Fleming Fire Combat Team Takes FireFit Nationals By Storm

Congrats to the Fleming Fire Combat Team, which took the Canadian 2018 National FireFit Championships in Calgary by storm. They brought home a National bronze medal in the co-ed relay and a silver medal in the co-ed X3 division.

The team has gained much momentum since its inception in 2014, and over the last three years brought home National medals competing against the fastest and fittest firefighters from across Canada.  

Photo courtesy Fleming College

Seven national qualifying students and two coaches travelled to Calgary to compete against the best at the Canadian National FireFit Championships, which was televised by TSN. This year, the team upped their game by not only competing against other schools but also competing in the Open category as a way to be considered equals in the sport.

The 2018 Fleming Fire Combat Team was comprised of two volunteer coaches: full-time firefighter Shawna Coulter and 2015 team Alumni Trevor Russell. The team included Kendal Freshwater, Gaelen Palleske, Drew Goble, Kaylea Brunatti, Eric Fregonas, Mak Hope and Logan Cornelius. (Team member Janell Stonehouse was unable to attend this year’s competition.)

“I am very proud of the team’s outstanding effort and dedication,” says Shawna Coulter. “It is a huge commitment for these young people and often a juggling act between academic, work and training schedules. The team took on the challenge with enthusiasm. Their drive and genuine love for the sport is demonstrated at every practice and at every competition.”

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Peterborough Petes Wearing Specialty Jerseys As Part Of Alumni Homecoming

More than 65 alumni are returning to Peterborough October 12th to 14th to commemorate their time with the Petes.

As part of this special Alumni Homecoming weekend, the Petes will wear specialty jerseys designed by PTBO Northern Originals against the Windsor Spitfires on October 13th.

These are the jerseys the Petes will be sportin’…

Almost the entire 1978-79 Petes team—the only Memorial Cup winning Petes team in franchise history—will be on hand for the special pre-game ceremony on Saturday, October 13 at 7:05 p.m.

The alumni will take part in exclusive events including a mixer, golf and meals. Fans will have the chance to interact with alumni at an all-you-can-eat Petesa Party. (“Petesa” party, clever!)

The Petes specialty theme jerseys pay tribute to the history of the club, and will be auctioned off online in support of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy and Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

“We wanted to include as many eras of Petes history in the design as we could, with the focus being on the 1979 Memorial Cup team but also commemorating all of the team’s alumni,” says Mike Watt, owner of Providence and co-designer of the commemorative jerseys the Petes will wear.

For more info on the special weekend, go here.

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Neil Sanderson Of Three Days Grace Special Guest Speaker At Team 55's 6th Annual Friday Night Lights

On September 21st, all of Peterborough and beyond is invited to Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School for the annual Friday Night Lights, a Team 55 event supporting suicide prevention through the Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge. 

While the event has drawn big crowds in the past, organizers hope this year will be even bigger as they embrace the opportunity to showcase the community’s passion for suicide awareness and mental health to the Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Health, who is expected to be in attendance.

From left to right: Dave Pogue from Team 55, Jack Veitch from CMHA and Jeff Challice from TASSS.

“We really need to get as many people to TASSS on Friday night as possible—we want to pack the place,” says Dave Pogue, founder of Team 55: Let’s Tackle Suicide Awareness.

At the opening ceremonies, this year’s special guest will be speaker Neil Sanderson of Three Days Grace. The Canadian band, including the Adam Scott alumnus, is about to embark on a European tour before returning for a Canadian tour in late November.

Friday Night Lights begins September 21st at noon with games and a barbeque, and the Open Ceremonies start at 6 p.m. The main event kick-off is at 7 p.m.

For more on Friday Night Lights and Team 55, watch this recent interview we conducted with Dave Pogue on PTBOCanada show…

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Peterborough Ranked One Of Most Active Cities In Canada

Expedia has ranked Peterborough one of the 21 most active cities in Canada. 

Some of the factors Expedia looked at in compiling their list include: average number of marathons and hiking trails; access to bike paths, trails, and races; per capita gyms; and abundance of outdoor activities such as kayaking, canoeing, etc.

Photo by Neil Morton, PTBOCanada

"To paraphrase Salt-N-Pepa, you’ve got to push it when you’re in Peterborough, Ontario," Expedia says of Peterborough.

"This means pushing your endurance along Trent Canal when you’re riding your bike next to dozens of pros. Pushing your body up just a little higher off the safe ground at Rock and Rope Climbing Centre. And pushing your paddle skills on Little Lake to one day earn a glittering spot at the Canadian Canoe Museum in town."

Click here to view Expedia's entire ranking.

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True Canadian Barn Houses Hockey Nets In Stables During Off-Season Near Memorial Centre

Scott Arnold recently started on with CHE Sports and was in a barn on the Morrow grounds near the Memorial Centre grabbing stuff Canadian Hockey Enterprises house there for their summer camps. He did a double take when he discovered that ice hockey nets are stored in the stables for CHE and outdoor rinks around the city.

"I walked in and the setting was exactly as is—I didn't touch a thing," Arnold says of the stable doors being ajar as if the nets are ready to jump over the boards and get back on the ice.

Photo by Scott Arnold

"We were in the middle of doing a huge camp set-up so I didn't put too much effort into it [the photo] as everyone around me was hustling and working hard," Arnold adds. "But knew I had to stop for a minute to take a pic. I could see the shot."

Photo by Scott Arnold

Arnold—also a colour commentator with the Peterborough Petes on YourTV—definitely scored with the shot, capturing a truly quintessential Canadian moment.

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4 Peterborough Guys Wore Nashville Yellow In A Sea Of White At Winnipeg Jets Game Because Why Not

Four guys from Peterborough—Mark Million, Andrew Marshall, Barrett McKinnon and Pat McAuley—exhibited some kind of courage by venturing to the Winnipeg Jets game Tuesday night (May 1st) wearing their Nashville yellow to cheer on the Predators.

Mark Million, Andrew Marshall, Barrett McKinnon and Pat McAuley

The guys were booed relentlessly at this "Peterborough in the 'Peg'" sojourn by the sea of white there to cheer on their Jets at Bell MTS Place, but it was a great adventure for the boys to experience this.

"The people in Winnipeg were vocal with their displeasure of our colour choice," Pat McAuley tells PTBOCanada. "They were openly booing and yelling at us—all in good fun though, as they very respectful and nice people."

They certainly didn't go unnoticed outside the arena either. Indeed, the hugely popular website Reddit posted about them under the headline "4 Nashville fans showed up to Winnipeg's "White Out"'.

For perspective, here they are in the sea of white...

Photo via Reddit

"The atmosphere at the game was second to none," adds McAuley, who is not only a huge Preds fan but also a great buddy of the Preds captain—Peterborough's Mike Fisher. "Our ears were buzzing from the crowd noise. It was a night we'll never forget."

The boys were even photographed with one of Winnipeg's finest at the game, who ribbed them in good fun.

A Winnipeg police officer with the guys

While the Jets won the game—coming back from a 3-0 deficit to win 7-4—the guys from Peterborough won the arena.

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Some Great Alumni Basketball Is About To Go Down At Raider Dome

Business at the Raider Dome is about to pick up yet again.

When it comes to sports in high school, many are known to excel at something in particular. Throw the name “Crestwood” out there and football is instantly associated with it. Talk about “Adam Scott” sports and everyone knows about their storied rugby success. As for PCVS, which closed in 2012, their dominance on the hard court is well storied and documented.

Photo from previous alumni game

PCVS is synonymous with basketball in our community and always will be. Last year, a group of PCVS basketball alums threw around the idea of getting a few former players back together for some games at their old stomping grounds.

It was almost like a Field Of Dreams “if you build it they will come” dream scenario which resulted in almost 40 players returning to their old gym for a day of lobs and laughs.

Photo from previous alumni game

After a successful first go around, they’re doing it again on Saturday, April 21st. This time, the turnout is expected to be even bigger, bringing together generations of basketball players for an epic afternoon of ballin' with three men’s teams and two women’s teams taking part.
 

Photo from previous alumni game

Organized again by Mike Hanley (2002 Grad) and assisted this year by Tricia Hebert, there are almost 50 former players taking part ranging in age from 24 to 53. Legendary coach Dave Goulding will also be in attendance—hopefully behind the bench making signature play calls.

Photo from previous alumni game

Pro-photographer and proud PCVS grad Jen Moher will be there taking snaps of the action as well. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and games run from 12 to 4 p.m. with each game consisting of two 22 minute halves. Friends, family and fans are all welcome!

Photo from previous alumni game

THE SCHEDULE

Men's game: 12 - 1 pm Team 1 (Dark) vs Team 2 (Light)
Men's game: 1 - 2 pm Team 4 (Dark) vs Team 5 (Light) 
Women’s game: 2 - 3 pm Team 2 (Dark) vs Team 3 (Light)
Men's game: 3 - 4 pm Team 1 (Light) vs Team 3 (Dark)

Later that night, head to the 2nd floor of the Publican House from 8 to 11 p.m. to reminisce over pints with other PCVS alumni about all the great moments you had together in that gym/school.

—by (PCVS alumnus) Aaron Elliott

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Tickets Available Now For Year-End Peterborough Petes Awards Banquet

Fans have until Wednesday, April 18th at 5 p.m. to purchase tickets for the Peterborough Petes’ annual year-end awards banquet, which takes place at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Friday, April 20th.

Tickets cost just $50 and are available now for the special event. The cocktail social begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner served at 6:30 p.m.

The banquet features a cocktail social, buffet dinner, and presentation of awards to players and community members. Petes General Manager Mike Oke will introduce the prospects selected in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection and 2018 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection.

To purchase tickets, email here to contact Cathie Webster or phone (705) 743-3681. Semi-formal or formal attire is suggested for the event, which will be hosted by Petes radio play-by-play announcer Rob Snoek.

The Petes had near record attendance this season, and hope to see many fans out for this as they recap the 2017-18 season and build excitement for 2018-19.

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Peterborough Petes 2017-18 Attendance Second Highest In Franchise History

The Peterborough Petes have announced this season’s average attendance of 3,190 per game is the second highest in recorded franchise history, just 81 fans per game behind the Petes’ 2005-06 OHL championship season.

The growth in 2017-18 equates to 20 percent more than the 2016-17 regular season average attendance of 2,666 per game. Indeed, the Petes saw the largest year-over-year growth of all 20 OHL franchises.

“We’ve seen an increased number of new and renewed season tickets and sponsorships purchased for 2018-19,” says Burton Lee, Executive Director of Business Operations. “As a not-for-profit organization, growing this support allows us to improve both on the ice and off.”

Matt D’Agostini, Sr. Coordinator of Group Ticket Sales & Service, and Steve Nicholls, Coordinator of Season Ticket Sales & Service, have promoted substantial growth in their areas of fan engagement, and will work to continue helping fans enjoy Petes hockey in 2018-19 and beyond.

The organization has also seen a big spike in in families and youth who are falling in love not just with Petes hockey but the entire entertainment experience of being at a Petes game.

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Jody Hull Relieved As Head Coach Of Peterborough Petes, Andrew Verner Named Interim Coach

The Peterborough Petes have announced on Friday (January 5th) that they have relieved Head Coach Jody Hull of his duties. Current Assistant Coach Andrew Verner has been named as the team’s Interim Head Coach.

Jody Hull (at left) and Andrew Verner

After a great start to the season and at one point being ranked in the CHL Top 10, the Petes have been in a tailspin of late, and sit at 16-20-2-1—good for fourth in the East Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference through 38 games this season.

Hull was named Head Coach of the Petes on February 14, 2013, after serving as Interim Head Coach starting on December 20, 2012. Through parts of five seasons, he has compiled a regular season record of 167-147-7-23.

“We’d like to thank Jody for his extensive service with the Peterborough Petes, and wish him the best of luck in his next endeavour,” General Manager Mike Oke says in a press release. “His, and his family’s commitment to our organization and this community should not be downplayed.”

Verner has been an Assistant Coach with the Petes since the start of the 2015-16 season. Prior to that, he was the team’s Goaltending Coach from 2013-14 to 2014-15. The former Petes goalie (1989-92) played 17 years of professional hockey, and has worked as a goaltending consultant for Hockey Canada, the Austrian National Team, and the Peterborough Minor Hockey Council. Verner now lives in Ennismore with his wife and children.

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