Beloved Peterborough Coach Passes Away Suddenly At Age 64
/The Peterborough sports community has mourned the loss of coach John Welsh, who passed away suddenly at age 64 on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of KMFL Peterborough.
Peterborough Blogs
Fleming College Celebrate Phoenix Athletes With 53rd Varsity Awards Banquet
/Over 130 student-athletes from Fleming College celebrated another athletic season and recognized exceptional players at the 53rd Annual Phoenix Varsity Awards Banquet on April 10.
Nicole Roy (left) and Thomas Kitchen (right) winning Women’s and Men’s Athlete of the year respectively and other high-honour awards at the banquet. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The special highlighted team, following their historic double-gold national championship win this season, were the Men’s and Women’s Loggersports teams. The Loggersports program took home the Male and Female Athlete of the Year, Female All-Around Athlete of the Year, All-Academic and Coach of the Year awards.
The 2025-2026 Fleming Phoenix varsity athlete awards were presented to:
Eric O’Rourke Memorial All-Around Athlete: Presented to a male and female athlete who performed at a high level while demonstrating leadership, commitment, and dedication.
Nicole Roy – Women’s Loggersports
Ryan Clarke – Men's Volleyball and Men’s Soccer
Jack Barley Memorial Athlete of the Year: Presented to a male and female athlete who performed exceptional achievements within their sport while maintaining academic eligibility.
Nicole Roy – Women's Loggersports
Thomas Kitchen – Men's Loggersports
Rachel Spearing Award: Presented to a women’s rugby player who demonstrated heart, spirit, sportsmanship, and dedication on the field.
Sara Petersen – Women's Rugby Sevens
Kris Starr and Adam Evans Awards: Presented to a loggersports athlete who shows heart, spirit, dedication, and love of the sport.
Kris Starr Award: Sayre Hart – Loggersports
Adam Evans Award: Jacob Ricker – Loggersports
All-Academic Award: Presented to the athlete with the highest academic average who achieved a balance in their sport and in academics.
Sarah Porter – Women’s Loggersports
Fred Batley Coach of the Year Award: Presented to a coach driven by the passion they have for their sport, who goes above and beyond to create a positive atmosphere, and ensure their student-athletes have the best possible experience.
Al Cavers – Loggersports
OCAA Academic and Athletic Excellence Award: Presented to OCAA athletes who achieve an honours GPA at their college, as well as receiving an OCAA honours award.
Ashley Smith – Women's Rugby Sevens
Most Valuable Player Award: Recognized by their respective team for significant contribution to their team’s success.
Ashley Smith – Women’s Rugby Sevens
Emma Radley – Women’s Soccer
Ryan Clarke – Men’s Soccer
Mattea Miller-Evans - Women’s Loggersports
Thomas Kitchen – Men’s Loggersports
Owen Wisman – Men’s Basketball
Samantha de Koning – Women’s Volleyball
Calvin Dekok – Men’s Volleyball
Rookie of the Year Award: Recognized by their respective team for outstanding skills and positive integration with the team.
Charlotte Murray – Women’s Rugby Sevens
Claire Deschatelets – Women’s Soccer
Aidan Sproule – Men’s Soccer
Morgan Specht – Women’s Loggersports
Lyndon Jarbeau – Men’s Loggersports
Nathan Walters – Sundararajah – Men’s Basketball
Guinevere Hallock – Women’s Volleyball
Jordan Flynn – Men’s Volleyball
There were 30 student athletes were awarded for achieving an honours-level grade point average (GPA) while balancing the demands of varsity-level competition.
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Peterborough Jr. C. Lakers Looking For Three-Peat As Season Begins With Home Opener This Sunday
/After back-to-back Meredith Cup wins, the Peterborough Jr. C. Lakers are looking for a three-peat as they start their season at home against the West Grey Rampage this Sunday at the Healthy Planet Arena at 2 p.m.
The Peterborough Jr. C Lakers are back-to-back defending Mereidith Cup Champions. Photo courtesy of the ONtario Junior C Lacrosse League.
Sunday begins a three-game homestretch, including matches against the West Grey Rampage, Whitby Warriors and Clarington Shamrox before six consecutive road games.
The Lakers have their fourth home game of the season after a 30-day stretch against the Fergus Thistles to start a three-game homestand. After two more road games, they will cap their regular season with two home games, finishing things on June 21 before the playoffs.
The following is the Lakers’ schedule:
April 26 vs. West Grey Rampage @ 2 p.m.
April 29 vs. Whitby Warriors @ 8 p.m.
May 1 vs. Clarington Shamrox @ 8 p.m.
May 3 at Six Nations Stealth @ 2 p.m.
May 6 at Clarington Shamrox @ 8 p.m.
May 20 at Clarington Shamrox @ 8 p.m.
May 22 at Whitby Warriors @ 8 p.m.
May 24 at Burlington Warriors @ 1 p.m.
May 30 at Huntsville Hawks @ 7 p.m.
May 31 vs. Fergus Thistles @ 3 p.m.
June 6 vs. Kahnawake Hunters @ 2 p.m.
June 7 vs. North Shore Kodiaks @ 1 p.m.
June 13 at Nepean Knights @ 7 p.m.
June 14 at Gloucester Griffins @ 2 p.m.
June 19 vs. Whitby Warriors @ 8 p.m.
June 21 vs. Huntsville Hawks @ 2 p.m.
All Lakers home games are at the Healthy Planet Arena.
Lakers and Lansdowne Place Partner Up In Celebration of 40-Year Anniversary of Peterborough Maulers Sponsorship
/The Peterborough Lakers and Lansdowne Place have partnered ahead of the 2026 Major Series Lacrosse season to mark the 40th anniversary of the Peterborough Maulers Junior A Lacrosse Team, as announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Members of the 1986 Peterborough Maulers, Sponsors and Lakers staff join at one of three chairs at Centre Court in lansdowne Place. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Lansdowne Place sponsored the 1986 Peterborough Maulers Junior A Lacrosse Team 40 years ago.
In honour of the milestone, Lansdowne Place is sponsoring a special Retro Game Night on July 23 against the Cobourg Kodiaks at 8 p.m. The night features retro Maulers jerseys, a soundtrack of iconic 80s and 90s tunes and more to be announced.
“We are excited about bringing a small piece of Peterborough lacrosse history alive,” said Jessica Khouri, Lansdowne Place marketing manager. “Lansdowne Place is thrilled about this new partnership with the Lakers and we look forward to cheering them on this season.”
“We are looking forward to working with Lansdowne Place to create memorable experiences for our fans while celebrating the history of the game in our community,” said Pete Dalliday, Lakers director of community engagement. “This partnership is a great fit and we’re excited to kick it off.”
@ptbo_canada The @ptbolakerslax and Lansdowne Place have partnered to bring a large chair at the mall and bringing Retro Night to the Lakers game on July 23. #ptbocanada #journalism #fyp #news #lacrosse ♬ original sound - PTBOCanada
With the partnership’s launch, a large Lakers-branded Kawartha Chair will be at Lansdowne Place for a month, leading up to the Lakers’s home opener on May 21 against the two-time defending Mann Cup-champion Six Nations Chiefs. The community is encouraged to take photos on/with the display and share them on social media.
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TELUS Cup Takes Over Peterborough Memorial Centre This Week
/The TELUS Cup hits the Peterborough Memorial Centre this week with seven days of high-action hockey featuring some of Canada’s best up-and-coming U18 players to town.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The tournament runs from Monday to Sunday, with three games daily during the preliminary rounds at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. Semi-final games take place at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, with the bronze and gold medal games taking place at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday.
“Peterborough is proud to welcome athletes, coaches, families and fans from across Canada for the TELUS Cup,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “This is a chance to see some of the best young hockey talent in the country right here at home, experience the excitement of a national championship, and cheer on our own Junior Petes. I encourage residents and visitors to get their tickets now and be part of the action at the Memorial Centre.”
“Bringing a national championship like the TELUS Cup to the Peterborough Memorial Centre is a massive win for our community,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “This tournament puts a national spotlight on Peterborough, drawing families and fans from across Canada to our local hotels, restaurants, and shops. It’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase our world-class hospitality and deep-rooted hockey heritage and I can’t wait to see the energy in the arena as we cheer on our very own Junior Petes on the national stage.”
“Ontario is proud to support the TELUS Cup through our Sport Hosting Program,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport. "For over 50 years, this championship has been a crucial launchpad for Canada's best young hockey talent — and we're thrilled to help bring that tradition to Peterborough. Events like this showcase emerging stars, drive local economic activity, and demonstrate that when it comes to sport hosting, Ontario has a deep roster of communities ready to deliver world-class events.”
An official opening ceremony takes place on Monday at 7 p.m. Official greetings will be provided by Deputy Chief Jeffrey Jacobs from Curve Lake First Nation. Florence Osawamick, an Indigenous singer, will sing the national anthem in Anishinaabemowin.
The tournament evenings belong to the Peterborough Jr. Petes U18 AAA team, who play each night at 7 p.m. during the preliminary round. The Petes are making their national championship debut.
During the day, hockey fans watch some of the best players from across the nation as the following teams take to the ice:
Halifax Macs
Chevaliers de Lévis
Regina Pat Canadians
Okanagan Rockets
Waterloo Wolves
One player to watch during the tournament is Regina Pat Canadians forward Maddox Schultz. Widely considered one of the brightest young stars in Canadian hockey, Schultz was selected first overall in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft by the Regina Pats, has represented Canada internationally at the U17 level, and was the 2025 TELUS Cup Tournament Most Valuable Player.
The full TELUS Cup schedule is available online.
Peterborough won the bid to host the TELUS Cup in April last year.
The successful bid was led by Peterborough Tourism, the City’s destination marketing program, with the support and partnership of the community including the Ontario Hockey Federation, Peterborough Minor Hockey Council, local tourism business operators and organizations and the Peterborough Petes.
The City expects the event to generate more than 1,200 total room nights and over $1 million in economic impact, boosting hotels, restaurants, shops and local attractions during the tournament week.
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Cogeco YourTV Renews Broadcast Contract With Peterborough Lakers In Time For 2026 MSL Season
/Cogeco’s YourTV and the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers renewed their long-standing broadcast partnership ahead of the 2026 Major Series Lacrosse season to air all of their home games.
Pete Dalliday (left) and Scott Arnold (right) as the play-by-play and colour commentators for the Peterborough Lakers and the Peterborough Petes on yourTV. Photo courtesy of Pete Dalliday.
Every home game will be broadcast live from the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Cogeco channels 10 and 700.
“Our partnership with the Lakers is more than just a broadcast agreement; it’s a shared commitment to the community,” said David Feeley, YourTV manager of programming and community relations. “In 2026, we believe that truly local television is the key to providing a top-quality product to the fans. By keeping the production local, we capture the nuances, the history, and the passion of the Lakers in a way that national networks simply cannot.”
“The relationship between the Lakers and YourTV is a strong one. Having a partner like Cogeco and YourTV allows us to extend the atmosphere of the Memorial Centre to those who can’t be in the stands,” said Len Powers, Lakers Board Member. “Their professional, local-first approach ensures our fans receive the high-calibre coverage this historic franchise deserves.”
Pete Dalliday and Scott Arnold are returning to the broadcast booth as the play-by-play and colour commentators, respectively, for this season.
The 2026 broadcast schedule starts with the Lakers’ home opener on May 21 against the defending-champion Six Nations Chiefs at 8 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
This year’s broadcast coverage includes:
Live Game Coverage: Every regular-season home game
Extended Playoff Coverage: Exclusive access as the Lakers hunt for championship glory
Lakers Insider Segments: Behind-the-scenes interviews and player profiles throughout the season
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Peterborough Curling Club to Host Community Celebration For Local Paralympic Gold Medalist
/Dunsford’s Jon Thurston and his gold medal are going to be honoured in a community celebration at the Peterborough Curling Club on April 17 at 6 p.m.
Thurston holding a card made by PCC members prior to his trip to the Winter Paralympics. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Curling Club.
Thurston won a gold medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics in wheelchair curling on March 14 with teammates Mark Ideson, Ina Forrest, Collinda Joseph and Gilbert Dash.
Since his gold medal, Thurston has already had a community celebration in Dusford. He was also part of the ceremonial puck drop for the Peterborough Petes on March 19.
He trained at the Peterborough Curling Club and Bobcaygeon Curling Club.
This was Thurston’s second medal as he earned bronze at the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games. The Dunsford native has been on the last six world championship teams, earning silver in 2020, 2023, 2024 and bronze last year.
According to the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Thurston suffered a work injury that left him paralyzed in 2008. He was working on a construction site when an unexpected storm caused the building he was in to collapse. During his escape, part of the building collapsed on his back.
Jack’s Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame 39th-Annual Golf Tournament Tees Off On May 21
/The Jack’s 39th Annual Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame (PDSHOF) Golf Tournament is set to tee off on May 21 at the Quarry Golf Club, announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Doug Gibson, Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame Golf Tournament chairperson, is holding the Bob McGillan Scramble trophy to be presented to the top team of the event. The auction includes items such as an inflatable paddleboard, an autographed jersey of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov and more. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
This year, the tournament is hosting 240 golfers, with spots still available for registration. Entry includes refreshments, lunch, dinner and a live and silent auction.
The proceeds go towards the Hall of Fame’s operating fund and support its bursary for exemplary student-athletes who have just graduated high school and are planning to attend a post-secondary institute the following fall.
“Over the years with the success of the tournament, we've been able to increase our busaries — which we give out to the local high-school athletes — from $500, now we give four at $2,000,” said Doug Gibson, PDSHOF Golf Tournament chairperson.
@ptbo_canada The 39th-annual Jack’s Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame Golf Tournament has been launched with the event on May 21 at the Quarry Golf Club. #ptbocanada #journalism #fyp #news #sports ♬ Golf, fresh breeze, positive and strong(1437641) - SK MUSIC
The tournament is in honour of Doug’s father, Hall of Famer Jack Gibson, who was inducted in 1986 to the PDSHOF and had several roles and stints in the lacrosse and hockey world.
He managed the senior lacrosse team to a Mann Cup in 1966 and 1973. Jack helped organize a semi-pro league in 1968-69 and managed the team that won the championship that year.
Jack also managed the Maryland Arrows of the Pro Lacrosse League in 1974-75. The Hall of Famer also managed Canada’s Field Lacrosse team in the 1967 World Championships.
As the tournament enters its 39th year, Doug continues his father's legacy through the golf event.
“That's one of the reasons down here at the Hall, we put so much effort into our tournament each year,” he explained. “It's not only dad's legacy, it's Bob McGillian's who was the other co-founder of the tournament. We have a trophy in his honour now and it just keeps it going and keeps their memories alive.”
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Alf Curtis Returns As Sponsor For 21st Year to Peterborough Lakers Prior to Season's Start
/Twenty-one is the magic number as Alf Curtis Home Improvements has returned for its 21st year as sponsor of the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers ahead of the 2026 season.
In 2004, the Lakers ended a 20-year drought by capturing the Mann Cup. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
“When you think about the modern era of Lakers lacrosse, Alf Curtis has been there from the very beginning,” said Pete Dalliday, Lakers director of community engagement. “Their support helped lay the foundation for everything this organization has become.”
Members from the Lakers recieved their sponsorship cheque at Alf Curtis last week which included Dalliday, Lakers mascot Teddy and Holden Lowes. Lowes suffered a season-ending injury in training camp last year.
“It was great to be back in the store and see that connection is still so strong,” said Dalliday. “That’s what makes partnerships like this so special — it’s real, it’s lasting, and it means something.”
Founder Alf Curtis passed away last fall, not long after the Lakers’ season came to a close. His wife, June Curtis, remains part of that legacy, with the Curtis family maintaining their strong connection to the team.
Alf Curtis’s support has helped fuel one of the most successful eras in franchise history, including multiple Mann Cup championships, according to Dalliday.
“Alf wasn’t just a sponsor, he truly cared about this team and this community,” he said.
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U11AA Peterborough Petes Go On Undefeated Run To Capture OMHA Championship
/The U11AA Peterborough Petes were flawless in capturing the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) Championship title, defeating the Caledon Hawks, 3-1, at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby on Sunday afternoon.
(Back Row) Head Coach Bobby Christie, AC Jeremy Heffernan, AC Steve Thomas, Gavin Thomas, AC Mark Prentice and Trainer Jeff Taylor.
(Middle Row) antzen Taylor, Jackson Faught, Nash Prentice, Jonny Dewhurst, Case Hedges, Charlie Clements, Mason Smith, Oscar Selby, Jonah Vogler, Brandon Devereau and Jack Coveney.
(Front Row) Nash Bloomfield, Ronan Goselin, Luke Lipscombe, Kaden Grills and Lucy Christie. Photo courtesy of the U11 Peterborough Petes.
