U16 and U18 AAA Peterborough Petes Victorious In Opening Games For the Steve Richey Tournament Hockey Championship

The U16 and U18 AAA Peterborough Petes kicked off their Steve Richey Tournament Hockey Championship with tallies in the win columns on Thursday.

U16 PETERBOROUGH PETES AAA centreman Garrett Jones (left) makes a tip-in goal to make it 2-0 against the U16 Markham Majors to kick off the Steve Richey Memorial Tournament of Champions. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The U16 Petes dominated the U16 Markham Majors in a 6-3 win at the Healthy Planet Arena.

Peterborough opened the game with five straight goals as Dean Sheridan, Garrett Jones, Keaton Legacy, Nathan White and Lucas Cavanaugh scored.

Markham scored their first goal in the final minute of the second period.

Peterborough scored once more in the third, thanks to Joseph Gallagher, to make it 6-1. Markham scored twice more, but Peterborough easily hung on for the 6-3 win.

The U16 Petes remained undefeated, defeating the U16 Chatham-Kent Cyclones 2-1 at the Healthy Planet Arena Friday morning for a 2-0 record. They will play a second game on the same day against the U16 Elgin-Middlesex Canucks at the Peterborough Memorial Centre at 6:30 p.m.

All photos by David Tuan Bui.

The U18 Petes won a close game against the U18 New Liskeard Cubs, 2-1, at the Miskin Law Community Complex on Thursday evening.

Rowan Turner opened the Petes early in the first period for a 1-0 lead.

In the second, the Cubs scored on the powerplay to tie it at one for the period’s only score.

Petes captain Cameron Meek broke the tie late in the third with just over five minutes left to make it 2-1. That would be the game-winning goal, and the U18 Petes would have their first win of the tournament.

The U18 team battled the U18 York Simcoe Express to a 2-2 tie at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Friday morning. The result gave Peterborough a 1-0-1 record.

The Petes will play against the U18 Burlington Eagles at the Peterborough Memorial Center at 8:15 p.m.

The event is a showcase tournament for the AAA-level U16 and U18 players. Several hockey scouts are in attendance for the event. Many players are already OHL prospects, while others may have been overlooked or attempting to make a good impression to potentially be drafted.

Almost 60 teams are competing in the tournament. It runs for four days, from Thursday until Sunday. Semifinals and finals occur on the Sunday.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Peterborough Petes Routed In 7-0 in Blowout Loss to Soo Greyhounds

It has been better nights for the Peterborough Petes as they were routed by the visiting Soo Greyhounds in a 7-0 loss at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

Second-year Petes forward Caden Taylor had a milestone, he skated in his 100th OHL game on the night.

It took over halfway through the period for the game’s first score but Soo made it count off a rebound as Owen Allard scored after a Marco Mignosa point shot. The Greyhounds were on the powe play shortly after and Travis Hayes off a cross-crease pass got it in the wide-open net for a 2-0 Soo lead to finish the first.

Things were not getting any better for the Petes in the second period. Jordan Charron, Allard (his second goal) and Justin Cloutier all scored before the stanza was halfway through to make it 5-0 for the Greyhounds.

Petes goaltender Easton Rye was pulled and Masen Johnston filled in for the duration of the game. It did not take long for the visiting Greyhounds to break in Johnston as 81 seconds after the Petes goalie change, Cloutier scored his second of the night going top shelf for a 6-0 Soo lead after two.

Peterborough was able to limit the damage in the third period as only Marco Mignosa scored for the Greyhounds for a 7-0 lead and that was the final score.

The Petes will stay at home when they host the Erie Otters on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the PMC.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Professional Wrestler Cody Deaner To Guest Speak At Local Elementary Schools Through Kiwanis Club Sponsorship Tour In Feburary

Through a sponsorship by the Kiwanis Club of Peterborough, Chris Gray, better known as professional wrestling/speaker Cody Deaner, is doing a fifth tour of several Peterborough schools as a guest speaker, announced on Tuesday.

The Kiwanis Club of Peterborough is celebrating 104 years of service to the Peterborough community. It is part of a global membership of over 550,000 in 80 countries. Photo courtesy of Kiwanis Club of Peterborough.

The Total Nonstop Wrestling star will speak at St. Paul’s Catholic Elementary School and Rhema Christian School on Feb. 6 and Monsignor O’Donohue Catholic Elementary School and Prince of Wales Public School on Feb. 7.

“We’re very excited to bring Chris back to Peterborough for another tour”, said Jeff Westlake, Kiwanis past president. “His previous tours have been tremendously popular with both students and staff. This will bring the number of schools we’ve visited to 15.”

“I’m delighted to be returning to Peterborough next month,” said Gray. “The partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Peterborough has been outstanding these last few years, and I’m eager to inspire area kids with my stories and message of ‘Dare to Dream Big.’”

Gray is a recommended speaker with the Canadian Student Leadership Association. Their mission statement is ‘to support and encourage student leadership in Canada.’

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Two Peterborough Petes Commit to Sacred Heart University For 2025-26 NCAA Hockey Season

Peterborough Petes overage forwards Jonathan Melee and Gavin Bryant have committed to Sacred Heart University for the 2025-26 NCAA hockey season, announced on Thursday.

Sacred Heart University is a private Roman Catholic Institute located in Fairfield, Connecticut. Their Men’s Hockey team, the Pioneers, are an NCAA division 1 program that compete in the Atlantic Hockey America Conference. Photos courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

Melee was originally selected by the Hamilton Bulldogs in the second round, 21st overall, of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. The Rockland native played in 26 games for the Bulldogs before being acquired by the Petes in January of 2022 in a trade involving Anaheim Ducks star Mason McTavish. In parts of four seasons with the Petes, Melee has played in 187 games, scoring 42 goals and adding 62 assists for 104 points. In 2023, Melee played in 13 playoff games for Peterborough, scoring five goals en route to an OHL Championship and an appearance at the Memorial Cup in Kamloops, BC. Melee was named the 63rd captain of the Petes on Jan. 10 last year.

The Owen Sound Attack selected Bryant in the second round, 37th overall of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. The Ingersoll forward played for the Attack for two seasons before being traded to the Niagara IceDogs in 2023, later acquired by the Petes in October. Over his four-year OHL career, he has featured in 182 games between the Attack, IceDogs and Petes, scoring 48 goals and adding 85 assists for 133 points. Bryant has worn a letter for all three teams, serving as an assistant captain in Owen Sound, Niagara and Peterborough while also being named the Captain of the IceDogs in 2024.

“On behalf of the Peterborough Petes, I’d like to congratulate Jonathan and Gavin on their commitments to Sacred Heart University,” said Michael Oke, general manager and vice president of operations. “This is a fantastic opportunity for them both to continue their hockey and academic careers. Both have been incredible leaders and ambassadors during their time with the Petes and we look forward to having them finish their OHL careers here in Peterborough.”

The Petes are back home to take on the Soo Greyhounds on Thursday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough Petes Goaltender Easton Rye Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Peterborough Petes goaltender Easton Rye has been named the OHL Goaltender of the Week after going 2-0-0-1 with a 2.91 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in three outings, announced on Monday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Kenenth Andersen Photography and the Peterborough Petes.

Rye made 92 saves last week. He stopped 23 of 25 shots to help Peterborough get the 5-2 win over the Barrie Colts on Thursday. Rye made 39 saves and stopped two shootout attempts in a 5-4 loss to the Brantford Bulldogs on Saturday. Rye started in back-to-back games with a 30-save performance for a 5-2 victory against the Niagara IceDogs on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Peterborough native played in 16 games for the Petes this season, posting a 7-7-1-1 record with a 3.23 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. Over two OHL seasons, Rye has played in 25 games, with an 8-11-1-1 record with a 4.03 goals-against average and an .891 save percentage.

The 6-foot, 196lb. netminder was selected by Peterborough in the fifth round (89th overall) of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection and spent the majority of 2023-24 with the PJCHL’s Lakefield Chiefs.

The Petes are back home to take on the Soo Greyhounds on Thursday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough Take Seven Players From MSL Draft Including Three Jr. A Lakers

The Peterborough Lakers have taken seven players, including three players from the Peterborough Jr. A Lakers system from the Major Series Lacrosse draft on Sunday.

Tye Scott as the team’s first pick of the MSL draft, taken in the second round, 12th overall. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Lakers.

The picks included Michael Blaymires (fourth round), Caleb Connell (fifth round) and Nick Dilauro (fifth round).

The team protected Nick Crowley, Frank Coyle and Cole Gervais from the Jr. A Lakers ahead of the draft.

The following are the Peterborough Lakers’s draft picks:

• Round 2 - Tye Scott, Brampton Excelsiors (12th overall)

• Round 3 - Chris Harland, Toronto Beaches (19th overall)

• Round 3 - Kash Doxtator, Six Nations Arrows (21st overall)

• Round 4 - Michael Blaymires, Peterborough Jr. A Lakers (23rd overall)

• Round 4 - Cole Begley, Mimico Mountaineers (26th overall)

• Round 5 - Caleb Connell and Nick Dilauro, Peterborough Jr. A Lakers (20th and 33rd overall)

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough Petes Pick Up Three Points In Weekend Slate of Games

With an overtime loss to the Branford Bulldogs on Saturday and a dominant win over the Niagara IceDogs on Sunday, the Peterborough Petes walk away with three points over the weekend.

Photo courtesy of Rye Save (Vivd Eye Photography).

Peterborough fell behind quickly against the Bulldogs, allowing the period’s first three goals. The Petes were able to rally, scoring the next four with the last one early in the third period. Genc Ula scored his first goal as a Pete. Brantford tied the game almost halfway through the third and the game was solved in a shootout.

Shootout results:

• PBO - Caden Taylor (No Goal)

• BFD - Jake O’Brien (No Goal)

• PBO - Colin Fitzgerald (No Goal)

• BFD - Cole Brown (No Goal)

• PBO - Brady Stonehouse (No Goal)

• BFD - Patrick Thomas (Goal)

The Petes travelled to St. Catherine’s to face the Niagara IceDogs, their second matchup in 13 days.

Peterborough came out firing, scoring the game’s first five goals through two periods, including a pair from Petes captain Johnathan Melee. Niagara mustered two goals in the final frame but was nowhere near catching up to their five-goal deficit and the Petes left with two points to their name for a three-point weekend.

The Petes are back home to take on the Soo Greyhounds on Thursday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Photos: U11 Collingwood Blues Win 'Chris Fee Cup' From Host U11 Peterborough Petes to Kick Off 64th Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament

The Chris Fee Cup goes to the Collingwood Jr. Blues U11A, shutting out the host Peterborough Petes U11A team, 3-0 to open the 65th Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament 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.

Will Whiteley, Ellis Cox and Benner Leal scored for Collingwood to shut out the Petes 3-0 to capture the 2025 Chris Fee Cup.

The tournament features 64 teams in seven divisions.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough Petes Down the Division-Leading Barrie Colts With Four-Goal Flurry

The Peterborough Petes have bumped the Barrie Colts from the top of the Central Division after a four-goal flurry early in the game to win 5-2 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough PEtes.

Nico Addy kickstarted the Petes after receiving a lob pass in the neutral zone from his own defensive end. He drove to the net and wristed it past Colts goaltender Sam Hillebrandt for a 1-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. It was the period’s only score. Petes goaltender Zach Bowen had to leave the game due to an undisclosed injury after the period, stopping all six shots. Easton Rye took over the goaltending duties for the remainder of the game.

The second became a fireworks show for Peterborough. With 7:14 into the period, Petes captain Johnathan Melee had a puck pinball to his stick and wristed it in to make it 2-0. Aiden Young got on the scoresheet just over three minutes later. He got position over the Colts defender in front of the netminder and buried the point-blank one-timer for a 3-0 Petes lead. Peterborough was not done as they quickly swarmed the puck on a dump-in. Quinton Pagé was first to it and Caden Taylor ripped home the one-time for a 4-0 lead. Barrie was able to respond with two quick goals in less than two minutes to make it 4-2 into the third.

Barrie tried to battle back from their deficit but late in the frame but Peterborough added some extra insurance as Liam Ladds, off a loose puck from a pass, backhanded it in the wide-open net for a 5-2 lead and win.

The Colts loss have bumped them down to second in the Central Division as the Niagara IceDogs defeated the Saginaw Spirit, 7-2, to take to top slot.

The Petes stay home when they host the Brantford Bulldogs for Superhero Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

65th Annual Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament Kicks Off Friday In Three-Day Event

A continued Peterborough hockey tradition lives on as the 65th-Annual Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament faces off starting Friday, announced at the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday night.

(From left to right) John Whiston, Scott McMichael, Paul Buchner and Bill Byrd were the recipients of the Don McCrory Referee’s Award, Steve Casey Award and Frank Lustic Award (two winners) respectively. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The three-day event starts Friday, with opening ceremonies for house league and rep divisions 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 PHA 3 Orange Crush facing the Apsley Flames for the house league opening game at 9:30 a.m. Friday. The other is the Peterborough Petes U11 battling against the Collingwood Jr. Blues U11 at 10:45 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 64 teams from throughout the province with seven divisions.

Tournament chairman Wally Moore says he is happy to continue seeing a long-standing hockey tradition in Peterborough that has run through several generations.

“We've had so many local kids play over the years. My kids played in it, practically everyone's kids have played in it at one point,” he explained. “This town is a sports town and for hockey, they really get behind it. It's generations through generations. It's grandparents that used to run it, then their sons run it then their grandkids run it. It's a family affair.”

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

A cheque presentation of $2,500 was also donated to the Ennismore Inclusive Playground Project (Jude’s Joy) as the chosen beneficiary, as the tournament supports a local charity or more annually.

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 - John Whiston

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

• Frank Lustic Award for exemplifying all Lustic’s qualities who volunteered for over 25 years in minor sports – Paul Buchner and Bill Byrd

The announcement also paid homage to longtime tournament volunteer Steve Casey, who passed away last year on June 6 at Hospice Peterborough.

He helped for over 50 years of the tournament and was the chairman for 26 years from 1986 to 2012.

“Steve was dedicated to this tournament,” explained Moore. “We're fellow GE workers so there's a lot of us still involved because Steve would recruit each of us year to year. He did a wonderful job.”

The City’s Peterborough Civic Awards is renaming its Adult Athlete of the Year Award to the Steve Casey Award in his honour.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.