Peterborough to Host Inclusive Sport and Recreation Expo

The City of Peterborough is hosting the Inclusive Sport and Recreation Expo, promoting inclusion and participation in sports and recreation in the community at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre on Nov. 19.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

In partnership with the Council for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the free event will run from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The CPD strives to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities in Peterborough by promoting equality, opportunity and inclusion and advocating to increase community capacity.

The expo is set to bring together the community of sport and recreation organizations and highlight/promote inclusiveness and participation for people of all abilities.

Families will have the opportunity to learn more about inclusivity in sport and recreation through demonstrations and peer engagement with local recreation groups. The event will include prizes, activities and a free swim.

The Inclusive Sport and Recreation Expo will feature approximately two dozen organizations including:

• Peterborough Pickleball

• Peterborough Cricket Association

• YMCA East Ontario

• Electric City Special Needs Sports

• Peterborough Curling Club

• Abilities Centre

• Autism Ontario Central East Region

• Peterborough Patriots Sports Club

• Peterborough Special Olympics

• Peterborough Challengers Baseball Association

• Peterborough Athletics Concussion Awareness

• Peterborough Petes

• Junior Achievement Northeast Ontario

• CapableCon-Council for Persons with Disabilities

• City of Peterborough Recreation Services Division

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Peterborough Petes's Michael Simpson Named OHL Goaltender of the Month

Peterborough Petes goalie Michael Simpson has been named the Ontario Hockey League goalie of the month for October announced on Tuesday.

Simpson was selected by the Petes in the tenth round, 193rd overall from the London Jr. Knights in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

It’s his second consecutive award after winning it in April of last season.

During October, Simpson posted a record of six wins and two losses with one shutout, a goals-against average of 2.22 and a .923 save percentage. In ten games this season, Simpson is first in the OHL in goals against average (2.38), wins (7) and second in save percentage (.919).

“Michael has done the work., said Andrew Verner, Petes associate coach. “He committed to coming to Peterborough as a third goalie to play U18 and has gotten better every day since.” 

“It feels amazing,” exclaimed Simpson. “To be recognized two months in a row is pretty special. It’s a nice achievement for myself but overall it’s a team award as we’ve played really good hockey this month. I’m excited to build off this and keep it going as we have a really busy schedule this month.”

Simpson will be honoured before the next home game this Thursday against the Barrie Colts.

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Trent University Set to Host Baggataway Cup This Friday in Three-Day Tournament; First Trent Men's Game Saturday

The Trent Excalibur Men’s lacrosse team is hosting the 2022 Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) Baggataway Cup Championship at Justin Chiu Stadium in a three-day tournament beginning Friday.

Peterborough has significant lacrosse milestones and notable events during 2022. This year is the 150 anniversary of lacrosse in Peterborough and the Lakers have won a fourth-straight Mann Cup championship. Photo courtesy of Trent University.

“It is my pleasure to welcome athletes, fans and visitors to Trent University for the 2022 Baggataway Cup,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent president and vice-chancellor.

Trent men’s team finished 2022-23 regular season as the number one seed in the East division that earned a bye to the semi-finals in the Baggataway Cup. Trent is hosting the event for a second time since the team’s inception into CUFLA in 2007. The championship was first hosted at Trent in 2012.

“We are thrilled to be hosting this signature CUFLA championship event again at Trent and are honoured to welcome competitors and fans to Justin Chiu Stadium,” said Leslie Spooner, Trent interim director of Athletics and Recreation. “Our Excalibur men’s lacrosse team has had an incredible season and we can’t wait to cheer on our green and white at home during the Baggataway Cup Championship weekend.”

The first quarterfinal game is on Friday at 4:30 p.m. with the second at 7:30 p.m.

Semi-finals begins on Saturday with Trent’s first game against the winner of quarter-final #1 between McGill and Western at 1:30 p.m. The second semi-final game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

The Baggataway Cup final is on Sunday at 2 p.m. immediately followed by an awards presentation.

“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.”  

A local high school all-star game takes place at 11:00 a.m. prior to the championship game on Sunday.

Day and weekend passes are available for purchase at the gate and in-person at the Trent Athletics Centre. Trent students and children under 12 can attend for free.

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Buckhorn's Kal Sager Selected for Canadian Men’s Sevens Rugby Team

Kal Sager has been selected for the Canada Men's Sevens Team for the start of the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Hong Kong, announced Friday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Rugby Club.

Originally from Buckhorn, Sager started playing rugby at Thomas A. Stewart High School where he was part of the winning team for the AAA boys OFSAA in 2019. He went on to join the Peterborough Rugby Club where he played on U16, U18 and senior men’s teams before moving on to play at Trent University.

Sager joins the team from Rugby Canada’s Pacific Pride program, having competed with the B.C. Men’s 7s team at the Rugby Town 7s competition in Denver last August.

This tournament welcomes the 16 best men’s sevens teams in the world and Sager is the only new player to be selected for the team.

Canada is scheduled to face Argentina, Ireland and Kenya in this tournament from Nov. 4 to 6. Canada's first game against Argentina kicks off at 4:04 a.m. EST on Friday.

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Peterborough Petes Earn 6-2 Victory and Series Sweep Over the Soo Greyhounds, Begins Two-Game Winning Streak

The Peterborough Petes get the series sweep with a 6-2 win over the Soo Greyhounds at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

The Petes beat the Greyhounds on the road, 3-2 in the teams’ first matchup on Oct. 14. Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen Photography and the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes started hot by scoring three straight goals from Konnor Smith, Tucker Robertson (power play) and Nick Lardis, 10:45 into the period. They peppered the Greyhounds’s goalie Charlie Schenkel with 16 shots on net in the first. Soo would counter one minute after Lardis’s goal as Peterborough’s Kalvyn Watson scored on his hometown team to cut the lead, 3-1 going into the second.

The Petes continued their offensive flurry with 14 more shots on net. Brian Zanetti eventually was able to snipe one past Schenkel at the 14:06 mark to make it 4-1. That was the only goal scored heading into the third period.

Chase Stillman kept Peterborough’s momentum going as he scored his second goal of the season to make it 5-1. Soo responded quickly as Justin Cloutier beat Michael Simpson to make it 5-2 and pull within three goals. Desperate to make the game closer, Soo pulled their goalie but Connor Lockhart crushed any chance of a comeback with an empty-netter goal for a 6-2 final.

Lardis had a three-point night with one goal and two assists earnign first-star honours. Chase Stillman and Connor Lockhart both had a goal and an assist with the former earing the second star. Soo’s Watson and Peterborough’s own earned the third star with a goal.

The Petes travel to our nation’s capital to take on the undefeated Ottawa 67s on Friday night.

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Hometown PTBO: Former OHL Defenseman Dan Growden Raising Money For His Daughter Diagnosed With Angelman Syndrome

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks to former OHL defenseman Dan Growden about his OHL career, transitioning into speed skating and raising money for his daughter Sawyer. She has been diagnosed with the rare Angelman Syndrome.

To help donate, click here.

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Trent Excalibur Earn Silver At 2022 OUA Women’s Lacrosse Championships; Fall Short of Three Peat

A third straight title was so close for the Trent Excalibur women’s lacrosse team earned silver medal at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Patterson Cup Championships, hosted at the University of Toronto on Sunday. 

Trent was a two-time defending champion heading into the tournament, winning the title in 2021 and 2019. 2020 had no tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy of Trent University.

The team defeated the likes of Ontario Tech 24-5, Laurier 16-8 and Western 10-9 in overtime. They lost to the Queen's Gaels, 16-5, falling short of earning the three peat.

“These are tremendous student-athletes and their accomplishments, both on-and-off the field, are shining examples of what the Trent Excalibur program represents,” said Leslie Spooner, interim director, Athletics & Recreation. “They never backed down and continued to play with passion, determination and resilience. These athletes continue to raise the profile of Trent Excalibur lacrosse and we could not be prouder of them.”

Mackenzie Manuliak (attacker), Avery Di Giorgio (midfielder), Jaqueline Maclean (defender) and Kieran Gerow (goalie), were named 2022 OUA Women’s Lacrosse Championship All-Stars. 

“We are so proud of this team and all that they have accomplished this season,” says Erica Evans, Excalibur head coach. “Our heads are held high wearing that silver medal with pride knowing we will only come back hungrier, more experienced, and more determined than ever next season.”

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Three Peterborough Petes Named to NHL Central Scouting 22-23 Preliminary Players To Watch List

The NHL Central Scouting Service released its Preliminary Players to Watch List ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft and Peterborough Petes’ Nick Lardis, Donovan McCoy and Konnor Smith were listed on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Lardis received a “B” rating which projects him as a 2nd-3rd round selection. McCoy and Smith both received a “C” rating as potential 4th-7th round selections. The NHL Draft will take place from June 28-29, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.

Lardis has four goals and three assists on the season for seven points in ten games. During his rookie season, he scored 18 times with 19 assists. The Oakville forward was originally selected by the Petes sixth overall in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.

McCoy was originally selected 15th overall by the Petes in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Quinte Red Devils. He has 19 assists through 71 career games as a Pete.

Smith was selected by the Petes from the Jr. Spitfires in the ninth round, 175th overall in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. Smith has four goals and nine assists in 52 career games as a Pete.

Since McCoy and Smith were both born after Sept. 15, they are considered “late birthdays” and are eligible for the NHL Draft for the first time this season despite being born in 2004.

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Peterborough Petes Trade Prospect Marko Stojkov for a 12th Round Draft Pick

The Peterborough Petes have acquired a 2023 12th-round OHL Priority Selection pick from the Flint Firebirds in exchange for the rights to Petes prospect Marko Stojkov announced on Monday.

This is the second trade that Peterborough and Flint have made this month. On Oct. 3, the Petes acquired overage forward Sahil Panwar from the Firebirds in exchange for three Priority Selection picks.

Stojkov was drafted 235th overall by the Petes in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. He been playing for Frölunda HC J18 and J20 in Sweden for parts of the last three seasons

The draft pick originally belonged to the Guelph Storm before being acquired by Flint.

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Peterborough Petes Take Down Defending Champions A Second Time With 5-2 Road Win

The Peterborough Petes topped the defending OHL Champion Hamilton Bulldogs for a second time this on the road, 5-2 on Saturday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The first period went by fast with no penalties or goals. Peterborough led in shots 9-7 going into the second.

The second period was slightly more lively Bulldog’s Noah Roberts took a major spearing penalty three minutes in. Peterborough capitalized as Jack Van Volsen crashed the net and shovelled in a Tucker Robertson rebound to get the game’s first score into the third.

The Petes had layover powerplay time from a Hamilton penalty in the second. J.R. Avon extended Peterborough’s lead to 2-0. Seconds later Hamilton captain Logan Morrison cut the lead in half. Justin DeZoete restored the two-goal lead late into the period to make it 3-1.

Hamilton had a six-on-four powerplay with an empty net and capitalized to make it 3-2. The Bulldogs pulled their goalie again but Tucker Robertson tacked on the insurance marker to make it 4-2. Nick Lardis added a powerplay goal with five seconds left to make it a 5-2 final.

The Petes next game is against the Soo Greyhounds this Thursday at home on Halloween Night.

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