Pair Bring Home Several Medals At National Judo Championships

Ninja Academy’s Akshila Amarasinghe and Avery Fam walked away with gold, silver and two bronze medals in multiple divisions at the National Judo Championships in Calgary on May 15.

Amarasinghe (left), Teleki (middle) and Fam (right0 After celebrating the girls’s accomplishments at nationals. Kime-no-kata in particular is an ancient form used to defend against close-range armed and unarmed attacks. Photo courtesy of Ninja Academy.

The girls scored gold in Kime-no-kata, considered the highest level kata used in both competition and high-ranking black belt gradings.

“Avery and Akshila practice early mornings on the weekends and prioritize time around their studies, volunteering and employment to yield these significant results,” said Paul Teleki, Ninnja Academy Sensei. “What speaks most about their character is their desire to return to training even though they have worked so hard and received such excellent results two years in a row at the National Championships, they are already looking ahead to the next shiai competition.”

In addition to their medals, the girls were recognized by the National Awards Committee for competing in the most divisions at the Nationals.

“Last summer they trained young athletes at the Navy Club in a variety of sports, including track and field, baseball and Judo so they are continually refining the next generation of athletes through leadership by example and actively participating in their growth,” explained Teleki. “They are ushering in the next generation of athletes, it's amazing to be a part of this.”

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City Reopens Sports Fields and Baseball Diamonds From Prior Wet Conditions

The City of Peterborough has reopened all natural sports fields and baseball diamonds following several days of rainfall which resulted in a temporary closure that began on Thursday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The baseball diamond at Milroy Park is the only exception and remains closed until Tuesday. City crews are completing inspections and minor repairs as required ahead of the reopening.

Damaged turf and divots can create safety concerns for players according to the City. If fields require repairs, their reopening could be delayed or they may have to be taken out of play while work is completed, negatively impacting user field time.

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Trent Excalibur Rowing Brings Home Two Gold Medals at U.S. Regatta

Trent Excalibur Rowing is coming home with hardware at the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta in Pennsauken, N.J., with two gold medals and one bronze, which took place on May 10-11.

Trent was one of three Canadian universities competing in this year's event and the only institution to medal. Photo courtesy of Trent University.

The three-day event featured 288 entries from 61 rowing clubs and is considered the largest collegiate regatta in the United States.

Trent saw all its varsity boats advance to the A Finals and both novice crews qualify for the B Finals during Friday’s time trials and semifinals. 

“Our athletes were given an experience unlike anything we have for university rowing competitions in Canada,” said Ugette Vanderpost, varsity rowing coach. “It was a lot of planning, training and driving paired with tremendous resilience against strong winds. I couldn't be prouder of these athletes and coaches. It was an honour to be part of this team's journey.”  

The Excalibur finished second overall in the women’s sculling championship, narrowly missing first place by just three points. 

The following are the results for Trent Excalibur: 

Gold medals: 

• Women’s Single (1x): Tess Friar – 8:20 finish (25 seconds ahead of second place)  

• Women’s Quadruple Sculls (4x): Friar, Emilie Mirfield, Kendall Rose, and Hannah Kavanagh – 7:16 finish (25 seconds ahead of the next shell) 

Bronze medals: 

•  Women’s Double (2x): Caitlyn Cox and Lillian Terpstra – 8:28 finish  

Additional standout performances:  

• 5th Place – Men’s Double (2x): Jessy Kenny and Luke Sullivan  

• 5th Place – Women’s Novice Coxed Four (WF/N 4+): Sam Moss, Danie Green, Elly Hutt, Rebecca Davis, and Daniella Rodrigus  

• 5th Place – Men’s Novice Coxed Four (Novice 4+ racing in Varsity 4+ event): Gus Suddard, Joseff Zwetko-Neher, Braydon Walsh, Sam Farrer (with Hannah Kavanagh substituting as cox in finals). 

Friar was the most successful Trent athlete, walking away with two gold medals. She completed her second year in the Trent Nursing program.

“The level of competition pushed us in new ways and winning both the women's varsity single and the quad this year felt like the perfect reward for all our hard work,” she explained. “The support from our coaches and teammates made it even more meaningful. I’m proud to represent Trent and be part of a team that always strives to raise the bar.”

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Peterborough Lakers Defeat Defending-Champion Six Nations Chiefs in Home Opener, 7-6

A rematch of the Major Series Lacrosse Championship did not disappoint as the Peterborough Lakers won their home opener against the defending-champion Six Nations Chiefs, 7-6, at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy David Pickering and the Peterborough Lakers.

While the first period was low-scoring, all goals were scored on special teams. Ryan Smith opened the game with a shorthanded goal for the Chiefs. Peterborough immediately responded three minutes later with a shorthanded goal thanks to Brad McCulley. Taite Cattoni got a power play goal for the Lakers just 73 seconds before the period’s end and it was 2-1 after the first stanza.

The Chiefs produced more offense in the second, with four goals, including two on the power play and a last-second goal from Tyson Bell. Koleton Marquis and Mike Robinson salvaged goals for the Lakers to keep it close at 5-4 for Six Nations after two.

It took 59 seconds for the Lakers to tie the game thanks to Holden Cattoni for a 5-5 game. Davin Bonberry got the go-ahead goal for the Chiefs but Robinson netted his second of the game just under four minutes later.

Peterborough had a power play in the latter stages of the period and Holden got his second third-period goal of the contest to take a 7-6 lead for the Lakers. Peterborough was able to hold against the defending champions and have the fans leave happy with a 7-6 win to move to a 2-0 record.

“Any wins early in the season against (any team is) big. They’re the benchmark, the back-to-back Mann Cup champs with a pretty incredible roster they have there,” said Nick Rose, Lakers goaltender. “We know we have to get better come August. To start off the season with two wins is a great week, but there’s a lot ahead for us.”

Rose was acquired in a trade from the Oakville Rock on March 17 and made his Lakers debut, stopping 38 saves, including blanking the Chiefs in the final 8:34 of regulation.

“We came with a purpose,” he said. “Most of the boys played last night so a little tired but I think some of the fresh legs, myself included, brought a little energy and tried to really dig in for the guys that went back-to-back.”

The Lakers get a week’s rest before hosting the 0-1 Brampton Excelsiors next Thursday at the PMC.

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City Closes Sports Fields and Baseball Diamonds Temporarily Due to Wet Conditions

The City of Peterborough's natural sports fields and baseball diamonds are extremely wet due to Wednesday's rainfall and they are temporarily closed to avoid further damage, announced on Thursday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

All sports and recreational users are asked to stay off the City's natural sports fields and diamonds until further notice. Damaged turf and divots can create safety concerns for players according to the City. If fields require repairs, their reopening could be delayed or they may have to be taken out of play while work is completed, negatively impacting user field time.

The City expects rainy conditions to continue Friday and through the weekend. All natural sports fields and baseball diamond facilities will be closed until 4 p.m. on Monday.

City staff will assess the facilities on Sunday morning pending the rainfall on Saturday. If conditions allow for earlier reopening, scheduled user groups will be contacted.

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Peterborough Lakers Hold Off Third-Period Surge For 13-10 Season Opener Win

The Peterborough Lakers held off a six-goal rally from the Brooklin L.C. to win their season opener 13-10 at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre on Wednesday night.

Photo courtesy Anna Taylor and the Peterborough Lakers.

Peterborough dominated the opening period with Carter Page starting the scoring. After letting up a power-play goal, the Lakers saw Holden Cattoni score two and Dylan Hutchinson get one for a 4-1 lead after the first.

Brooklin rung off two straight goals to open the second period to make it 4-3 but the Lakers went on a seven-goal run shortly after. Colton Armstrong, Brad McCulley, Koleton Marquis, Taite Cattoni, Thomas Hoggarth and Page’s second were part of that streak. Both teams traded goals at the end of the period for an 11-4 game.

Brooklin was not leaving the game quietly as they had a 5-1 run until the final 5:12 of the game. Austin Hasen had a late powerplay goal, his second of the period, to give the Lakers some insurance. Brooklin scored once more but it was too little, too late and Peterborough held on for the 13-10 win.

The Lakers have their home opener against the two-time defending Mann Cup-champion Six Nations Chiefs on Thursday at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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Peterborough Lakers Trade For Veteran Defenceman and Sign Former First-Round Forward Ahead of Home Opener

The Peterborough Lakers have acquired veteran defender Warren Jeffrey from the Brampton Excelsiors and signed forward Brad McCulley for the 2025 season.

Warren Jeffrey. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Lakers.

The Lakers also regained their 2026 fifth-round pick previously held by the Excelsiors. Brampton receives the Lakers’s second-round pick in 2026 and reobtains the rights to Jeffrey for 2026.

Jeffery played three seasons in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), all with the Colorado Mammoth. During that span, he scored four goals and nine assists for 13 points. He also played 14 playoff games, registering two goals and five assists for seven points.

McCulley hails from Victoria, B.C., where he previously played for the Victoria Shamrocks in the Western Lacrosse Association. He and the Shamrocks competed for the 2024 Mann Cup against the Six Nations.

McCulley spent the latter half of the 2025 NLL season on the practice roster of the Rochester Knighthawks under Lakers’ head coach Mike Hasen. He previously played for the Vancouver Warriors and Buffalo Bandits, winning the 2023 NLL Cup for the latter.

The former first-round draft pick has scored 20 goals and 36 assists for 56 points in 36 career NLL games.

The Lakers open their season on the road against the Brooklin L.C. on Wednesday before having their home opener against the two-time defending Mann Cup-champion Six Nations Chiefs on Thursday.

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Peterborough Lakers Re-Sign Three Local Players For Upcoming 2025 Season

The Peterborough Lakers have re-signed three local players in Mike Robinson, Drew Hutchison, and Colton Armstrong for the 2025 season, announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Lakers Transition Colton Armstrong scoring a crucial goal against the Six Nations Chiefs in Game Two of the MSL Championship. Peterborough had taken a 2-0 series lead after that game. Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Lakers.

All three return home after helping the National Lacrosse League’s (NLL) Halifax Thunderbirds reach the semifinals.

Robinson finished third in rookie scoring this past season in the NLL and currently leads all rookies in postseason scoring with 12 points. After spending last summer under contract with the Premier Lacrosse League’s Boston Cannons, Robinson returns to his hometown team.

Hutchison had a breakout year in Halifax with five wins and three losses.

Armstrong, known for his strong transition play and highlight-reel goals, returns to the Lakers. He was acquired from the Cobourg Kodiaks in a trade in 2023..

The Lakers open their season on the road against the Brooklin L.C. on May 21 before having their home opener against the two-time defending Mann Cup-champion Six Nations Chiefs on May 22.

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Kinsmen Minor Football League Registration Open For the 2025 Fall Season

The Kinsmen Minor Football League (KMFL) has opened registration for the 2025 Fall Season.

Photo courtesy of KMFL.

The League will consist of a Junior Division (kids born from 2015-2017) and a Senior Division (kids born from 2012-2014).

Weekly practices start on Aug. 25, Saturday games begin Sept. 13 and the season concludes on Championship Day on Nov. 1. 

Cost is $395 with Early Bird pricing of $345 in effect until July 1.

All equipment, excluding mouthguards and cleats, is provided.

“We are very excited to open our 2025 Season,” said Angela Madill, KMFL vice-president. “Last year we had the largest season in the 45-year history of the League. We are hoping to continue that success and have added a few surprises to further enhance our player and family experience this season.”

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Peterborough Lakers Partner to Raise Money For PRHC Foundation Throughout MSL Season

The Peterborough Lakers have partnered with the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation as the team will help raise funds for the latter throughout the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) season, announced at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Monday afternoon.

(From left to right) Len Powers; Lakers board member; Lesley Heighway, PRHC president and CEO and Dylan Hutchinson, Lakers defenceman. The Lakers start their season on the road against the Brooklin L.C. on May 22 before having their home opener against the two-time defending Mann Cup-Champion Six Nations Chiefs on May 22. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The PRHC Foundation’s campaign goal is $60 million, the largest fundraising effort in the hospital’s history.

The campaign aims to empower world-class care close to home, attract top healthcare professionals and address urgent hospital needs according to Lesley Heighway, PRHC president and CEO.

“We're focused on a couple of key priorities. One is digital pathology. There's a laboratory on the sixth floor of the hospital where things like cancer diagnosis happen,” she explained. “Having the test results and digitized means that pathologists can share them with each other, they can share them with colleagues at other hospitals and they can do it seamlessly.”

The campaign has already raised $52.9 million. Len Powers, Lakers board member, says that the organization is committed to doing everything it can to help the PRHC after all they do for the region.

“The Lakers are all about community, and there’s nothing more ‘community’ than supporting our regional hospital,” he said. “PRHC is the heartbeat of the Peterborough region. It’s where our families turn in moments of greatest need.”

“We’re excited to team up with a championship organization like the Lakers,” said Heighway. “They represent dedication, heart, and excellence – just like our hospital. We know how strongly this region rallies around the Lakeshow and PRHC. Together, we can help reimagine healthcare.”

Throughout the MSL season, the PRHC Foundation will be at Lakers home games, sharing stories and inviting fans to get involved. To help raise founds for the Foundation, limited edition Lakers merchandise will be sold with further details released at a later date.

A special PRHC Family Night is set for June 26 against the Cobourg Kodiaks. PRHC staff and volunteers will receive a promo code for discounted tickets.

On Canada Day, the Lakers will wear Canadian-themed jerseys during the game and will auction them off after the match, with all proceeds benefiting PRHC Foundation.

“My message for people in the community is that gifts of all sizes make a difference,” concluded Heighway. “Never think that 'my gift of $25' or 'my gift of $100' isn't going to make a difference. All of that comes together and it's going to help us get to our goal.”

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