Peterborough Speedway Moves Opening Day to This Saturday

“Pivot” has been a theme for the Peterborough Speedway as its opening day has been moved to Saturday.

The Speedway was previously having their opening day last Saturday. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Speedway.

The speedway was set to run last weekend but held off due to the massive windstorm after being surveyed by speedway staff.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a storm like that before,” said J.P. Josiasse, speedway owner. “The sky got dark and then the wind picked-up. After that, all we could do was watch things develop and wonder when it was going to stop and how much damage there would be.” 

The grounds had to be cleaned up before being able to be open to the public according to Josiasse.

“Even with the amount of damage that the storm caused, we have to look at things in a positive light,” he said. “With free grandstand admission, opening night is always one of the most popular events on our schedule. We were about an hour away from opening the spectator gates and the place would have been filled with fans. We’re very fortunate that no one was injured.” 

Opening Day will feature free spectator admission and racing with a 50-lap main event for the Jiffy Lube Mini Stocks, plus the hometown Battlefield Equipment Rental Bone Stock, Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Truck and KOD Disposal Super Stock divisions.

The day also marks the season opener for the GEN-3 Electrical Ontario Modifieds Racing Series and the debut of the Junior Late Model class.

Pit gates will open at 1:30 p.m. with the spectator grandstands unlocked at 3 p.m. with race time at 5 p.m. 

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Major Series Lacrosse Postpones 2022 Season

The Century 21 Peterborough Lakers will have to wait a little longer to hit the floor as Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) has been postponed for the 2022 season announced by the league on Thursday.

File Photo.

The following was a statement released by Doug Luey, MSL Commissioner:

It is with tremendous disappointment that Major Series Lacrosse must postpone the start of the 2022 season. The financial risk brought on by potential litigation is just too great to overcome by both our privately and community operated teams.

We will continue to work towards a resolution to bring our teams, players, officials and in particular our fans back to the floor as soon as the risk is minimized.

Our teams were looking forward to building on last year's extremely successful MSL Classic. This tournament resulted in a broadcast deal that would have shown every MSL game through the 2022 Mann Cup across Canada, in addition to most games being shown via webcast. It also yielded a national sponsorship deal.

In both cases, we are unable to make those announcements until a resolution is made. MSL will not be issuing any further comment on the matter until all stakeholders have come to a satisfactory resolution. We want to thank all that have reached out and offered their support during these difficult times. We can't wait to hit the floor.

The Lakers are three-time defending Mann Cup champions and are seeking a fourth consecutive championship.

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Peterborough Lacrosse Makes Another Stamp In Its 150th Anniversary With Commemorative Beer

Peterborough’s 150th lacrosse anniversary continues its milestone celebrations with the “150” beer made by Publican House Brewery in a collaboration announced on Thursday.

Marty Laskaris, Publican House president and co-founder (left) and Tim Barrie, Lakers hall-of-fame goaltender (right) shared the ‘150’ lager for the first time on the beer’s launch. Lacrosse began on a cricket field in East City in 1872. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The beer came as an idea from a lunch between Marty Laskaris, Publican House president and co-founder and Tim Barrie, Lakers hall-of-fame goaltender and journalist Ed Arnold.

"We can make a beer, 150-anniversary beer that can help with events in the summer and we can do some other things with the proceeds and we'd love to be a part of that,” said Laskaris. "The whole thing came together after that."

A portion of the beer sales benefits minor lacrosse associations in the Peterborough area. The beer remains on the brewery’s menu as long as it maintains its sales.

"If you read Ed Arnold's book, the book is primarily about 1974 undefeated team but it took 10 years to build that team," said Barrie. "It's something no other community had was a minor system like Peterborough had where we basically lived and breathed lacrosse all summer and it was a sport we loved and we just wanted to play. The foundations of the game are so important."

The beer is a four per cent lager that best represents the undefeated season of the 1974 Peterborough PCOs that went 46-0 according to Laskaris.

"The team that went all the way in '74, undefeated, very smooth, very light on their feet, very fast so I thought this light lager is going to come together with the theme of the team back then," he said.

The beer is available at Publican House’s beer store beside its restaurant. Copies of Arnold’s book, ‘Peterborough’s Perfect Season: With Benny and his Jets’ is also available for purchase.

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Hometown PTBO: Ennismore's Carter Frost On Being Drafted to the Peterborough Petes as a Goaltender

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Peterborough Petes goalie Carter Frost on being drafted in the 15th and final round of the 2022 Ontario Hockey League priority selection and growing up in Ennismore.

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Fans Invited to Design a Game Jersey Contest For the Peterborough Petes

The Peterborough Petes have returned their #YourTeamYourJersey contest, allowing any fan to enter a custom jersey design for a home game during the 2022-23 regular season announced Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes teamed with Real Canadian Superstore and the Ontario Hockey League for the contest.

The winning designer receives one of the jerseys they designed, autographed by the entire Petes team.

To enter the contest, entrants visit this website, and follow the steps:

1. Download and save the jersey template and design your custom Petes jersey

2. Upload the design with contact information and design details before June 13

Fan votes are taking place in September for the winning design as a new feature this season. Designs can behand-drawn or digital but must be submitted online.

Game-worn jerseys will be auctioned in support of the President’s Choice Children’s Charity.

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Peterborough Golf & Country Club Tees Off 125th Anniversary With Throwback Golf Tournament

Over a century of drives, chips and putts have happened at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club (PGCC) as they celebrate their 125th anniversary with a kickoff golf tournament this Saturday.

125th Anniversary co-chair Diane Topping (pictured) wearing traditional ladies’ golf attire during the late 1900s while taking a swing at the 12th tee at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The event features a step-aside scramble golf tournament with some features relative to 1897, the year the golf club was founded. The tournament will feature stymies (other golf balls could not be marked and were natural obstacles for other golfers) with curling rocks on two of the greens and old-style putters used by course staff.

“In 1898, a picnic basket was had so we’re going to replicate that, folks will come off and we’re going to have sandwiches the way it was with a picnic basket,” said Ron Dempsey, 125th anniversary committee co-chair.

@ptbo_canada Happy 125th anniversary, Peterborough Golf & Country Club! Here is to another 125! #ptbo #ptbocanada #golf #golftiktok #golftok #peterboroughgolf #anniversary ♬ Mario Golf 64 - Koopa Cup - Goodknight Productions

The club will host several other events to commemorate the course’s milestone. In June, the course will have a curler’s golf day (as the course also has its own curling rinks). July 1 features a celebration day with a cake and other festivities.

Non-club members can have a chance to try the course as August allows members to bring a guest for $18.97 to celebrate the year the course was founded.

The Rye Street band will perform in September at the course. October is hosting a “Swing & Sweep,” where members can golf for nine holes and curl for six ends.

“This is a very exciting year,” said Dave Robinson, PGC president. “We’re really looking forward to a great year starting with our May 28th event.”

There are roughly 900 members at the PGCC (with an overlap between golf and curling). The club was founded on May 28, 1897.

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Peterborough Petes Announce First Round Pick Jack Van Volsen

Peterborough Petes have signed 2022 first round, 6th overall OHL Priority Selection pick Jack Van Volsen to a standard player agreement, General Manager Michael Oke announced at a press conference hosted at Rawscoe’s Sport Collectibles on Thursday.

Van Volsen suited up for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the GTHL during the 2021-22 season, where he recorded 46 goals and 64 assists for 110 points in 57 games.

The 6’1”, 169 lbs centre also picked up two points (one goal and one assist) in one game for the Pickering Panthers in the OJHL this season.

"It’s an honour to be drafted and to sign with this organization,” said Van Volsen. “I look forward to the upcoming season and doing everything I can to help this team win.”

“We’re excited to welcome Jack to the Petes,” commented Oke. “He’s a highly-skilled player, who has a lot of offensive upside and our fans are going to enjoy watching him this season.”

The Whitby, Ontario native also amassed five goals and eight assists for 13 points in eight games in the 2022 OHL Cup Showcase, leading his team to clinch a silver medal.

Van Volsen will wear #14 for the Petes, joining notable alumni including Joe Carroll, Liam Kirk, Austin Watson, John Druce, and Bob Gainey.

Gainey, a Hockey Hall of Famer, was on hand at the press conference to join Oke in presenting Van Volsen with his #14 Petes jersey.

“This team has a great history, a long history,” said Gainey. “There’s been many young people come through the program that have had terrific experiences here and gone on to great things in different aspects of their life. I hope it can be that same for Jack.”

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Trent University to Host 2022 CUFLA Baggataway Cup Championship Weekend For Lacrosse

The 2022 Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) Baggataway Cup Championship weekend will be hosted in Trent University’s Justin Chiu Stadium, according to a release made by the university on Wednesday.

“We’re honoured to have been selected as the host for the 2022 Baggataway Cup this fall,” said Deborah Bright-Brundle, director of Trent Athletics and Recreation. “Trent University has a history of hosting national and international lacrosse championships, and we are proud to host such a monumental part of the CUFLA season. The Excalibur men’s lacrosse team competes annually at an elite level, and each season represents the green and white with great pride.”

The Baggataway Cup championship weekend is scheduled for November 4 – 6 and has historical significance for the Peterborough community. The City of Peterborough is celebrating 150 years of lacrosse history and the Baggataway Cup will be a great addition to the celebration.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to compete at Justin Chiu Stadium, in front of the hometown fans,” said Mark Farthing, head coach of the Excalibur men’s lacrosse team. “The city is well known for lacrosse, not only at Trent but also in the Peterborough region as well. It will be a great opportunity to have the whole community come watch and support us during the championship weekend.”

This is the second time that the University will host the championship. The Trent Excalibur men’s lacrosse team has qualified and competed in it annually since 2015.

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11 Year Old Peterborough Boy Going To Italy With Team Canada For World Juniors Karate

Phoenix Walker, 11, from Peterborough, has been selected to represent Canada at the WAKO World Juniors in Karate, being held in Italy in September.

Walker was selected to compete in the Ontario Winter Games last year, though they were cancelled due to COVID. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Grant.

Walker started karate four and a half years ago, at summer camp. Now, in grade five, he is training five days a week.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” said Walker. “I like doing kicks and special moves.”

He will be competing in three categories; Forms, Weapons and Point Sparring, his favourite being sparring.

“I like the sparring, I like doing all my kicks and hand techniques.”

Walkers mom, Cynthia Grant, says she is so proud that he’s been able to stick to his training, even throughout COVID, and while having many other hobbies.

In addition to karate, Walker trains in Muay Tai, is in the Eco and LEGO club at school and enjoys many other sports.

Walker says he’s never been on a big trip and he’s excited to travel to Italy.

“I’m feeling very pumped about it,” said Walker. “I’m very excited to go - it’s a beautiful place.”

A GoFundMe has been set up in hopes to offset the cost of the flight, accommodations, food, entry fees, medicals and equipment. One of Walkers parents must accompany him because he is a minor, which is increasing the cost of an already expensive trip.

“He’s done tournaments, he’s done training and he loves it,” said Grant. “As he’s getting older it’s getting a bit more serious, the expectations are getting higher. Now, it’s a matter of how much do you want to kick it up.”

Walker says he will be happy to compete, no matter the outcome.

“I feel pumped, I feel confident that I’m going to win. Or if I lose I’ll feel happy for the other kid that gets to win.”

To help Phoenix get to Italy, donate here.

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Electric City Football Club Women's Team Fall to North Toronto Nitros, 3-1

It was the first home loss for the Electric City Football Club (ECFC) women’s team after the North Toronto Nitros got a 3-1 win on Wednesday night.

ECFC captain Holly O’Neill (middle) shakes off two North Toronto Nitro players to get a pass off to a teammate. O’Neill is tied in the league with five other players for fifth in the league in goals scored. Photo by Luke Best.

The loss puts ECFC at a 3-2 record and tied for seventh in the league of 20 teams.

The Nitros struck first as Olivia Smith scored off a penalty kick in the 13th minute to gain the lead.

Toronto extended their score early in the second half as Morgan Fenton crashed the net and scored off a pass to net the second goal in the 48th minute.

Electric City quickly responded seven minutes later as Kayla McQueen scored off a fast break to put Peterborough on the scoreboard. The goal was McQueen’s team-leading fifth goal of the season and fourth-leading in the league.

"Something like that uplifts your whole team and it gives you another push to go forward and that's really what we needed at that moment.,” said Hailey Walsh, ECFC midfielder.

Toronto was able to seal their victory with a third goal as Smith scored in the 72nd minute (her second of the match).

Peterborough had scoring chances with a late push but came up short in the final minutes of the game.

ECFC head coach Randy Ribeiro said Toronto was the better team that night but had faith that ECFC can stand up to any opponent.

"I have full trust in the players that we have. I think they're all fantastic. said Riberio. "They were brought in here because they fit in with what it is what we're trying to do here so I know what this team is capable of. It's one step in a long journey."

The women’s team plays Guelph Union next on the road on Sunday at 4 p.m. The men’s team plays the Prostars FC at home this Saturday at 3 p.m.

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