Peterborough Blogs
Peterborough Petes Draft Nathan Leek and Josh Hutton In 2023 U18 Priority Selection
/The Peterborough Petes have drafted Nathan Leek and Josh Hutton in the 2023 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection on Wednesday night.
Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.
“We’re excited about the talent that we were able to add today,” said Michael Oaky, Petes general manager. “We’ve had a lot of success with the U18 draft with picks like Sam Mayer, Dustin Hutton and Jaden Reyes who all played for the Petes. We believe the players we selected today have the potential to make an impact in the Ontario Hockey League and we’re looking forward to participating in their development.”
Leek was a first-round pick, 11th overall. He’s a 2005-born forward from Alliston, Ont. Leek spent last season with the Barrie Colts U18 where he scored 30 goals and added 34 assists for 64 points in 35 games played.
Hutton was the Petes’s second-round pick, 31st overall from Midland, Ont. He spent last season with the Toronto Red Wings U18 and was teammates with Petes’ goaltending prospect Carter Frost.
The Petes start game one of the Eastern Conference Final against the North Bay Battalion on the road on Friday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Fans can attend the official watch party for game one at Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews.
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'Walter' Released Into Canal Ahead of the 34th Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby
/The first school of fish arrived at the Peterborough Lift Lock as top prize rainbow trout ‘Walter’ was released into the water on Wednesday afternoon to help kick off the 34th Annual Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Under the Lock Fishing Derby.
GORDON BOWLEY, FISHING DERBY co-CHAIR toses one of 30 trout that went into the Lift Lock canal on WEdnesday afternoon. Photo by Samantha Bianco.
Walter is a rainbow trout weighing roughly eight to 10 lbs. at a length of 20-24 inches. Anyone who catches him gets the grand prize of $1,000. There are 500 tagged trout for instant prizes and a chance to win one of four grand prizes. Instant prizes include fishing nets, tackle boxes, fishing rods and other fishing gear.
This is the second consecutive year the derby has run since the COVID-19 pandemic. It took a two-year hiatus prior to its return last year.
“Fishing season for trout opened last weekend so we're near the beginning of the season and for me, it's my psychological rehabilitation over a long cold winter,” laughed Gordon Bowley, OFAH fishing derby co-chair.
Walter returns as the top prize fish earning the angler who catches him $1,000. Photo by Samantha Bianco.
The derby begins this Saturday with the youth event — for children 15 and under — at 9 a.m. and the all-ages kicking off Sunday at 9 a.m. and runs until May 7. It includes 25 tagged fish, each with a $200 cash prize sponsored by local businesses.
Registration is required for all participants, just $15 for the first child, $10 for siblings and $25 for adults.
Tickets can be purchased online at ofah.org/underthelock or in person at Peterborough Canadian Tire locations.
“This is a great opportunity to be outside,” said Bowley. “It's a great year to be doing it and we're so glad to do it again for our second year after the pandemic.
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Peterborough Petes Face the North Bay Battalion In Eastern Conference Championship; Game One On Friday
/The Peterborough Petes have drawn the North Bay Battalion in the Eastern Conference Final matchup with game one beginning Friday.
The Petes failed to beat the Battalion in four games during the regular season. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.
The matchup was confirmed after the Battalion defeated the Barrie Colts 3-1, scoring three goals in the third period in game seven on Tuesday night.
This is the Petes’s first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2016-17 and the second time since their OHL Championship in 2006. The last time the Petes and Battalion met in the playoffs was the 2015-16 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal. The Battalion won the series four games to three.
The following is the playoff schedule for the Eastern Conference final:
Friday, April 28 - Peterborough @ North Bay - 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 30 - Peterborough @ North Bay - 2 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 - North Bay @ Peterborough - 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday, May 3 - North Bay @ Peterborough - 7:05 p.m.
Friday, May 5 - Peterborough @ North Bay - 7 p.m.*
Sunday, May 7- North Bay @ Peterborough - 7:05 p.m.*
Monday, May 8 - Peterborough @ North Bay - 7 p.m.*
*If necessary
Tickets for games three and four go on sale to the general public on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Fans can purchase tickets starting Wednesday online or by contacting the PMC Grant Thornton Box Office in person or at (705) 743-3561.
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Connor Lockhart's Hat Trick Propels Peterborough Petes In 5-4 Win, Regular-Season Champion Ottawa 67's Eliminated
/The Peterborough Petes have knocked off the regular-season champion Ottawa 67’s in a nail-biting game six with a 5-4 win and won the series 4-2 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Monday night.
The Petes have yet to lose two consecutive playoff games and lose at home this postseason. Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.
The Petes got rolling in the first as Owen Beck knocked down a puck in the offensive zone, passed to Chase Stillman who made a spinning backhand pass to Connor Lockhart for a one-timer goal to make it 1-0. Peterborough continued their offense as two minutes later, Brennan Othmann fed Avery Hayes another one-timer to make it 2-0. Ottawa was able to get one before the period’s end as Gavin Ewles ripped one from the high slot through traffic for a 2-1 game.
It was all Peterborough in the second period as Beck found Lockhart on a saucer pass from an odd-man rush and the latter was able to chip it backhanded, beating Ottawa goaltender Max Donoso to make it 3-1 Petes. Peterborough went right back on the attack as 30 seconds later, Jonathan Melee and the Petes with an outnumbered attack ripped it past Donoso to extend Peterborough’s lead to 4-1.
Lockhart continued where he left off as he completed the hat trick in the first minute of the third. Lockhart tried to feed Stillman for a one-timer but a spectacular save was made by backup goalie Collin MacKenzie but the rebound went back to Lockhart for his third of the game. Ottawa would not go quietly however much like game five, scoring four goals in the third period and erasing a three-goal deficit. In just under five minutes, Derek Smyth, Vinzenz Rohrer and Luca Pinelli scored to make it 5-4. The Petes were able to hang on this time and defeat Ottawa, eliminating the regular-season champions in six games. This is the Petes’s first Conference Championship since 2016-17.
Lockhart, Stillman and Beck were awarded three starts of the game.
Tickets for the Conference Championship go on sale Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. through the Grant Thornton Box Office. Peterborough will play the winner between the North Bay Battalion and the Barrie Colts who play game seven on Tuesday night.
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U16 AAA Petes Have 13 Players Drafted to OHL
/The Peterborough Elite Court Sports U16 AAA Petes are having 13 players go to the next level as they were drafted in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection on Friday and Saturday.
The U16 Petes participated in the OHL Cup and won the OMHA Cup. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE U16 PETERBOROUGH PETES.
The team had a memorable year as they were the finalists in the Steve Richey tournament in late January, won the OMHA Championship in late March and made the semifinals of the OHL Cup in early April.
“Such an amazing journey that I was so proud to be a part of,” Michael Farrugia, U16 AAA Petes head coach. “These players and their teammates worked so hard and achieved great things.”
The following are the players drafted to the OHL:
Second round, 31st overall: Wil McFadden, C, Guelph Storm
Third round, 54th overall: Joshua Avery, C, Brantford Bulldogs
Third round, 58th overall, Ben Radley, LD, Brantford Bulldogs
Fourth round, 70th overall, Andrew MacNiel, RD, Kitchener Rangers
Fourth round, 78th overall, Lukas Moore, RD, Kingston Frontenacs
Sixth round, 112th overall: Masen Johnston, G, Peterborough Petes
Seventh round, 136th overall, Graydon Jones, LD, Saginaw Spirit
Seventh round, 138th overall, Cohen Bidgood, RW, London Knights
Eighth round, 159th overall, Kaiden Harmon, C, Barrie Colts
Ninth round, 181th overall, Kayden Buller, LW, North Bay Battalion
10th round, 190th overall, Nathan McHattie, LD, Guelph Storm
13th round, 249th overall, Owen Fitzgerald, LW, Brantford Bulldogs
14th round, 282nd overall, John Lumsden, LD, Ottawa 67’s
Peterborough Petes Add Hometown Talent As Part of 13 Players Taken In 2023 OHL Priority Selection
/The Peterborough Petes added some hometown talent selecting three players from the City and County as part of 13 players selected in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection on Friday and Saturday.
(From left to right) Michael Oke, Petes general manager; Joseph Cadorin, forward; Carson Cameron, defenseman and Masen Johnston, goaltender. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Three of their draft picks were showcased at a press conference including two hometown players in first-round pick and defenseman Carson Cameron (Bobcaygeon) and sixth-round pick goaltender Masen Johnston (Peterborough).
Also present was forward Joseph Cadorin (Kleinburg) who was drafted in the fourth round as Peterborough’s second pick in the draft. Defenseman Kaiden Thatcher (Bethany) rounds out the local talent as Peterborough’s final pick in the 15th round but was not present at the conference since he was not drafted during the time the event was being held.
“We are really excited about this group of players that we were able to add yesterday and today,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager. “We feel these players put us in a great position moving forward and we can’t wait for development camp.”
On Friday night, the Petes drafted Cameron with the 13th overall pick. The 15-year-old registered eight goals and 30 assists with the U16 AAA Central Ontario Wolves and won the Steve Richey Tournament with them on Jan. 22.
“It's surreal, I never thought I'd get picked by the Petes in the first place,” he explained. “I grew up coming to watch the games, I used to come to the CanSkates and it's pretty unreal to walk through the door, this time with a Petes jersey on.”
Photo by David Tuan bui.
Cadorin was drafted 76th overall from the U16 AAA Ajax-Pickering Raiders with one goal and 10 assists through 34 games. The pick originally belonged to the Saginaw Spirit and was the teams’ second pick of the draft.
“I was very happy to be drafted by such a great organization with a great team,” he said. “Leading up to the draft, I was pretty nervous. I didn't know where I was going to go or who will take me but I'm just happy Peterborough took me.”
Photo by David Tuan bui.
Johnston was taken 112th overall as Peterborough’s fourth pick from the U16 Minor AAA Peterborough Petes. He was the winning goalie for the Petes when they won the Ontario Minor Hockey Association Championship on March 19 in triple overtime.
“They (Peterborough Petes) develop goalies really well and I worked with Andrew Verner so I'm really excited to continue working with him and it's going to be an awesome journey,” he explained. “They really care about their goaltending and they put an emphasis on developing goalies and they really care to make great goaltending.”
“Masen’s a true Peterborough kid,” said Michael Farrugia, U16 AAA Petes head coach. “He’s been an AAA Pete since Novice so it’s fitting he starts this new chapter in his backyard.”
Photo by David Tuan bui.
The Petes added 13 players including eight forwards, four defencemen and a goaltender. The following is the Petes draft results:
First round, 13th overall: Carson Cameron, D, Central Ontario Wolves
Fourth round, 76th overall: Joseph Cadorin, F, Toronto Marlboros
Fifth round, 88th overall: Liam Ladds, D, Elgin-Middlesex Canucks
Sixth round, 112th overall: Masen Johnston, G, Peterborough Petes
Seventh round, 133rd overall: Chase Del Colombo, F, Toronto Nationals
Eighth round, 153rd overall: Gavin Lock, F, Detroit Little Caesars
Ninth round, 173rd overall: Easton Lynds, F, Mississauga Senators
10th round, 193rd overall: Calum Hartnell, D, Ottawa Jr. Senators
10th round, 196th overall: Thanasi Marentette, D, Toronto Nationals
11th round, 213th overall: Francis Parish, F, Central Ontario Wolves
12th round, 234th overall: Aiden Lee, F, Markham Majors
13th round, 253rd overall: Brody Leet, F, Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
14th round, 273rd overall: Joshua Kaufman, F, Kitchener Jr. Rangers
15th round, 293rd overall: Kaiden Thatcher, D, Ajax-Pickering Raiders
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Peterborough Petes Topple Ottawa 67's in 3-1 Victory; One Win Away From Eliminating Regular-Season Champions
/The Peterborough Petes are one game away from knocking off the regular-season champion Ottawa 67’s after a 3-1 victory at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night with the series as the same score.
The Petes have won three consecutive games against Ottawa, one more victory than during their regular season series. Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.
The Petes gave Ottawa no room in the first period, limiting them to four shots in the period while putting Ottawa’s goalie Max Donoso under siege with 11 shots of their own. He and Petes goaltender Michael Simpson were able to stop them all however as it remained scoreless after one.
Brennan Othmann continued where he left off after scoring the game-winner on Tuesday night with a tipped shot from captain Shawn Spearing to put the Petes up 1-0. Just over six minutes later, Chase Stillman joined the score sheet by pounding on a rebound to extend Peterborough’s lead to 2-0. Spearing had the secondary assists, putting him at two for the night. Ottawa was able to get on the board with just over a minute left as Luca Pinelli on the powerplay capitalized on a rebound and scored after excellent puck movement from Ottawa to make it 2-1.
The Petes continued pushing the pace as they controlled majority of the third period and limiting puck possession for Ottawa. Owen Beck gave Peterborough some insurance with an empty netter for a 3-1 victory and a 3-1 series lead. Spearing assisted on that play for this third helper.
Spearing, Stillman and Donoso were named the three starts of the game respectively.
The Petes will try to close out the series this Saturday as they head back to the nation’s capital for game five with puck drop at 4 p.m.
A record 50/50 jackpot of $9,668 was won in honour of longtime Petes volunteer and Booster Club founding member, Betty Nelson who passed away on March 31. A portion of the proceeds will be donated in Nelson’s name, courtesy of the Peterborough Minor Hockey Council.
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Petes Tickets Sold Out Online For Game Four's 'Whiteout'
/Online tickets for Peterborough Petes’ game four have sold out as the organization is asking fans to wear white for the ‘whiteout’ against the Ottawa 67’s on Thursday night.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KENNETH ANDERSEN AND THE PETERBOROUGH PETES.
A select amount are still available through the Peterborough Memorial Centre Grant Thornton Box Office by calling (705) 743-3561 or by visiting the Box Office in person.
The Petes Store also restocked white shirts for the whiteout which are available for purchase on game day in person or online.
A record $5,000 minimum 50/50 jackpot is being held in honour of Betty Nelson. Tickets can be purchased online or at the game. The draw will take place in the third period.
The following is the remaining schedule for the second round against the Ottawa 67s:
Game 4: Thursday, April 20 @ 7:05 p.m. – Ottawa @ Peterborough
Game 5: Saturday, April 22 @ 4:00 p.m. – Peterborough @ Ottawa
Game 6: Monday, April 24 @ 7:05 p.m. – Ottawa @ Peterborough*
Game 7: Tuesday, April 25 @ 7:00 p.m. – Peterborough @ Ottawa*
*if necessary
The Petes are back in action for game four on Thursday to try and take a commanding 3-1 series over the Ottawa 67’s. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.
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Peterborough Petes Score Late For 3-2 Win; Hold 2-1 Series Lead Over Ottawa 67's
/The Peterborough Petes crowd was excited and loud with a ‘white out’ as the team had a 3-2 win over the Ottawa 67’s thanks to a late third-period goal to lead the series 2-1 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Tuesday night.
The Petes had their first lead of game three with 1:15 left in teh third period. Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.
