Team 55's Friday Night Lights Raises Over $28,000 In Its 10th and Final Year

The 10th and final year of Team 55 Let’s Tackle Suicide Awareness Friday Night Lights concluded, raising $28,000 for the campaign.

Dave Pogue at the ninth annual Team 55 “Friday Night Lights” event last year. Only one family member per player was allowed to watch the game during that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The number was confirmed by founder Dave Pogue and was recorded as the second-highest total ever raised.

The “Friday Night Lights” football game was at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School’s athletic field and has raised over $600,000 since it began in 2013.

Proceeds support Canadian Mental Health Association initiatives that helped launch the Assertive Outreach for Suicide Prevention program.

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Port Hope's Cal Quantrill Got Cleveland Guardians Pitching Start In a 4-1 Losing Effort To New York Yankees

Cleveland Guardians’s and Port Hope native Cal Quantrill got the starting pitcher duties for game one of the American League Divisional Series but fell short in a 4-1 loss to the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.

Screenshot.

Quantrill had not lost a start since July 5 to the Detroit Tigers and won his last 11 decisions during that span.

He had a good start, striking out home run leader Aaron Judge as the leadoff batter. He eventually gave up a solo home run to Yankees’s Harrison Bader in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at one.

He let another run come in on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. Quantrill was eventually relieved during the bottom of the sixth by Trevor Stephan after his last pitch was a two-run home run from Anthony Lizzo that drove home Judge.

Cal is the son of former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Paul Quantrill, spending six seasons with them.

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Former Peterborough Pete John Parker-Jones Signs One-Year Contract With Laval Rockets

Former Peterborough Pete John Parker-Jones has signed a one-year two-way contract with the Laval Rockets (Montréal Canadiens American Hockey League affiliate) announced on Monday.

Parker-Jones spent one season in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, prior to joining the Peterborough Petes. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The 22-year-old defenseman spent the last season with the University of Windsor. Parker-Jones recorded two goals and five assists in 15 regular season games in his one season with the team.

Parker-Jones played three seasons with the Petes from 2017-20, scoring 12 goals and 14 assists in 141 games.

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Peterborough Petes Dominate In 5-0 Rout Over the Barrie Colts In First Road Game

The first road game went perfectly for the Peterborough Petes as they routed the Barrie Colts 5-0 at the Sadlon Arena on Saturday.

Former Colts head coach and hockey hall of famer Dale Hawerchuk was honoured prior to the game. He served as the coach for 10 years from 2010-2020.  Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Tucker Robertson continued his high-level play, scoring on a backhand shot to put Peterborough up 1-0. The Colts had briefly tied the game at but further review deemed the play offside and reversed the call. Jack Van Volsen made it 2-0 after scoring a one-timer in the final 27 seconds of the period. Sahil Panwar assisted on the play for his first point as a Pete. He was acquired in a trade for three draft picks last Monday.

Only two minutes into the second, Petes’ Chase Stillman made it 3-0 for Peterborough. Three minutes later, Robertson made it 4-0, scoring on a breakaway and netting his third goal of the season.

Halfway through the third period, Connor Lockhart scored his second goal of the year to give the Petes a 5-0 win.

Michael Simpson earns his first shutout of the season, stopping all 26 shots, his second career shutout.

The Petes continue their road trip and look to exact revenge on the North Bay Battalion on Thursday. North Bay dealt Peterborough their one-and-only loss at the Peterborough Memorial Centre last Thursday.

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Peterborough Petes Drop First Game of the Season, 3-1 to North Bay Battalion

The Peterborough Petes get their first loss of the season as the North Bay Batallion earned a road win, 3-1 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The game had a quiet start and remained scoreless after the first period. North Bay outshot the Petes 10-5 heading into the second.

Owen Van Steensel struck first for the Batallaion, sneaking a rebound by Michael Simpson on the powerplay to open the scoring. Petes’ J.R Avon had his chance on a partial breakaway against Winnipeg Jets prospect, Dom DiVincentiis but came up short, keeping Peterborough off the board into the third.

Avon avenged his breakaway chance from a pass off Tucker Robertson to tie the game at 1-1, 15 seconds into the third.

North Bay’s Dalyn Wakely regained the lead from tipped a shot from Paul Christopoulos to make it 2-1 lead halfway through the period. The Petes tried to tie the game but North Bay’s Justin Ertel got an empty-net goal for the insurance goal and the 3-1 win.

Three Stars of the game:

• 1st star – 16 Owen Van Steensel (Battalion) - 1 goal

• 2nd star – 31 Michael Simpson (Petes) - 30 Saves

• 3rd star – 14 Dalyn Wakely (Battalion) - 1 goal

The Petes next game is on the road for the first time, this Saturday against the Barrie Colts. Peterborough has a 2-1 record with their first three games at home.

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Team 55's Friday Night Lights Running Its Final Year After a Decade; Fundraiser to Continue In Subsequent Years

The decade milestone of the “Friday Night Lights” football fundraiser for suicide awareness with Team 55 is running its last year and held at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School this Friday.

Dave Pogue at the ninth annual Team 55 “Friday Night Lights” event last year. Only one family member per player was allowed to watch the game during that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The final theme for this year’s event is a homecoming for Thanksgiving weekend. Anyone who participated in the event in the last nine years is invited to attend with opening ceremonies beginning at 6 p.m. — though fans are encouraged to arrive at 5:30 p.m. — It is also a celebration of the event’s culmination over the years.

Peterborough Petes president Dave Pogue Team 55 is having its last event because the event planning takes exhausting amounts of work and feels he’s accomplished the goal of having a “decade of discussion” regarding suicide.

“It's a lot of work, it's very difficult to put on an event like this and it's stressful because tend to want to one-up ourselves every year,” explained Pogue. “The conversation has been rampant over the last nine years which is exactly what we were after.”

Team 55 will remain active in fundraising despite Friday Night Lights doing its last year.

Pouge founded the Team 55 campaign after losing his son Mitchell to suicide. The charity is named after Mitchell’s jersey number, 55 as he captained the Adam Lions football team.

Over $600,000 has been raised for suicide awareness, aiding Canadian Mental Health Association initiatives that helped launch the Assertive Outreach for Suicide Prevention program. It provides help and resources for attempted suicide victims or those contemplating it.

The double-header football games begin with opening ceremonies beginning at 6:00 p.m. then the following matchups:

• 7:00 p.m. - Adam Scott Collegiate and Vocational Institute vs. Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School

• 9:00 p.m. Holy Cross Secondary School vs Crestwood Secondary School

The games will be broadcasted by YourTV Cogeco with the field open at full capacity.

Fundraising efforts are through donations online, their Facebook page “Team55 Tackles Suicide Awareness” or sending a cheque to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) offices at 415 Water St.

An online silent auction will run until Saturday evening. Big-ticket items include Petes private suite package, signed Steve Yzerman jersey, signed acoustic guitar by Carrie Underwood, $500 freezer meal package and more.

A barbecue is available on site that includes burgers, hot dogs, snacks, soft drinks and hot drinks.

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Peterborough Sports Hall of Famers Rob Curtis and Pat Baker Pass Away

The lacrosse world mourns the loss of two Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame alumni as Rob Curtis and Pat Baker have passed away.

Passing away on Friday, Curtis has also been inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2012) and Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame (1997).

He grew up playing Peterborough minor lacrosse and then with the senior Timbermen in 1954, won his only Mann Cup.

Curtis was known by his peers for getting loose ball pickups, often against larger opponents. In 1955, he was third in Senior “A” lacrosse in scoring fourth in 1957. Unfortunately, he sustained a serious injury in 1963 that ended his playing career.

Baker passed away on Tuesday. He was born in St. Catharines, On.t in 1939. He was a lacrosse goaltender who created scoring chances for his teammates with accurate outlet passes. He was a member of Ontario championship clubs from Peewee to Senior. He also was a part of the Canadian Junior, Senior and Professional championship teams.

Between 1959 and 1973, Baker participated in 46 Canadian final games for Peterborough, Brooklin, Brampton and St. Catharines. He’s won championships 1966, 1969 and 1973, winning the MVP award in the 1973 Mann Cup.

He won the OLA Senior Goaltender trophy 10 times and was named as Peterborough’s Athlete of the Year in 1969. He was inducted to the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1980.

Baker had a notable hockey life. He coached Peterborough Minor and Junior B hockey teams for 15 years. He was a right winger, playing for the 1952 Ontario Bantam A Champion Peterborough Shamrocks.

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Peterborough Petes's Tucker Robinson Named OHL Player of the Week

Peterborough Petes’s Tucker Robertson is off to a fast start to the season as he has been named the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Player of the Week.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The Seattle Kraken prospect netted one goal, four assists and five points to help Peterborough get a 2-0 start to the season.

Vancouver Canucks prospect, Connor Lockhart was also considered for the honour, leading the OHL with six points (one goal and five assists). 

Last Thursday, Robertson recorded his 50th OHL goal, 100th career point and the shootout game-winner in a first-star performance as the Petes defeated the Erie Otters 5-4 in their home opener.

He had a three-assist night last Saturday as the Petes defeated the defending champion Hamilton Bulldogs 5-3 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC).

“It feels awesome,” said Robertson. “The team got off to a great start and I was very happy with my own start as well. Super happy to receive the award and that we got the two wins as well.”

A 19-year-old Toronto-born forward was a fourth-round (123rd overall) pick of the Seattle Kraken following 41 goals, 40 assists and 81 points in 68 games last season. He was drafted 72nd overall by the Petes in 2019. He has registered 50 goals, 54 assists and 104 points in 125 career regular-season games with the Petes.

Peterborough’s next game is at home against North Bay Battalion this Thursday at the PMC.

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Peterborough’s Owen Beck Signs Three-Year Deal With Montréal Canadiens

Peterborough’s Owen Beck’s dream of playing in the NHL has got one step closer as he has been signed to a three-year entry-level to the Montréal Canadiens on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the OHL.

The 18-year-old was drafted in the second round (33rd overall) by the Canadiens at the 2022 NHL Draft.

He played for the Ontario Hockey League’s Mississauga Steelheads last season, scoring 21 goals and 30 assists through 68 games.

Last season, he won the Canadian Hockey League and OHL Scholastic Player of the Year and was named to the OHL Second All-Rookie Team.

Beck was drafted in the same year and team to 2022 number one overall pick Juraj Slafkovský.

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Peterborough Petes Acquire Sahil Panwar For Three Draft Picks In Trade

The Peterborough Petes have acquired 20-year-old forward, Sahil Panwar from the Flint Firebirds in exchange for three OHL Priority Selection picks announced on Monday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The Mississauga native spent last season with the Firebirds, getting 44 points in 57 games. Originally a London Knights second-round draftee in 2018, Panwar is 6’ 1” and weighs 185 pounds.

“Sahil brings experience, good speed and skill and face-off ability. He was a key player for Flint last season and was a top player for them in the postseason and we are excited to have him on our club,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager.

“I’m excited,” said Panwar. “It is a new opportunity and I saw there is a good group here so I'm just excited to play for the Petes this year.”

Peterborough sends their 2023 fifth-round pick, the Soo Greyhounds 2024 sixth-round pick and 2025 fourth-round pick.

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