recognize Indigenous heritage and culture Thursday night when they host the Sarnia Sting at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
The Peterborough Petes will host their annual Indigenous Heritage Night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday, September 24th. (logo created by Kory Parkin)
The Petes’ annual Indigenous Heritage Night takes place on September 24th, with puck drop at 7:05pm.
Fans arriving at the game will have a chance to experience performances from the Smoke Trail Drum and Dance Group from Alderville First Nation, who will perform in the lobby before the game before taking to the ice during the first intermission.
The evening will also include a ceremonial puck drop featuring representatives from Crowe’s Gas, Alderville First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation.
The national anthem will take on a special meaning as well, with Curve Lake School performing it in Anishinaabemowin before the game.
The Petes will also once again feature a logo created for Indigenous Heritage Night by Kory Parkin, an Indigenous painter and digital creator from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.
The design uses the traditional name for Peterborough, Nogojiwanong, meaning “place at the foot of the rapids,” and incorporates imagery of a canoe and water.
Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc
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From Petes Forward to NHL Referee: Nick Isaacson’s Hockey Journey Takes Another Turn
/By Scott Arnold
Former Peterborough Pete Nick Isaacson is heading to the NHL officiating system after just one season as an OHL referee.
Caption 1: Nick Isaacson during his time with the Peterborough Petes, where he played 137 regular season games over parts of four seasons. (photo courtesy of peterborough petes)
For Nick Isaacson, the road to the NHL has taken a few unexpected turns.
The Oakville native first arrived in Peterborough as a fifth-round pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, joining the Petes 86th overall. Over the next four seasons, Isaacson became a regular part of the lineup, appearing in 137 regular season games and recording 15 goals and 28 assists for 43 points.
He also suited up in 13 playoff games during the Petes’ 2017 playoff run, adding a goal and two assists.
After his time in Peterborough and a brief stint with the Mississauga Steelheads to finish his OHL career, Isaacson continued playing at the University of Guelph before moving into the professional ranks. He spent four seasons in the ECHL, with his playing career also including time in the American Hockey League.
Then came another change.
Isaacson returned to the OHL last season, but this time he wasn't wearing a jersey.
He became a referee for the 2025-26 season.
Just one year later, Isaacson is taking another step up the hockey ladder.
The OHL announced on August 25th that Isaacson has been hired by the NHL on a minor-league officiating contract for the 2026-27 season, officially putting him into the league's officiating system.
It's a pretty quick progression for someone who had only just made the transition from player to official.
Former Peterborough Pete Nick Isaacson has made a quick transition from player to official, earning a spot in the NHL officiating system after his first season as an OHL referee. (photo courtesy of the ontario hockey league)
Isaacson and former OHL players Hayden Verbeek and Chris Martenet were also selected for the 2025 CHL/NHL Officials’ Development Camp in St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, during their first season back in the OHL as officials. The camp gave them an opportunity to work with NHL officiating supervisors through classroom sessions, video review and on-ice game assignments.
For Isaacson, the move into officiating adds another chapter to a hockey career that has already included plenty of different experiences.
During his Petes career, he scored his first OHL goal and point on October 2nd, 2016 against the Niagara IceDogs and recorded his first multi-goal game against Kingston in September 2018.
He also attended the Vancouver Canucks' 2017 Development Camp.
Away from the rink, Isaacson has a few interesting skills of his own. He plays guitar, he’s a former competitive snowboarder and can also fly a plane.
Now he'll be adding NHL official to the list.
Isaacson will begin the 2026-27 season in the NHL officiating system, marking the latest step in a hockey career that has taken him from the Petes lineup to the other side of the whistle.
Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc
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Petes Outshoot Kingston 47-25 But Fall 6-3 In Season Opener
/By Scott Arnold
The Peterborough Petes couldn't turn a strong offensive night into a win Thursday, dropping their 2026-27 season opener 6-3 to the Kingston Frontenacs at the Memorial Centre.
Peterborough petes first round pick Landon Roulston celebrates after scoring his first career ohl goal in his debut against Kingston. (Photo courtesy of peterborough petes, via david pickering)
The Petes generated plenty of chances, putting 47 shots on Kingston's net, but Frontenacs goaltender Royden Smith turned aside 44 of them to earn first-star honours.
For Peterborough, the night included a memorable moment for first-round pick Landon Roulston, who scored his first career OHL goal just 8:37 into his first game.
Roulston wasted little time making an impression in his first regular-season game.
The Petes' first-round selection opened the scoring at 8:37 of the first period, converting a setup from Leon Kolarik and Yanis Lutz.
It was the first career OHL goal for Roulston, giving the home crowd an early reason to celebrate.
Peterborough outshot Kingston 15-4 in the opening period but carried a 1-0 lead into the intermission.
After going 16:30 without a shot on net, the Frontenacs found their offence late in the second period, scoring three times to take a 3-1 lead.
Nolan Snyder tied the game at 12:22 before Alex McLean and Dante D'Andrea scored in the final two minutes of the period, 52 seconds apart, with D'Andrea's goal coming with just 1:04 remaining.
Despite putting 18 shots on goal in the period, the Petes couldn't find a way past Smith.
Kingston extended its lead just 46 seconds into the third period when Aleks Kulemin scored on the power play.
Peterborough responded at 8:45, with Adam Levac scoring his first of the season on a power play, assisted by Lutz and Cooper Dennis.
The Frontenacs answered just 45 seconds later through Landon Wright, restoring their three-goal advantage.
Kolarik brought the Petes back within two at 11:47, scoring with Dennis and Matthew Perreault earning assists.
But McLean added his second goal of the night at 14:37 to complete the scoring.
Kingston goaltender Royden Smith makes one of his 44 saves against the Petes during Thursday night’s season opener at the Memorial Centre. (Photo courtesy of peterborough petes, via kenneth anderson)
