Cody Caldwell and Team Canada Bring Home 5th Place in Wheelchair Rugby

Peterborough’s Cody Caldwell and Team Canada beat France 57-49 on Saturday to finish in 5th place in Wheelchair Rugby at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Caldwell racked up 10 tries at the Tokyo Paralympics.

After losing their first two matches by less than a total of seven points to Great Britain and the United States, Team Canada bounced back with two consecutive wins to finish the tournament.

Caldwell logged 5:23 minutes of play time and scored one try.

Canada’s Michael Whitehead and Zac Madell were able to combine for 39 tries, making them the top scorers of their final game.

Heading into this tournament Team Canada had medal hopes. After sweeping away the competition in every Paralympic qualification match, things were looking up for the team.

Team Canada was put in group B, which consisted of two of the top three teams in the tournament, USA and Great Britain.

“They hate it, it was obvious, we were in the toughest pool, we know we should be vying for a medal,” said coach Dave Willsie in a press conference. “We took it upon ourselves, we have a lot of men in that change room, they wanted to make a statement in this last game, and that’s what we did. We stuck it to France. It wasn’t even close, and we are elite, even though we don’t have a medal to show for it.”

Canada’s next international competition is the American Zonals, taking place in Colombia this December.

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Cody Caldwell and Team Canada Earns First Wheelchair Rugby Win at Tokyo Paralympics

Peterborough’s Cody Caldwell and Team Canada defeated New Zealand in wheelchair rugby at the Tokyo 2021 Paralympics, 51-36 to improve to a 1-2 record on Friday.

Cody Caldwell (pictured) has scored nine tries in the wheelchair rugby round-robin. File Photo.

The win has earned them a fifth-place match against France this Saturday.

Canada outscored New Zealand after all four quarters and never lost the lead.

Caldwell was a starter and logged 8:23 minutes of game time. He scored four tries to help bring Canada to their first tournament win.

Zak Madell led Canada with 12 tries through only 12:37 minutes of gameplay; Barney Koneferenisi led New Zealand with 18 tries.

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Canada was eliminated from playoff contention after two consecutive losses to Great Britain and the United States. Both losses were competitive matches as Canada only lost by a combined score of seven points.

Team Canada Wheelchair Rugby will wrap up its Paralympic journey competing against France for fifth place on Saturday at 7:00 a.m. EST.

To live stream Saturday’s game click here.

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Peterborough Petes Sign Liam Sztuska to Standard Player Agreement

Peterborough Petes General Manager Michael Oke announced that the team has signed Liam Sztuska to a standard player agreement on Friday.

Photo courtesy of the peterborough petes

Sztuska, a 5’11”, 160 lbs goalie, was selected by the Petes in the fifth round, 94th overall in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.

The Mississauga, Ontario native suited up for the Toronto Titans in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) during the 2019-20 season. The 2004-born left catcher is eligible for the upcoming 2022NHL Entry Draft.

"I'm at a loss for words,” said Sztuska. “This is something I have been dreaming of since I was a kid and now it's a dream come true. I'm looking forward to seeing the fans, the players, the coaching staff, and getting out on the ice and finally getting started."

“We’re very excited to add Liam to our organization,” said Oke. “He’s a promising young goaltender who we believe can make an impact at the OHL level.”

Sztuska, who was the first goalie the Petes selected in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, joins Donovan McCoy, Sam Alfano, and Justin DeZoete as players who committed to the maroon and white from the 2020 draft.

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Peterborough Petes Announce 2021 Training Camp Schedule

The Peterborough Petes 2021 Training Camp will begin with fitness testing on Tuesday, August 31, and will conclude with the annual Maroon & White game on Friday, September 3.

File photo.

This year’s training camp, presented by Pat McAuley Group of Realtors will see over 55 players compete for a spot on the 2021-22 Petes roster.

In addition to returning players, top picks from both the 2020 and 2021 OHL and Under-18 Priority Selections, and numerous free agent invites will be in attendance. Training camp rosters are scheduled to be announced on Friday, August 27.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, training camp will be a private event. Fans will be able to watch a livestream of all scrimmages and games with details to be announced next week.

In adhering to the OHL’s COVID-19 vaccination policy, all players, parents of players, hockey operations and support staff must have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccination before attending training camp.

The Petes will welcome the Sudbury Wolves and first overall draft pick Quentin Musty for their home opener on Thursday, October 14 at 7:05 p.m.

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Hometown PTBO: Mitchell Stephens On Bringing the Stanley Cup Back to Peterborough

This week on a special episode of Hometown PTBO, local two-time Stanley Cup Champion Mitchell Stephens brings Lord Stanley back to Peterborough.

He makes history by bringing Lord Stanley down the iconic Lift Lock in a water parade for the first time ever. Come on the boat to see the incredible ride.

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Peterborough Canoe and Kayak Club Paddles On From Government Grant

After the last day of a canoe program, the Peterborough Canoe and Kayak Club (PCKC) received a $15,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) on Friday.

The PCKC was established in July 2017. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Club members and city officials gathered at Johnson Park to watch young paddlers in fun races at Little Lake just off Beavermead Park. The final day was a showcase of the skills learned by the young paddlers as well as a recognition ceremony for the grant funding.

The club has seen a huge growth in numbers this year since 2020 where COVID-19 made it difficult for them to run its events.

“The year before, we've had 50 paddlers,” said Jim Stewart, PCKC commodore.” This year, we've had 150 plus padders plus another 30 in masters, paracanoeing and in learn-to-paddle programs.”

Most PCKC boats are racing boats that are expensive and unstable which are not rented out to the public. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The grant was used to help with staffing costs, buying new fencing, a rescue boat motor, installing new storage capabilities and a sanitizing station.

MPP Dave Smith presented the check at the presentation ceremony on OTF’s behalf. He said the PCKC fit the bill perfectly for the grant.

“It was about doing something for volunteers with a not-for-profit organization that provided an opportunity for youth,” he said. “It really was perfectly designed what Trillium was designed for.”

The OTF has nearly invested $112 million into 1,384 community projects and partnerships. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Both Smith and Stewart agree that these programs that promote physical activity are beneficial for kids on several different levels.

“It's good for their physical health but the key is that it's good for their mental health,” said Smith. “They learn an activity they can do their entire life and they have fun doing it which is one of the best things that come out of it.”

“People are very pleased to be in the open air in the water,” reflected Stewart. “A sport that provides them with new friends, a learning experience and a chance to gain self-respect for being on the water.”

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Peterborough Petes and OHL Expand Vaccination Policy To All Attendees

All Ontario Hockey League (OHL) attendees including fans, staff and media are required to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 and follow any other safety protocols in any team’s arena announced by the league on Friday.

Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The league has expanded its current vaccination policy which originally applied to OHL community members. It will take effect on Oct. 7, 2021, for all OHL functions including all Peterborough Petes events such as team practices and games.

Children under 12 will require supervision from a fully vaccinated adult and will be required to follow all safety protocols.

The Petes host Sudbury Wolves, featuring first overall draft pick Quentin Musty for their home opener on Thursday, Oct. 14 at 7:05 p.m.

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Local Athlete Lands in Tokyo For the 2021 Paralympics To Bring Back Gold

It was a long plane ride from Canada to Japan but Paralympian Cody Caldwell has arrived safely on Wednesday to compete in the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Games.

File Photo.

Caldwell confirmed on his Instagram that he made it safely to the Paralympic village on the Harumi waterfront district of Tokyo after leaving Canada on Tuesday.

“Late night arrival to the village but we made it,” he said on an Instagram post.

He is representing Team Canada in wheelchair rugby in his second Paralympics. His last appearance in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil earned a fourth-place finish in 2016.

The Paralympics was originally scheduled for 2020 but was postponed one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Caldwell is not the only family member on the trip as his father serves as the “jack of all trades” for the team.

“It’s a huge honour to be able to go with him and he’s pretty much drove us to hockey growing up and he’s drove us to any sport that we wanted to play,” explained Caldwell. “Now he gets to experience it from inside the ropes. It’ll be really cool for him and myself.”

File Photo.

The team has three scheduled round-robin games in Group B. The United States, Great Britain and New Zealand are the three other teams in Canada’s bracket.

The top two teams will advance to the semifinals to play against the other top countries in Group A —which consists of Australia, Denmark, France and Japan —in a single-elimination playoff round.

File Photo.

The following is Team Canada’s wheelchair rugby schedule:

• Aug. 25 vs. Great Britain

• Aug. 26 vs. United States

• Aug. 27 vs. New Zealand

All games are at 12:45 p.m. (Japan Standard Time) and are held at the Yoyogi National Stadium.

“Peterborough has always been home. It’s a great city. I've always felt supported by it,” explained Caldwell. “To be from Peterborough and any time I get to represent it on the world stage, it’s a full-circle effect.”

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Hometown PTBO: Dave Pogue Speaks About His Past Work Ventures, Team55 and Suicide Awareness and the Peterborough Petes This Fall

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday speaks to Peterborough Petes President Dave Pogue about his work history, Team55 tackling suicide awareness and a sneak peek on the upcoming OHL season.

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Back-To-Back Champion to Bring Stanley Cup Back to Peterborough

After winning back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in his first two seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Peterborough’s Mitchell Stephens will bring the prestigious trophy to Peterborough next Wednesday.

Stephens winning his second consecutive Stanley Cup at the Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, FL. Photo Courtesy of Mitchell Stephens.

“It’s going to be amazing to see my family and my friends celebrating it with me,” said Stephens. “My parents weren’t able to come down to either event. It’s going to be an amazing feeling for my dad to hold the Stanley Cup.”

Stephens will ride in a boat starting at the Peterborough Lift Lock at 5:30 p.m. He will descend the historic landmark with hockey’s most coveted trophy. The public is encouraged to spectate at the canal with parking and designated viewing areas on Ashburnham Drive to watch the water parade. Additional parking is available at the Lift Lock Visitor Centre on Hunter Street.

The boat will make its way through the Trent Severn Waterway to Little Lake and finish at the Fred Anderson Stage in Del Crary Park at roughly 6:30 p.m.

A route map of the Stanley Cup water parade starting at the Lift Lock and going down the Trent Severn Waterway. File Photo.

The 24-year old was unable to bring the cup home after his first win due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each winning member is allowed one day with the trophy where players typically bring it back to their respective hometowns. He had the cup for the day in Tampa Bay but understood why he could not bring it back to Peterborough.

“We understood it was challenging circumstances last year with COVID,” explained Stephens. “But to win it again and have the chance to celebrate in our hometowns like a normal year definitely made it sweeter.”

Stephens winning his first Stanley Cup championship in Edmonton in his rookie year during the 2019-20 NHL season. Photo Courtesy of Mitchell Stephens.

Stephens had played minor hockey in Peterborough for years before he played for the Toronto Marlboros of the Greater Toronto Hockey League from 2011-2013 in the U15 and U16 age groups.

From 2014-2017, the hometown champion has played in two World Juniors and two World Junior U18 Championships winning a gold, silver and bronze medal.

Stephens as a member of the Peterborough Petes before playing minor Peewee hockey in Toronto. Photo Courtesy of Mitchell Stephens.

In 2013, he was drafted eighth overall by the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection draft where he played for four years.

He was drafted 33rd overall in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015 and was sent to play with the Syracuse Crunch, the team’s American Hockey League farm team.

Stephens has scored a total of eight goals in his four World Junior appearences. Photo Courtesy of Mitchell Stephens.

Stephens scored his first goal on Dec. 28, 2019, against Montréal Canadiens’ Carey Price— who Tampa Bay beat in Stephens’s second cup win — after his rebound shot bounced off Artturi Lehkonen.

Entering his third NHL season, Stephens was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft on July 30.

“The Lift Lock is a staple of Peterborough. It’s been recognizable. For me to do that, to bring the community together and celebrate one of the greatest trophies in sports,” reflected Stephens. “It’s an exciting opportunity for me to show the young athletes in Peterborough that I grew up playing minor hockey and I achieved this. The most important thing is to share it with my friends and family to the people who supported me during the highs and lows and show my gratitude.“

A reminder to everyone attending that all COVID-19 protocols are in effect, exercise caution and to maintain social distancing while viewing the event.

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