Former Peterborough Pete Makes NHL Debut With Los Angeles Kings

It was a few years in the making but former Peterborough Petes Akil Thomas made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings who took on the Winnipeg Jets at the Canada Life Centre on Monday night.

Akil Thomas skating with a young fan prior to a game. Photo courtesy of the PEterborough Petes.

Thomas got his opportunity after centreman and former Montréal Canadien Philip Danault is day-to-day with an upper body injury. Thomas got to play on the fourth line with former Hamilton Bulldog Arthur Kaliyev and rookie Alex Laferriere. Thomas only logged 3:42 of ice time and was on the ice for the Jets’s first goal of the game.

“It's kind of a crazy couple of days and a lot has to be taken in pretty quick but I'm very thankful to be here,” said Thomas.

Thomas’s parents were in attendance for the game and drove roughly 22 hours to see their son in his debut. They were unable to get a flight in time and opted to drive from Toronto to Winnipeg for the game.

“It means the world with the injuries and everything so I'm very thankful for the opportunity and obviously having people come out and support me means the world to me,” said Thomas.

Welcome to the National, Akil! 👏#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/lxfqqkOmIS

— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 2, 2024

Thomas has struggled with injuries in the last two years. He missed the first half of the 2021-22 season and only played 40 games. The next year, he suffered another injury on Nov. 19 that ended his year after just 13 games.

Prior to being called up to the Kings, Thomas had 22 goals and 21 assists in 61 games with the Ontario Reign (the Kings’s AHL affiliate) this season.

He was acquired by the Petes in a trade from the Niagara IceDogs in Jan. 2020 for Cameron Butler, two second-round picks (2020, 2022), one third-round pick (2022) and a fourth-round pick (2024).

He played 22 games for the Petes, scoring nine goals and 31 assists before the Ontario Hockey League was shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas was invited back to the Peterborough Memorial Centre for Game Three of the OHL Championship against the London Knights as part of the pre-game ceremonies to pump up the fans on May 15.

Thomas is well-known for his game-winning goal for Team Canada in the gold-medal game against Russia at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic.

Thomas was drafted by the Kings in 2018 in the second round, 51st overall. Following his OHL career, Thomas spent time with the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign since the 2020-21 season.

The Kings lost to the Jets 4-3 with a late goal from Winnipeg in the third.

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2024 Inductees Announced For Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame

Six names are being immortalized into Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame for the class of 2024, announced on Monday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame.

The inductees are being honoured at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in a ceremony on June 8 at 7 p.m.

The following are this year’s inductees:

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame.

Fred Blowes (Builder: Women’s Field Lacrosse)

Blowes came to Peterborough in 1987 to teach at Lakefield District Secondary School. His contribution to field lacrosse in Peterborough has been significant, particularly in developing female lacrosse players.

He founded and coached the Kawartha Women’s Field Lacrosse Club which began as an U20 team that competed in the Ontario Women’s Lacrosse League.

The Kawartha Lacrosse Club has grown over the years with the addition of U9/11/13/15/19, Senior Rep Teams and a House League.

The KWFC has earned many provincial honours. As a coach, Fred’s U19A teams earned provincial gold in 1998, 1999 and 2002 and two Ontario Summer Games Gold Medals in 1998 and 2002. He was named OWFL Coach of the Year in 1998, 2002, 2008, 2010, and 2011.

Blowes continues to lead the Kawartha Lacrosse Club as President. Many players from the Club have succeeded at the Provincial, National, International, Ontario University and NCAA levels.

He has mentored more than forty players who have received NCAA Scholarships and eleven players who have gone on to represent Canada at both U19 and/or Senior World Championships.

Under Blowes’s leadership, Peterborough has hosted several female field lacrosse international, national and provincial championships and World Lacrosse Festivals. Over a 37-year high school career, Blowes has chaired both OFSAA Boys’ Basketball Championships at Lakefield and two Girls’ Ontario High School Provincial Cups while at Kenner.

He served as Boys’ (1995-2008) and Girls’ (2001-2011) High School Lacrosse Convenor. He coached many high school teams to Kawartha and COSSA Championships, including the Lakefield Tiger Boy’s Lacrosse Team to four Ontario High School “B” Championships and the Kenner Rams Senior Boy’s Basketball team to a fourth-place finish at OFSAA “A” in 2023, followed by an OFSAA “A” Silver Medal in 2024.

He also served as the Head Coach of the Fleming College Women’s Basketball team in 2013. It would be safe to say that Fred Blowes is the driving force behind the success of female field lacrosse in Peterborough.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame.

Steve Caban (Athlete: Multi-sport Special Olympian)

Since the age of 10, Caban has competed in local, provincial, national and international competition in many sports: cross-country skiing, floor hockey, swimming, soccer, softball, basketball and 10-pin bowling.

He has travelled the world competing for Canada as an elite Special Olympian. He represented Canada at the 1999 World Special Olympics summer games in North Carolina winning three gold medals; the 2005 world winter games in Nagano, Japan, winning gold in the 5K x-country, 4th in the 1K and 5th in the 4x 1K relay; he medaled in the 2009 winter games in Boise, Idaho; and won bronze in x-country skiing at the 2013 winter games in Pyenongchang, South Korea.

Caban has medaled at many provincial and national winter and summer games. At the 2008 national winter games in Quebec City, he took home three cross-country skiing gold medals; in the 2016 national winter games in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, he won one silver and two bronze in cross-country skiing.

In 2023, Caban along with a number of other Peterborough Special Olympians won gold at the provincial qualifier swim meet in Pickering. In 2024, him and his Ontario team won silver in floor hockey at the national winter games in Calgary. He will be competing in swimming at the 2024 Ontario Spring Games in Waterloo.

Caban is one of Ontario’s most decorated Special Olympians. In 2017 he was awarded the Ontario Special Olympics Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also been recognized for his athletic achievements by the Government of Canada, Provincial Government and the City of Peterborough.

He is a successful athlete because of his talent and the hard work he puts into his training in order to qualify for national and world competition. One of Peterborough's most decorated athletes, Steve remains humble about his success and still enjoys playing many summer and winter sports.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame.

Ray Kerslake (Builder: Squash)

The Peterborough native was introduced to squash while attending university. In 1975, he joined the Peterborough Racquet Club. For over 45 years, he has played in many local and area tournaments; he was the Peterborough Squash Champion in 2001 and has played in Ontario and Canadian Masters Championships over the past 25 years, winning bronze in Ontario in 2019 and placing 4th at the Canadians in 2019. He was the 60+ winner at the Paul Wilson Squash Classic in 2018 and 2019.

Kerslake’s passion for the sport has translated into his leadership role in the Peterborough Squash community. He has achieved Level 1 and 2 Squash Ontario coaching certifications. He continues to teach juniors and adults which he has done for over 40 years including a few athletes who went on to be successful at the national and international level.

A Squash57 program for Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities was established in 2021. He was Club Pro at Goodlife Fitness; took over lead person for the intercity league (Kawartha Squash League); in 2010 formed the KSL a competitive league for A and B level teams from clubs in the area, Peterborough, Cobourg, Campbellford, YMCA, Trent University and Clarington. He launched ‘The Squash Shop’ at the PSC in 2013, providing high-quality equipment and racquet stringing for members and local squash players at reasonable prices.

Kerslake is the glue that brought people to the table in 2012 to find a way to create the Peterborough Squash Club (PSC), a Not-for-Profit Club run by volunteers and provide the stability that exists today.

He has chaired over 15 tournaments and has been a PSC Board member since 2013. It is the accepted fact within the squash community that if it were not for the effort, leadership, organization and commitment of Ray Kerslake, there would be no squash in Peterborough.

As a flourishing club, the PSC was recognized with the 2018 Squash Ontario ‘Outstanding Achievement’ award. Ray was individually recognized for his contributions to Peterborough squash with the 2022 Squash Ontario ‘Outstanding Achievement’ award. As a Squash Pro, program coordinator and financial lead for the PSC, Ray is a true ambassador of the game. He is a ‘Builder Extraordinaire."‘

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame.

Barbara Mervin (Athlete: Rugby)

Mervin was born in St. John’s, Nfld and moved to Peterborough in 1984. Growing up, she was a competitive gymnast at Kawartha Gymnastics.

After seeing rugby played by the boys at Adam Scott CVI, she decided to give it a go and join the Peterborough Pagans Rugby Club from 1998-2005 and was a player/coach in 2005.

She played for the University of Western Ontario, earning a B.A. in Art History and winning USPORT 2002 Rookie of the Year. From 2003 to 2005, she was an All Canadian and 2005 MVP at the National University Rugby Championships in 2004 and 2005.

Mervin was a member of the U23 Canadian team from 2002- 2004, the Senior Canadian 15’s team from 2005-2017 and the Canadian sevens team from 2008-2013.

She has played 38 international 15s games and seven international Sevens tournaments for team Canada. In world championship competition, the 15s team placed sixth in 2010, second in 2014 and fifth in 2017. The Sevens team placed first in tournaments in Vegas in 2011 and 2012, Dubai in 2011 and Hong Kong in 2012. Barbara won national championships in Ontario in 2002 and 2005 and three in British Columbia.

She moved to British Columbia and has continued to be involved in rugby as a head coach and assistant coach with the following organizations: BC Grassroots Rugby, University of Victoria, Westshore Rugby Club and Shawnigan Lake School.

She served and continues to serve Rugby Canada in many different capacities: Player’s Association, Club Rugby National Board of Directors, and Canadian Rugby Foundation Scholarship Award Committee.

Mervin has received a great deal of recognition for her contribution to the sport of rugby: the 2015 Gillian Florence Award - Rugby Canada Player’s Player Award, 2020 Inductee Rugby Canada Hall of Fame and 2021 Inductee University of Western Hall of Fame.

She completed the fashion design program at Pacific Design College, and in 2012, she founded her line of rugby active wear explicitly made for girls and produced in Canada

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame.

Anna Panton (Athlete/Builder: Lawn Bowling)

Born in Peterborough, Panton joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1957 and after her military career, she returned home to Peterborough in 1964.

She has been a presence in lawn bowling for over 25 years. Panton contributed to the success of the Peterborough Lawn Bowling Club as President of the Board of Directors from 2005-2013, overseeing the entire operation of the Club. She was a benefactor for the relocated Club in 2010 and worked to ensure a space for the Club to continue to play.

She is a Level 1 and 2 Certified Coach. Panton coached a District 14 novice team in 2005-2006 and has conducted clinics to train new skips and vices.

From 2003 to 2019, she umpired 16 district, provincial, and national events. As a player, she won trophies in 93 open tournaments between 1999 and 2023. At the Senior Games, she won gold in 2002, bronze in 2007 and gold in pairs in 2009. In 2005, she won two hot shot awards for scoring perfect ends.

In 2007, Panton was named the WOBA ‘Lady Bowler of the Week.’ She was a part of 19 District Championships as a PLBC team member; won ladies single handicap trophy 10 times 1999-2019; ladies novice District 14 Champion three times; ladies fours District 14 Champions five times; ladies pairs District 14 Champions 2005, 2007; ladies seniors District 14 Champions 2005, 2007, 2008; six-time OLBA Provincial medals; Bowls Canada Boulingrin Canadian ladies senior silver medalists 2005 and OLBA mixed pairs District 14 Champions in 2007.

In 2012, Panton received the ‘Award of Merit’ from Bowls Canada for chairing the mixed pairs Canadian Championship. In 2017, Panton and Bob Matthews won the prestigious 71st Black Family Memorial Trophy Mixed Pairs PLBC Tournament for the first time.

On the bowling greens, Panton’s role is that of Skip, managing gameplay and calling the shots. She is an active member of the foundation of the PLBC and proves on and off the bowling greens that she is a valuable and trusted leader within the PLBC organization. When not lawn bowling, Anna is a golfer and curler.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame.

Brent Tully (Athlete: Hockey)

The Peterborough native grew up playing hockey in the church league for St. Anne’s 1980-84. He played for the Minor Petes from minor Atom to major Bantam between 1984-89.

He was captain of the OMHA Bantam Peterborough Petes Champions in 1989. Tully was also an accomplished lacrosse player winning several provincial championships and one national championship with the Peterborough Minor Lakers in 1987.

Drafted by his hometown team in the second round in 1990, the 6’3 defenseman established himself as an elite player in the OHL from 1990-1994.

During his tenure with the Petes, he scored 30+ points in all three of his full-time seasons. The Petes were the OHL Champions and Memorial Cup runner-up in the 1992-1993 season. Tully was a second-team OHL All-Star for the 1992-93 season. In 1991, Tully was selected to Team Ontario U17 and won Gold at the Canada Winter Games; selected to Team Canada U18 in 1992 winning a world U18 silver medal in Yokohama Japan and won Gold twice while playing on the 1993 and 1994 Canadian National Junior Team at the IIHF World Junior Championships in Sweden and the Czech Republic.

Tully was voted to the tournament all-star team in 1993 and captained the 1994 team. In recent years, TSN named Tully to their all time World Junior All-Star team as one of the best players to ever represent Canada at the World Junior Championships.

In 1992, the Vancouver Canucks selected Brent in the fourth round of the NHL entry draft. HE was under contract for four seasons with the Canucks and joined their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, playing from 1994-1997. He moved to Europe in 1997 to further his career in the German Elite League (DEL) with the Augsburg Panthers, Dusseldorf EG, Hannover Scorpions, Kassel Huskies and finished his career in 2002 with the Frankfurt Lions.

Tully was awarded the City of Peterborough Senior Male Athlete of the Year in 1993. In 1994, as a member of the Peterborough Petes, he was named the OHL Humanitarian of the Year for his work in the Peterborough Community.

He continued his winning ways as the General Manager of the Ontario Junior Hockey League Cobourg Cougars from 2014-2017. The team captured the RBC/Centennial Cup, the Canadian Junior A Hockey Championship in 2017 under his guidance. In 2019, he was elected to the Ontario Hockey Association board of governors where he served for three years.

Tully remains the third-highest scoring Petes defenseman in team history. Brent continues to give back to local hockey as a head coach of several AAA Peterborough Petes teams.

The public is invited to attend the induction ceremony with tickets at $20. They can be purchased by emailing info@pdshof.com or calling 705-743-6897.

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History Repeats Itself As Peterborough U16 AAA Petes Get Eliminated In OHL Cup Semifinals For a Second Consecutive Year

For the second straight year, the Peterborough U16 AAA Petes were eliminated in the semifinals of the OHL Cup by the same opponent, the Vaughan Kings, in a 3-0 loss at the Scotiabank Pond in Toronto on Thursday night.

The Petes lost to the Vaughan Kings in last year’s OHL Cup, 4-2, on April Fools Day. pHOTO courtesy of Peterborough U16 AAA Petes.

It was a battle of the undefeated as both teams boasted a 5-0 record heading into the semifinal. The winner would take on the Oakville Rangers, who narrowly defeated the North York Rangers, 6-5, earlier that day.

Peterborough struggled to muster any offense in the first period as they registered three shots on net. The Kings had 13 shots, one of which was courtesy of Cole Emerton. With just over four minutes left in the stanza, the Petes turned the puck over in the defensive zone; Emerton intercepted the pass and was uncontested in his shot to make it 1-0 Kings.

Vaughan extended their lead with a one-timer at point-blank range from Caleb Malhotra, was seemingly stopped by Petes Morgan Hyndman but the puck was sitting at the line. Peterborough tried to clear the puck but the referee deemed the puck had crossed and it was 2-0, Kings over Petes.

Things would not improve for the Petes as one of their top prospects, Colin Fitzgerald, took a tripping penalty, putting the Kings on the powerplay. It only took 10 seconds for Vaughan to capitalize, as Alessandro Di Iorio took a shot from just outside the faceoff circle and ripped it through traffic for a 3-0 lead.

It was all or nothing for the Petes in the period to try and erase a three-goal deficit. Fitzgerald had an opportunity to get Peterborough on the board with a breakaway. He tried the five-hold of Kings goaltender Justin Young but he closed the door on any chance of a comeback and made the save. The Petes outshot the Kings for the first time in any period with 6-4 but none found the back of the net. Peterborough was eliminated from the OHL Cup by a 3-0 score.

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Hometown PTBO: Cooper Brown Highlighting Peterborough's Golf Scene As the Season Approaches

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with professional golfer and instructor Cooper Brown about the golf atmosphere in Peterborough, pupil success stories and his Toronto Maple Leafs fandom.

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Local Online Radio Station to Stream Throwback Peterborough Petes Broadcasts

Following last season’s run to an OHL Championship for the Peterborough Petes, the Kawartha Time Machine online radio station makes up for the Petes’ absence in the post-season by streaming several full throwback games beginning this Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Kawartha Time Machine was founded in 2015 by retired broadcaster Gordon Gibb to curate and preserve regional broadcast archives through a music-based, online nostalgia station. Gibb has served as the in-house public address announcer for the Peterborough Petes since the 1996-1997 season. Photo courtesy of Kawartha Time Machine.

Running each Thursday for seven straight weeks, several games streamed include a reprise of the 1974 exhibition game between The Peterborough Petes representing the Canadian entry in The World Junior Invitational Hockey Championship. This non-sanctioned tournament served as the precursor to the annual tournament enjoyed in the modern day.

The pivotal game for the Petes was played on Jan. 6th, 1974, against Russia. The game—as well as the tournament and the events leading up to it—is the subject of ‘The First Ones,’ a book by Ed Arnold released in the fall.

The game between the Petes and Team Russia was originally broadcast live from Leningrad on 1420 CKPT with Bill Bennett on the morning of Jan. 6th.

With a copy of the broadcast loaned to us from Pete Pearson, The Kawartha Time Machine originally streamed the broadcast archive on the morning of Jan. on the exact 50th anniversary of the game. The Petes vs. Russia game will be the first game of a multi-week series.

The full schedule is as follows:

• March 28: Petes @ Russia Jan. 6 1974 (1420 CKPT, Bill Bennett)

• April 4: Petes @ Niagara Falls Flyers, Game 2 of the OMJHL Finals (Cable, 1979. The Petes would go on to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup that year and later, bring home The Memorial Cup for the first, and only time in franchise history).

• April 11: Petes v Marlies Jan. 2, 1986 (Gary Hahn, Kevin Varrin, Cable 6)

• April 18: Petes @ Oshawa Dec. 1, 2002.

• April 25: Petes v Plymouth Whalers, Dec. 15, 2005 (Bob Eakins Your TV)

• May 6: Petes v London Knights (Game 2) May 7, 2006

• May 13: Petes @ Kingston March 13, 2013

Several games will feature several NHL alumni and current players such as Eric and Jordan Staal, Dallas Eakins, Ron Tugnutt, Doug Jarvis, Stan Jonathan and John Druce, the latter also serving as colour commentator in later games. Neilson served as a coach for the 1974 Russia game.

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Peterborough Petes Draw Third Overall Pick In 2024 OHL Priority Selection

Following the OHL Priority Selection Lottery, the Peterborough Petes have drawn the third-overall pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection on Wednesday evening.

Screenshot.

Full Lottery Results:

1. Windsor Spitfires

2. Sarnia Sting

3. Peterborough Petes

4. Niagara IceDogs

The Petes entered the evening with a 20 per cent chance of receiving the first overall pick. The Niagara IceDogs had the odds of 40 per cent, followed by the Windsor Spitfires at 30 per cent and the Sarnia Sting at 10 per cent.

The 2024 OHL Priority Selection will begin on April 12th at 7 p.m. with the first three rounds. Picks four to 15 are selected on the 13th.

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Peterborough Petes Commemorate Staff and Players in Annual Year-End Ceremony; Head Coach Rob Wilson Signs Eight-Year Extension

To mark the end of the regular season, Peterborough Petes staff, family and friends attended the team’s annual year-end awards ceremony at The Venue on Tuesday.

In addition to winning the Petes Executive Trophy, Petes goaltender Liam Sztuska (left) was a recipient of the Molson Cup (most three-star selections voted by media). pHOTO BY dAVID tUAN bUI.

Michael Oke, Petes general manager, made a surprise announcement that the organization has signed head coach Rob Wilson to an eight-year contract extension through the 2031-32 season.

“I’m very privileged to be head coach of the Peterborough Petes and I do feel that,” said Wilson.

Wilson was the teams’s 23rd Head Coach in May 2018. Wilson has amassed 154 wins, clinching a playoff spot in four of his five seasons in his tenure with the Petes. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Following speeches from Wilson and team president Dave Lorentz, captain Johnathan Melee gave a public address in which he recognized his teammates, staff, and several others for supporting the organization throughout the season.

After the speeches, the following awards were presented:

• Mark Teevens Memorial Award (most assists) – Tommy Purdeller (34 assists)

• Ed Redmond Memorial Trophy (scholastics and hockey) – Brody Partridge

• Outboard Marine Veterans Award (sportsmanship and ability) – Jonathan Melee

• Black’s Family Trophy (rookie of the year) – Carson Cameron

• Vince and Lottie Garvey Award (off-ice contribution) – Tracy and Chip Adamo

• Molson Cup (most three-star selections voted by media) – Liam Sztuska

• Donnie Marsh Memorial Trophy (most dedication to team) – Cam Gauvreau

• Ed Rowe Memorial Award (most goals) – Braydon McCallum (18 goals)

• Norm Bryan Award (most improved player) – Braydon McCallum

• Ushers Trophy (best defenceman) – Carson Cameron

• Bill Bennett/CKPT Memorial Award (leading scorer) – Tommy Purdeller (47 points)

• Gary Dalliday Award (community service) – Tommy Purdeller

• Petes Executive Trophy (most valuable player voted by teammates) – Liam Sztuska

The Board of Directors and Alumni Association presented gifts to the graduating and overage players:

• Liam Sztuska

• Quinn Binnie

• Chase Lefebvre

• Jonathan Melee

• Ryder McIntyre

• Tommy Purdeller

• Cam Gauvreau

Oke ended the night with a speech, acknowledging the players, hockey and business staff, billets, parents and fans. He then continued by marking on- and off-ice achievements this season.

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Peterborough Petes Looking For Bright Future After Transitional Season

The Peterborough Petes' player lockers were emptied after a down season of trying to defend their OHL Championship on Tuesday afternoon.

Cam Gauvreau, Peterborough Petes defenceman signs autographs as finishes his Ontario Hockey League career with the team. pHOTO BY dAVID tUAN bUI.

Peterborough finished with a 20-40-8 record, trailing by 12 points of the last playoff spot behind the Barrie Colts with 60 points.

The Petes had an electric start to the season, being named the league's second-best team in the OHL Power Rankings during Week 8 (Nov. 20). They held a record of 12-3-4 during that time. Peterborough fell to Earth as they wound up with a 2-16 record before the Jan. 10 trade deadline.

Michael Oke, Petes general manager, traded away several players to rebuild the team for the future after the team’s slump.

He said he was willing to move in either direction at the deadline, depending on whether another title run was viable or whether it was time to rebuild the team based on their record.

“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 in a prior interview. “At the same time, allow us to acquire some new players to come and retool for another championship run on our end.”

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

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) NICO ADDY, MARTIN MATEJICEK, AIDEN YOUNG, CADEN TAYLOR AND WILLIAM HALEY. (absent) GRAYDEN STROHACK. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

Addy was acquired by the Petes on Jan. 2, eight days before the trade deadline. He made an immediate impact, scoring in his home debut.

“Just getting that point and getting more regularly on the stat sheet feels amazing,” he explained. “It gives you a bit more confidence, that little bit of confidence, that you need to make certain plays happen.”

Addy was one of several young acquisitions to help rebuild the team's future. Coming off an OHL Championship last year, the former Owen Sound Attack said the team can be primed to win another title.

“The championship last year shows us how good and effective this team and organization is so I really trust the hands of them right now,” he said. “I know that if we do the right things, that every single one of us will have a really good shot at getting another championship.”

MELEE (LEFT) is the team’s 63RD CAPTAIN IN FRANCHISE HISTORY. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

When the team introduced its newest players to the public, they also introduced its new team leaders. Jonathan Melee was named the new team captain after his predecessor Donovan McCoy was traded.

Melee was obtained from the then-Hamilton Bulldogs with Alex Pharand and six draft picks for Mason McTavish on Jan. 9, 2022.

After three months of being the team’s newest leader, Melee has learned quickly and is ready to guide the Petes into the next season.

“Before this season, I wasn't the biggest talker in the room but being an older guy on the team, I kind of learned to have a voice in the room and all the young guys listen to the words that are coming out of my mouth,” he explained. “That's one of my goals is just be more talkative in the room and help out as much as I can. When I was their age, I was looking up to my captain and I was listening to every word that they would say so I'm just trying to be that guy for them and being a positive role model.”

PHOTO BY Samantha Bianco.

One player not returning to the team is overage defenceman Cam Gauvreau who played his last game as a Pete on Sunday. He was honoured at the team’s last home game on Thursday.

“It was very emotional for me, doing that last lap around the ice after the game,” he explained. “I'm definitely going to miss this place and it's kind of tough to swallow that was my last time I'll ever be on this ice for the Petes.”

On Jan. 10 last year, he was traded to the Petes from the Saginaw Spirit. In addition to Gauvreau, the Petes received Saginaw’s fourth-round pick and Windsor’s third-round pick in 2025 while trading defenceman James Guo and their last year’s sixth-round pick.

He was part of the OHL Championship team last year, with three assists in 19 playoff games. This memory will last forever for Gauvreau during his Peterborough tenure.

“There's nothing better to celebrate with the boys and have the city behind you too,” he said. “It was really awesome to see the City of Peterborough. We filled this arena every game and it was really special to see.”

The Hamilton-born defenceman is attending the University of Ottawa in the fall and will play for their hockey team, the Ottawa Gee-Gees.

The Petes are honouring its players and staff at their year-end banquet and awards at The Venue on Tuesday night.

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Peterborough Petes Round Out Regular Season With Pair of Road Losses

The defending OHL-champion Peterborough Petes closed out their regular season with a pair of road losses to the Barrie Colts and North Bay Battalion over the weekend.

pHOTO courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes finished their final home game with a 9-0 loss to the Ottawa 67’s on Thursday night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre before hitting the road for finish their last two games.

They lost to the Colts on Saturday night, 4-1. Aiden Young score Peterborough’s lone goal before allowing four unanswered from Barrie.

They travelled to North Bay the next day and kept it close after the first period, trailing 3-2. The Petes could not find the back of the net again for awhile and allowed five straight goals. Peterborough mustered a last-minute goal on the power play but it was too little, too late as they fell 8-3 to the Battalion.

With the pair of losses, Peterborough finished with a 20-40-8 record. They were 12 points out of a playoff spot behind the Colts, who snagged the last playoff spot in the East Division with 60 points.

The team ended off as the third-worst team in the league, ahead of only the Windsor Spitfires and Niagara IceDogs, with 44 and 42 points, respectively.

The Petes are having their year-end banquet and awards at The Venue on Tuesday night. The team will bid farewell to Cam Gauvreau, overage defenceman and assistant captain who played his last game with the team on Sunday.

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67-Year-Old Peterborough Powerlifter Claims Provincial Title

Richard Gosselin is taking the phrase, ‘age is just a number’ to new limits as the 67-year-old Peterborough resident placed first in his division at the Ontario Powerlifting Association (OPA) Provincials at the Montecassino Hotel on Sunday.

Richard Gosselin (left) with Matt Goldsmith, Personal Trainer and Coach (right). pHOTO courtesy of Brianna Gosselin.

Gosselin qualified for provincials, taking first place in his division at the Ontario Powerlifting Association’s Classic AF 2023 at the Anytime Fitness in Woodbridge on July 2.

“It’s been a long road of training, endless time spent in the gym, making sure I am taking care of my nutrition and keeping positive mentally.,” said Gosselin. “You don’t realize how taxing it can be on yourself. But I love it. The gym is my sanctuary and always has been.”

Gosselin was in the Masterclass Division and had the following results:

• Squat : 172.5 kg - 380 lbs.

• Bench Press: 125 kg - 275 lbs.

• Deadlift: 190 kg - 418 lbs.

Gosslein returned to the gym two years ago after retiring from his corporate job. He often worked out as a teen and into adulthood and has worked out every day since. The provincial champion encourages people to pursue their passions, follow their lifelong dreams and never let their age hold them back.

He was coached by personal trainer Matt Goldsmith. Gosselin trains at both Goodlife Fitness locations in Peterborough on Monaghan and Chemong Road.

He plans to continue training and preparing for future competitions this year.

“I'm grateful to be able to do what I love and follow my dreams,” said Gosselin. “The people I have been getting to know and fellow competitors are such an inspiration.”

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