Fleming Phoenix Roundup: Jan. 15

The Fleming Phoenix basketball and volleyball teams could not see much success but did salvage one victory over the past weekend.

Paul-Ryan Molay (15) defending a St. Lawrence player driving the net mid-air. Photo courtesy of Adam Smith and Fleming College.

The Phoenix men’s basketball team lost a nail-biter in overtime, 98-97, against the St. Lawrence Surge in Kingston on Saturday.

Fleming had led for three of four quarters but could not close it out. High scorers for the Phoenix were Shawn Blackwood with 39 points, Lystra White with 20 points and Paul-Ryan Molay with 19 points. 

The Phoenix men’s basketball team is back in action on Friday at home against the George Brown Huskies. The game, which takes place at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre (PSWC), is also being used by the Phoenix to highlight the importance of mental health through the promotion and awareness of Bell Let’s Talk Day. The tip-off is 7 pm. 

Both the men's and women’s Phoenix volleyball teams played games at home this weekend as they hosted the Georgian Grizzlies to the PSWC on Saturday and the Canadore Panthers on Sunday.

It was close but no cigar for the men’s team as they lost all three sets to the Grizzlies on Saturday, 25-21, 30-28, and 26-24. 

They rebounded on Sunday’s game, taking three of the five sets from the Panthers, with Canadore winning two sets 25-14 and 25-23 while the Phoenix took two sets 25-19, 25-20 and then the deciding set 15-8. 

The women’s volleyball team took the first set against the Grizzlies, 25-22 but then lost the next three sets, 25-23, 25-14 and 25-15 on Saturday.

They saw the same result against the Canadore Panthers on Sunday. The Phoenix won the first set 25-17 and then dropped the next three sets, 25-10, 25-19 and 25-20. 

The next action for the men's and women’s Phoenix volleyball teams is on Wednesday when they travel to Seneca College to take on the Sting.

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Peterborough Jr. A Lakers Draft Five Players In Ontario Junior Lacrosse League Including Three Top-Five Picks

The Peterborough Merit Precision Jr. A Lakers drafted five players, including three top-five picks, in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) Entry Draft on Saturday.

Established in 1933, the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) consists of 11 teams across Ontario and is the top feeder league for the National Lacrosse League (NLL), with 16 OJLL alum being selected first overall since the inaugural NLL draft in 1996. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Jr. A Lakers.

The Lakers held the following picks in the draft:

• First round - Second overall

• First round - Third overall

• First round - Fifth overall

• Second round - 12th overall

• Second Round - 16th overall

With the second overall pick, the Lakers chose goaltender Waukiigan Shognosh from the Wallaceburg Griffins. Last summer, he helped lead Team Ontario to a gold medal at the Canadian U17 boys box lacrosse championship in Regina.

Peterborough went back on the clock after their first pick, taking offensive standout Zachary McLean from the Gloucester Griffins third overall. He had 71 points in 23 games last year.

The Lakers then traded with the Six Nations Arrows, acquiring the fifth and 16th picks in exchange for their 13th pick and a first-round selection in 2025. They used their fifth overall pick to select Mason Cree from the Akwesasne Storm. He was also a part of Team Ontario's U17 gold victory in Saskatchewan.

With the 12th overall pick in the second round, the Lakers took Matthew Ford from the Milton Mavericks. The offensive force scored 88 points in 27 games last season.

With their final draft pick at 16th overall, the Lakers chose Adam Trumble of the Orillia Kings. He excelled in three varsity sports, hockey, football and lacrosse at Culver Military Academy last year. He is the third Trumble brother to play for the Jr. A Lakers; his oldest brother, Ben, played last season while his middle brother, Sam, is the face-off specialist for the team.

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Fleming Phoenix Roundup: Jan. 10

The Fleming Phoenix entered the new year with some new gym updates and fresh faces to the men’s basketball team against the Durham Lords but could not kick off January right.

The Fleming Phoenix logo was unveiled for the college on Sept. 8, replacing the Fleming Knight. Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

The Phoenix fell to the Lords 79-68 at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre (PSWC) on Wednesday. Fleming were the underdogs, sporting a 2-8 record to the powerhouse Lords winning nine of their ten games.

Fleming had five new players this semester that made their season debut with the team.

Shawn Blackwood had 37 points, Tristan Paguirigan scored 10 points, Paul-Ryan Molay netted nine points and Lystra White got eight points as Fleming’s top scorers.

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Photos: Peterborough Petes U11A Hosts Chris Fee Cup To Kick Off 64th Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament

The Chris Fee Cup kicked off the 64th Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament as the host Peterborough Petes U11A took on the Toronto Wolverines U11A at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Friday morning.

All photos by David Tuan Bui.

The cup is a feature opening game against a visiting team against the host Petes team since 1997. Petes were victorious against the Wolverines, winning their first contest 4-1 to capture the 2024 Chris Fee Cup.

The tournament features 71 teams in 13 divisions playing throughout five arenas in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

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New Wave of Peterborough Petes Shine Despite 6-5 Overtime Loss to the Kingston Frontenacs

Despite taking a 6-5 overtime loss to the Kingston Frontenacs, the new blood of the Petes shined with each player earning at least a point at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen adn the Peterborough Petes.

Grayden Strohack was the only trade deadline acquisition who was not dressed for the game due to an illness. This game also saw the return of former Pete Jax Dubois, who was traded to Kingston on Sunday.

Caden Taylor, who came over from the Sudbury Wolves, wasted no time making an impact on the team. He got a centring pass from Braydon McCallum and slipped it by JJ Salajko for a 1-0 lead.

Peterborough got into discipline problems early and came back to haunt them as Kingston got two consecutive powerplay goals for a 2-1 lead.

Petes defenceman Martin Matejicek registered a point as the primary assist for Chase Lefebvre, receiving a wide-angle pass from the win and buying a one-timer for a 2-2 tie.

In the final 90 seconds of the period, Quinton Pagé helped himself to a goal after Lefebvre had a chance to score uncontested but was stopped. He corraled his own rebound, threw it at the net for Pagé and scored for a 3-2 lead heading into the second.

The second period was all Kingston as Jacob Battaglia scored two straight goals to go with his first-period powerplay goal for a hat trick. Nathan Poole added another tally for the Frontenacs as they enjoyed a 5-3 lead headed into the final frame.

New Petes, Aiden Young, Nico Addy and William Haley made their presence felt by being involved in Peterborough’s next goal. Young had the secondary assist as Haley had a centring pass and took a shot but was stopped. Addy came in and pounced on the rebound on the backhand to score just 2:40 in the period and it was a 5-4 game.

Halfway through the period, the Petes’s first-round draft pick in the last OHL Priority Selection, Carson Cameron, was activated from his defensive spot and wristed it top shelf to tie the game at five and eventually into overtime.

Unfortunately, Peterborough had incurred a delay of game penalty prior to the period’s end that trickled into overtime. With a four-on-three man advantage, Paul Ludwinski one-timed it home for a Kingston 6-5 win.

The Petes will face another division rival as they host the Oshawa Generals this Saturday at the PMC. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.

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Former Peterborough Petes Owen Beck Ties Saginaw Spirit Record With Six Points In Team Debut

Saginaw Spirit forward and former Peterborough Pete Owen Beck made a statement in his first game with his new team, tying a franchise record of most points in a team debut with six against the Windsor Spitfires at the WFCU Centre on Wednesday night.

Photo by Samantha Bianco.

Beck was traded to Saginaw for Aiden Young, Ottawa’s second-round pick in 2025, Saginaw’s second-round pick in 2027 and Mississauga’s third-round pick in 2026 on Monday.

The Montréal Canadiens prospect's first point came in the second period on the powerplay as a secondary assist. He also tacked on two more helpers in Saginaw’s next two goals.

His first goal did not come until almost five minutes into the third on the powerplay. He rifled a one-timer slapshot between the faceoff circle and dot for his first goal and fourth point with Saginaw.

After getting another assist, Beck scored his second of the game and sixth point of the night with another one-timer roughly in the same spot as his last goal but from more inside the faceoff circle.

It was Saginaw’s 11th goal of the game and routed the Spitfires 11-3. Beck’s six points ties the record with Pavel Mintyukov, Dalton Duhart, Cole Coskey and Vincent Trocheck.

The Petes are going to Hogwarts to host the Frontenacs on Thursday for Harry Potter night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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Peterborough Petes Welcome New Wave of Players After Trade Deadline; Johnathan Melee Named 63rd Franchise Captain

Shortly after the OHL Trade Deadline had finished at noon, the Peterborough Petes introduced their acquisitions and named Johnathan Melee as the franchise’s 63rd captain at a press conference at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Wednesday.

Melee (left) has been named the 63rd captain in franchise history after the departure of former captain Donovan McCoy who was traded the the Sudbury Wolves on Monday. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations, named Melee as team captain after the Petes had traded Donovan McCoy to the Sudbury Wolves on Monday. The Rockland, Ont. native said he would take what he learned from past captains such as McCoy and Shawn Spearing and use those teachings to lead the team.

“When I came in from the (McTavish) trade two years ago, he (Spearing) brought me in right away,” said Melee. “He made me feel welcome and I feel like I need to do that for these guys and I'm excited to have that responsibility.”

Oke also announced that Tommy Purdeller and Cam Gauvreau are alternate captains to back up Melee.

“They were here last year and a big part of our championship run so they'll have lots of experience to give out too,” he explained. “They'll definitely take some weight off my shoulders in teaching the young guys how to play and how to be a hockey player.”

Gauvreau (left) with Oke (middle) and Purdeller (right) shortly after they were named alternate captains to the media during the Petes press conference. Photo by David TUan Bui.

Oke was active in making deals prior to Wednesday’s trade deadline. All players he acquired in trades were introduced to the media during their press conference.

Oke said that he was willing to go in either direction depending on the team’s performance during the season to either build for a successful title defence or to reload and retool the roster for the future.

“We felt it was in the best interest of ourselves and of the players that were absolutely unbelievable during last year's magical run to put them in a position to have some success and further along their OHL careers as they were coming to an end,” explained Oke. “At the same time, allow us to acquire some new players to come and retool for another championship run on our end.”

Oke’s phone rang many times over the trading season and he knew the value of his players, especially after coming off an OHL Championship.

“A lot of our players were sought after,” he said. “We made it very clear how highly we value them that if teams were interested in acquiring them for their respective championship run this year that it was going to have to be a certain player or certain level of draft picks.”

The following were the transactions Peterborough made before the trade deadline:

• Nico Addy (forward), Martin Matejicek (defenceman) and 2026 third-round pick from the Owen Sound Attack for Konnor Smith (defenceman) and Sam McCue (forward)

• A second-round pick in 2024, Soo’s third-round pick in 2027 and Ottawa’s fifth-round pick in 2027 from the Ottawa 67’s for Samuel Mayer (defenceman)

• Flint’s second-round pick in 2025, Guelph’s third-round pick in 2026 and Windsor’s fifth-round pick in 2027 from the Kingston Frontenacs for Jax Dubois (forward)

• Aiden Young (forward), Ottawa’s second-round pick in 2025, Saginaw’s second-round pick in 2027, and Mississauga’s third-round pick in 2026 from the Saginaw Spirit for Owen Beck (forward)

• Caden Taylor (forward) and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2027 from the Sudbury Wolves for Donovan McCoy (defenceman)

• Grayden Strohack (defenceman) from the Flint Firebirds for London’s third-round pick in 2025, a fourth-round pick and a fifth-round pick both in 2027

• William Haley (defenceman) from the Mississauga Steelheads for a conditional 15th-round pick in 2027

Oke stated that all of the players should be in Thursday’s lineup against the Kingston Frontenacs except for Strohack who was absent from the press conference due to an illness. His status is being monitored and could play Thursday depending on his health.

(From left to right) Nico Addy, Martin Matejicek, Aiden Young, Caden Taylor and William Haley as the team’s newest Peterborough Petes. Grayden Strohack was absent due to an illness. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Petes are going to Hogwarts to host the Frontenacs on Thursday for Harry Potter night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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Electric City Football Club Folds After Two Years; Pickering FC Acquires Team Licenses

The Electric City Football Club (ECFC) era has ended in Peterborough after two seasons as Pickering FC has acquired the men’s and women’s licenses, announced by League1 Ontario on Tuesday afternoon.

ECFC PLAYERS LUKE GREEN (MIDDLE) AND CONNOR WILSON (RIGHT) CELEBRATING THE TEAM’S FIRST FRANCHISE WIN WITH FANS, SCORING THREE GOALS IN 14 MINUTES. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The move allows Pickering FC, a founding League1 Ontario club, to restart their L1ON program with full operational control after stepping away before the 2022 season.

The club was initially introduced on Aug. 9, 2021 and started by Keaton Robbins and several local businessmen. Rob Jenkins was recruited as the team’s president for the men’s and women’s teams. Before joining the club, he helped build Calgary’s CPL franchise.

The club faced staff and management turnover shortly before the season’s start. Robbins had departed from the organization before the season opener and first appointed head coach Michael Marcoccia shortly stepped down for family reasons prior to training camp.

Jamie Sherwood, the men’s team’s second head coach, was let go after four games into the season. Randy Ribiero, the women’s head coach served as the interim replacement for the men’s team for the season and remained during the team’s sophomore year. He was terminated from his contract in late September last year. Team president Jenkins had left during the middle of the season.

The club saw record attendance in both the men’s and women’s home openers, setting League1 Ontario records with 1,565 and 1,009 fans, respectively, in 2022. In the two seasons, both the men’s and women’s teams were in the top half of the standings but failed to qualify for the playoffs.

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Peterborough Petes Trade For Defenceman William Haley In Exchange For a Conditional 15th-Round Pick to the Mississauga Steelheads

Shortly before the OHL trade deadline, the Peterborough Petes traded for defenceman William Haley from the Mississauga Steelheads in exchange for a conditional 15th-round pick in the 2027 OHL Priority Selection on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The 2005-born defenceman was selected by the Steelheads in the first round, 13th overall, in the 2022 OHL U18 Priority Selection. In 21 OHL games, he netted two assists. Last season, Haley played in 46 games for the Pickering Panthers of the OJHL, scoring once and adding 13 assists for 14 points. The Couburg native is a product of the Ajax/Pickering Raiders U18, picking up 17 points in 26 games during the 2021-22 season.

“William is an 18 year old defenceman who has played in multiple situations,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “He will provide additional depth to our lineup.”

The Petes are going to Hogwarts to host the Frontenacs on Thursday for Harry Potter night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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71 Teams Battling It Out In the 64th Annual Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament Beginning Friday

One of Peterborough’s most significant hockey traditions is back for its 64th year as the Annual Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament hits the ice starting Friday, announced at the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame on Monday night.

Garth Stoner (left), Neil Moloney (middle) and Carl Silevestri (right) The tournament was formerly called the Peterborough Liftlock Atom Hockey Tournament. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The three-day event starts Friday, with opening ceremonies for house league and rep divisions beginning at 10 a.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC). YourTV Cogeco is broadcasting the first two opening games for house and rep divisions.

The broadcasted games are the Ennismore Eagles White taking on the PHA Purple Panthers for the house league opening game at 10 a.m. Friday. The other is the Peterborough Petes battling against the Toronto Wolverines at 11:30 a.m. in the rep league opening game, also known as the Chris Fee Cup. It pits the host Peterborough team against the visiting squad.

This year features 71 teams from throughout the province in 13 divisions. They are playing throughout six arenas in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. This tournament runs for a second straight year after being shelved for 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tournament chairman Wally Moore says that since the inaugural tournament in 1958. The event has been supported for generations by volunteers and sponsors to help make it a long-standing Peterborough tradition which fits the tournament motto, ‘Not just a hockey tournament...It's a community affair.’

“The longevity of this has made this tournament so well. All the volunteers come back year after year,” he explained. “A lot of us have been doing this for 40 years but the new ones we bring in, our kids have been doing this for 20 years so it's a community thing.”

A cheque presentation of $2,500 was also donated to Kairos Non-Profit Housing of Peterborough and Camp Northern Lights as the chosen beneficiaries, as the tournament supports a local charity or more annually.

All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Several awards were distributed ahead of the opening ceremonies recognizing some volunteers for their contributions to the tournament over the years:

• Don McCrory Referee’s Award for exemplifying McCrory’s dedication to officiating - Neil Moloney

• Steve Casey Award for a volunteer going the extra mile to contributing to the tournament’s success – Garth Stoner

• Frank Lustic Award for exemplifying all Lustic’s qualities who volunteered for over 25 years in minor sports – Carl Silvestri

A full tournament schedule can be found online.

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