Peterborough Petes General Manager Michael Oke Signs Two-Year Contract Extension

The Peterborough Petes have signed General Manager Michael Oke to to a two-year contract extension, through the conclusion of the 2021-22 season. His current contract was set to expire at the end of the 2019-20 campaign.

Under Oke, the Petes currently sit in first place in the Ontario Hockey League, and have been listed in the Kia CHL Top 10 rankings for three consecutive weeks. The team has compiled a record of 197-191-10-24, including three playoff series wins, five playoff appearances, and the team’s first division title since 2006 with Oke at the helm.

Petes GM Mike Oke with Petes President Dave Pogue

“The Board of Directors is pleased to extend Mike’s contract in recognition of the steady progress the organization has made under his leadership,” says President Dave Pogue.

“This extension adds stability to our organization in the midst of a season of high expectations, and current players and prospects can have continued confidence in the Hockey Operations department moving forward. Mike has done a great deal to improve the operations of the Peterborough Petes, and the Board felt this was the right time to show our appreciation for his hard work.” 

Mike Oke signing the contract

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue in this role, and for the confidence that the Board of Directors has shown in me by offering this extension,” says Oke.

“I’m very pleased with the group we have assembled and the growth we are continuing to experience on and off the ice. Our coaches have done a good job of working with and developing players individually and collectively as a team, while our scouting staff has been diligent in identifying players—through drafts, trades, and free agency—who have and will become key pieces of our team.”

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

The Peterborough Petes Are Now Ranked No. 9 In Canadian Hockey League

Your Peterborough Petes are on a roll. Earlier this week, goalie Hunter Jones was named OHL Player of the Week for the first time in his career, and after three straight victories they have now cracked the Top 10 in the CHL standings at No. 9.

The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

The Petes sit atop the Eastern Conference Standings with a 9-3 record, their most recent victory being a 2-1 win over the No. 2 ranked Oshawa Generals in Oshawa on Sunday. They also have the most points in the OHL right now.

The Petes take the ice Thursday night (October 24th) against the Sarnia Sting at the PMC, and host Mississauga Steelheads Saturday night.

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

Petes Goalie Hunter Jones Named OHL Player of the Week For First Time In Career

The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Minnesota Wild prospect Hunter Jones of the Peterborough Petes is the OHL “On the Run” Player of the Week with a 3-0 record, 1.67 goals-against average and .943 save percentage.

Jones earns the award for the first time in his OHL career after backstopping the Petes to a perfect 3-0 record. On Sunday (October 20th), he stopped 28 of 29 in Sunday's 2-1 victory over the CHL's top-ranked Oshawa Generals, earning his 40th career OHL win in the process.

Picture via Hunter Jones on Twitter

A 19-year-old native of Brantford, Ont., Jones is off to a 9-1-0-0 start in the 2019-20 season, posting a league-leading 2.41 goals-against average along with a .919 save percentage and one shutout.

Jones—who is honouring the late legendary broadcaster Gary Dalliday on his goalie mask—owns a career 40-34-2-2 record over 82 career OHL regular season contests, posting a 3.54 goals-against average and .896 save percentage with four shutouts. Originally Peterborough's fifth round pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection, Jones was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft.

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

Cody Crowley Is Now 18-0 After Win At Memorial Centre Streamed Internationally On UFC Fight Pass

Peterborough’s Cody Crowley swept all three judges’ scoredcards by 100-90 to defeat Mian Hussain and move to 18-0 in his boxing career in front of 2,500 fans at the Memorial Centre—and a worldwide audience streaming internationally on UFC Fight Pass—on Saturday night (October 19th).

“A huge thank you to everyone who made it out last night to support my dream of becoming a world champion as I made my UFC Fight Pass Debut last night at the Memorial Centre,” Crowley said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Photo by Emily Wilson (via Cody Crowley’s Facebook page)

Crowley retains his Canadian Professional Boxing Council superweight title with the win at Homecoming V: Going Global, capping a great week in which he received a key to the city of Peterborough.

“There is no better feeling than fighting in front of my hometown Peterborough,” Crowley adds in his Facebook post. “I want to take a second to thank my whole team at CCC Promotions for working their butts off for the past 6 weeks to make this event as big as it was! I couldn’t do it without the amazing team that I have in my corner! From my parents/family/coach and management team and the amazing sponsors, all the way to everyone who made it out to support the event! We are one huge team that is starting to get noticed around the world.... ON TO THE NEXT.”

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

Undefeated Canadian Super Welterweight Cody Crowley Headlines “Homecoming V: Going Global”

Undefeated, world-rated super welterweight Cody “The Crippler” Crowley will headline “Homecoming V: Going Global,” presented by CCC Promotions, on Saturday, October 19th at Peterborough Memorial Centre.

The 26-year-old Crowley (17-0, 9 KOs), who is also co-founder of CCC Promotions, is rated No. 8 in the world by the World Boxing Association. Crowley is the reigning Canada Professional Boxing Council (CPBC) Nation super welterweight champion.

In his most recent fight this past February, Crowley made his first CPBC title defense, winning a 12-round unanimous ecision over Stuart McLellan (25-2-3).

“I left the town of Peterborough with nothing but a work ethic, hope and a dream—hope that I would find the right skill set to make my dream of becoming a world champion come true,” says Peterborough hero Crowley, who is now training in Las Vegas. “At 17-0, I know that my skill set is heading in the right direction. I am super excited to see what the future holds.”

Priced at $62.15, $39.,55 and $28.25, tickets go on sale Friday, September 6th, and will be available to purchase by going online at memorialcentre.ca. VIP packages are also available by texting/calling CCC Promotions at 705.927.3265.  

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

22 Nations Competing At World Lacrosse U19 Championships In Peterborough

The opening ceremonies of the 2019 World Lacrosse U19 Women’s Lacrosse Championships at Trent University will honour the origins of the sport within Indigenous nations alongside 21 additional teams.

The ceremony on Wednesday, July 31st at 6 p.m. at Justin Chiu Stadium at Trent officially opens the U19 Championships. Over the next 10 days, 22 nations—including the Haudenosaunee—will compete in games at Trent and at Fleming College. Canada will defend its 2015 World Championship with Team Canada alumnus Allison Daley on the bench as associate coach.

The modern game of lacrosse originated with the Haudenosaunee and has been played among them for centuries. It is known as Teiontshihkwa:’eks (pronounced Day yoo chee gwa ecks), meaning the “ball and stick” game, as well as Tewa’a:raton (pronounced Day wa awe law doo), meaning the “netted stick” in the Mohawk language. It was passed among different Indigenous nations including the Anishinaabe as a way to settle disputes and heal the body and mind.

“As a reflection of Indigenous communities who began this sport, we are opening our event with a focus on the people who first played this great game,” says co-chair Cheryl MacNeill, a Team Canada alumnus from 1987, who referees the sport around the world. “We are looking forward to seeing teams come together from six continents, many of them for the first time at games of this calibre.”

Field lacrosse is now one of the fastest growing sports in North America, with a record number of teams playing in the women’s U19 games this summer. When Peterborough hosted this event in 2007, 11 teams competed. Now, twice as many teams will take to the field.

The Haudenosaunee will lead the teams entering the stadium, followed by 20 visiting teams in alphabetical order, accompanied by bagpipers. Team Canada will enter last. All teams will be introduced in English, French and Anishinabemowin, then circle the stadium around the Armour Hill drum group.

The opening ceremonies are free for the public to attend. Seating will be limited so guests are encouraged to come early to participate.

Additional games will be played at Fleming College as well and the event’s final banquet will be hosted there on August 10th.

The full schedule for the games is available here.

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

Peterborough Petes Face Oshawa Generals In First Round Of Playoffs, Team Encourages Fan Mail

The Peterborough Petes, who finished sixth in the Eastern Conference and third in the East Division, will play the East Division’s second ranked Oshawa Generals in the first round of the playoffs.

Peterborough had a 2-5-1-0 record against Oshawa during the 2018-19 regular season but are ready to crush it in the playoffs. The division rivals last met in the first round four years ago, with the Generals taking the series 4-1 on route to winning the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup. The long-time rivals have met in the post-season 14 times dating back to 1973.

The full schedule is as follows…

-> Game 1: Friday, March 22nd at 7:35 p.m. – Tribute Communities Centre

-> Game 2: Sunday, March 24th at 6:05 p.m. – Tribute Communities Centre

-> Game 3: Tuesday, March 26th at 7:05 p.m. – Peterborough Memorial Centre

-> Game 4: Thursday, March 28th at 7:05 p.m. – Peterborough Memorial Centre

-> Game 5: Saturday, March 30th at 7:05 p.m. – Tribute Communities Centre (if necessary)

-> Game 6: Sunday, March 31st at 7:05 p.m. – Peterborough Memorial Centre (if necessary)

-> Game 7: Tuesday, April 2nd at 7:05 p.m. – Tribute Communities Centre (if necessary)

Playoff tickets are on sale now and are available through the Baker Tilly Box Office in person, over the phone at (705) 743-3561, and online. 

Fan mail

Have words of motivation or support for your Petes ahead of the playoffs? Send the team your personalized fan mail here and they’ll post your messages for the lads, both on the road and once they get back home.

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

Peterborough Petes Clinch Playoff Spot, Tickets Go On Sale Wednesday

Liam Kirk’s first OHL hat trick and Adam Timleck’s first four point game helped the Peterborough Petes clinch a spot in the 2019 OHL Playoffs with a 6-5 win over the Battalion in North Bay on Sunday afternoon.

With three regular season games left, the Petes have picked a perfect time to get hot. The win was their third straight and seventh in their last nine games.

Photo courtesy Peterborough Petes

Tickets for playoff home games 1 and 2 will go on sale to Petes season ticket members and the general public on Wednesday, March 13th at 9:30 a.m. through the Baker Tilly Box Office at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Season ticket members can purchase tickets in person or over the phone at (705) 743-3561, while the general public can also purchase online. 

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

Watch: TSN's Cabbie On The StudioPTBO Podcast In Peterborough

For the first time ever, TSN’s Cabbie came to Peterborough—and that included a stop at the StudioPTBO headquarters to tape a show with hosts Cody May and Neil Morton.

Cody May & Neil Morton interviewing Cabbie on StudioPTBO show Saturday, February 23rd

On the podcast, Cabbie talks about interviewing NBA/NHL players, pop culture, social media, positivity, networking, kindness and more! Watch it below…

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

A Peterborough Man Built An Awesome Backyard Curling Rink & Rocks For About $100, Eh

You hear a lot about backyard rinks but not backyard curling rinks. Well Aaron Kempf managed to MacGyver a mint one in his Peterborough backyard—all at a cost of only about $100.

Kempf fashioned lights across his backyard in the summer so he could ride his pump track—a type of off-road terrain for cycle sport—after his daughter went to bed, and the rink was a way to continue to take advantage of the lights throughout the winter and also a good excuse to get out of the house on winter nights. 

Below is his summer cycle track (the rink he built would be constructed on the opposite side of the yard)…

HOW HE MADE THE RINK

“Construction was as simple as I could make it,” says Kempf, who describes himself as “handyish” depending on what the project is and how good the YouTube videos are. “I came across this idea last year and wanted to give it a try. It is basically a landscaping project which I’m comfortable with as it has a high threshold for mistakes. We like having projects on the go so this was a pretty easy one to try.”

At first, Kempf tried just shoveling snow in order to make a rink outline but the first few snow falls they got in November and December all melted. “In early January, I bought a couple 1x4s and made a rough frame for the rink. I then spent a weekend spraying several thin coats of water,” he tells PTBOCanada.

Kempf says the 1x4s did not create a water tight seal so he chipped a bunch of ice from a couple puddles that had formed in the corners of the pump track and used that to fill the gaps. After that, he continued slowly flooding it.

“There were a few leaks along the way,” Kempf says. “Next year, I’ll probably build a sturdier frame and line it with plastic to keep our water usage down. After I had an even coat of ice across the whole rink and it was thick enough to walk on, I installed the rings.”

The outer blue rings are two round plastic tablecloths he got from Dollarama. Kempf measured so each ring was a foot wide and cut the excess off. The red rings are from a single rectangle plastic tablecloth—also from Dollarama. He cut it in half and freehanded two circles with a sharpie and a pair of scissors. After that, he set them on the ice and flooded overtop a few times.

The rink was made on the opposite side of the yard from the pump track

HOW HE MADE THE CURLING STONES

The rocks were made from two $1.25 metal bowls from Dollar Tree—”the bowls at Dollarama were twice the price and too tall,” says Kempf, who punched a hole through the top of half of them with a screwdriver and then cut out a rough circle with a jigsaw.

“I used construction adhesive to attach them together, filled them with concrete and inserted some threaded metal pipe for the handles. Once they were set I trimmed the handles so they wouldn’t stick out passed the edge of the bowl, inserted a small piece of foam on each handle and wrapped them in blue and red hockey tape.”

The last step in creating the rocks required cutting a slit out of foam backer rod with an razer blade and wrapping it around each rock.

“This is to minimize damage to the bowls when they hit each other as I’m not working with an actual chunk of granite like a real curling rock,” explains Kempf. “They are probably half the size and weight of regulation curling rocks but they work well with the dimensions of the rink (about 8’ by 30’).”

After all this ingenuity, it was time to chillax and throw the rocks in the tee (hopefully)…

AARON’S WIFE ALIX GIVING IT A TRY

The family has made good use of the rink thus far, including Aaron’s wife Alix and his folks who are in town from British Columbia for a couple weeks of visiting.

Aaron’s Dad

Kempf himself is no Olympic curler or anything—”I have curled once in my life before this, watched it on TV a few times, and course seen the Paul Gross classic Men with Brooms—but that’s besides the point.

He’s not the best skater so a traditional rink didn’t make sense, wanted to take advantage of Canadian winter, of having a backyard (“we moved from a Toronto apartment a few years ago so we are trying to make the most of it”), plus Google made it look relatively easy to build.

And if you build it, they will come…

Die-hard curlers, might say—as Kempf notes—that the ice isn’t perfect. “I didn’t try to pebble it, and anyone with actual curling skills would probably be irritated with the imperfections.”

But like any sport and any rink, you have to start somewhere. And why not hurry hard and sweep on your DIY backyard curling rink in Peterborough? 

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