U13 Lakers Get Walk-Off Championship Goal To Complete Undefeated Tournament Run

The U13 Peterborough Lakers got a walk-off championship goal in overtime that capped off an undefeated run at the 33rd-Annual John ‘Gus’ McCauley Memorial Tournament at the Century Gardens Recreation Centre in Brampton on Sunday.

Photo courtesy of U13-2 Lakers.

The three-day tournament had the Lakers play two out of three round-robin games on Friday.

They routed the eventual winless Strathroy Screaming Eagles, 9-1, in Peterborough’s first victory. They allowed only one goal with eight minutes left in the first period and clamped down defensively since then.

The Lakers earned their second victory over the Midland Titans in another blowout, 8-1. Peterborough went on an eight-goal run, only to see their shutout get snapped from a power play goal later in the third.

Peterborough’s only game on Saturday was against the Brampton Excelsiors and it was their closest game of the tournament. In a low-scoring affair, the Lakers had a 4-1 lead but allowed two late third-period goals to make it a one-score affair with 1:34 in regulation. Peterborough held on and won 4-3 to remain perfect through the round robin and advanced to the semifinals.

They met the Midland Titans again and while the score was tighter, Peterborough dominated play with a 6-1 win. The Lakers allowed the first goal of the game, then went on a 6-0 run to cap off the victory and advance to the finals.

Peterborough was paired with the Excelsiors again in the championship match. The Lakers stumbled out of the gate, failing to score during the first 21 minutes of regulation while allowing Brampton to score twice. Peterborough finally got on the board nearly halfway through the second period to make it 2-1.

The Lakers tied things up with a power-play goal early in the third to force overtime.

Brampton had an opportunity to spoil Peterborough’s undefeated run and win on their home turf but failed to get it past the goaltender. The Lakers capitalized and scored the walk-off overtime goal to capture the championship and secure an undefeated tournament run.

The following are the Lakers’s players and staff:

• Nicolas Aguilar

• Korban Andrew

• Emerson Birkhof-Talbot

• Bryson Croswell

• Colten Crough

• Bennett Ducie

• Easton Garlough (Ruthowsky)

• Reed Graham

• Bentley Heffernan

• Oliver Hodgins

• Keegan Jennings

• Keegan McCormick

• Hayden McIntyre

• Jonathan McNamara

• Zachary Reid

• Easton Wilson

• Grayson Wolff

• Head Coach - Chad Birkhof

• Asst. Coach - Broedie Birkhof

• Asst. Coach/Goalie Coach - Callan Baker

• Asst. Coach - Dan Crough

• Asst. Coach - Shawn McNamara

• Trainer - Dan Aguilar

• Manager - Jo Dunbar

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Peterborough Lakers Remain Undefeated After Pair of Weekend Road Games

The Peterborough Lakers’s lucky number was 13 as they scored that many in both weekend games to defeat the Owen Sound North Stars and Cobourg Kodiaks, respectively.

Photo courtesy Anna Taylor and the Peterborough Lakers.

Peterborough defeated Owen Sound 13-10 at the Meaford-St. Vincent Community Centre on Saturday and got their second weekend win, 13-6, against the Kodiaks at the Cobourg Community Centre on Sunday

The Lakers had played three games in six days but managed to stay undefeated with a 5-0 record to remain atop the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) standings.

“Three games in three days; my body will be sore tomorrow, but it was a lot of fun,” said Frank Coyle, Lakers rookie defenceman.

He was not dressed on Thursday but played Friday night for the Sr. B Ennismore James Gang. He made his MSL debut and he scored his first career goal.

“I got sent out for one offensive shift,” explained Coyle. “I set an off-ball pick for (Austin) Hasen and turned around and Taite (Cattoni) had thrown me the ball. I closed my eyes, threw it at the net and it went in.”

The Lakers were missing several of veterans to prior commitments and had several call-ups in Owen Sound (Curtis Ward, Seven Gillingham, Carter Frost, Dylan Lee and Grant Ramsey). Several regulars returned for Sunday’s game, making Nate Sage the only Jr. A call-up in the lineup. Sage scored his first two MSL goals with one assist. 

The Lakers had a 7-5 lead after the second period before Owen Sound roared back to start the third with a five-goal run. The Lakers rallied and ended the game with a six-goal run of their own. Hasen, Mike Robinson, Brad McCulley, Carter Page and Curtis Ward each had two goals.

It was a low-scoring affair until the Lakers, leading 6-4, broke the dam open in the third period, once again scoring six goals in the final frame on Sunday. McCulley, Page, Koleton Marquis and Sage each scored twice.

Drew Hutchison played both games on the weekend, with Nick Rose backing up Saturday and Deacan Knott Sunday. Hutchison made 45 saves on Sunday. 

“He’s a great goalie, he makes a D guy’s job easy,” said Coyle. “You can mess up and rely on him to steal some. It’s pretty easy playing in front of him.”

The Lakers return to the Peterborough Memorial Centre to take on a familiar face in Landon Kells and the Oakville Rock on Thursday. Kells was a former Laker and was traded along with a 2026 first-round pick for veteran goaltender Nick Rose on March 17.

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Peterborough Lakers Scrape Away Win In Tight Contest Over Brampton Excelsiors

The Peterborough Lakers had a close battle with the Brampton Excelsiors but squeezed out a victory, winning 6-5 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy David Pickering and the Peterborough Lakers.

The game was a stalemate until almost halfway through the opening period as Austin Hasen scored shorthanded for a 1-0 lead.

“Honestly, all credit to Marquis with that pass there, he put it right on my stick, I didn’t really have to move it,” said Hasen. “Luckily, I got (Brampton goalie Riley Hutchcraft) over the shoulder there on a good one. It’s something you mess around with all the time as a lacrosse player; growing up, you throw a one-handed shot all the time in practice. It was the only shot I could have taken at that point and shorthanded we might as well take a chance on it.”

Brampton tied the game just over seven minutes later but Joe Resetarits, in his first game as a Laker this season, scored to make it 2-1 after the first period.

“Truthfully, we got outplayed tonight on all aspects of the floor,” said Resetarits. “If it wasn’t for Rosey, I don’t think we would have been in that game.”

Lakers goaltender Nick Rose had a goals-against average of 5.5 in the contest.

The second period saw another low-scoring affair, with James Whitford and Thomas Hoggarth scoring for the Excelsiors and Lakers, respectively, to leave the game at 3-2 going into the third.

In the third, both teams traded goals twice, with Hoggarth’s second goal of the game and Mike Robinson’s first. Colton Armstrong in transition, got the game-winning goal after ball movement with Brad McCulley and Matt Gilray.

Brampton had one late goal with 1:43 left to play but could not get the tying score. Peterborough remains perfect with a 3-0 record, atop the Major Series Lacrosse standings.

The Lakers have a busy weekend with a pair of road games. They play the Owen Sound North Stars on Saturday then the Cobourg Kodiaks on Sunday.

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St. Peter's Student Named Recipient of H.O.P.E. Bursary 2025 Steve Montador Bursary

St. Peter’s Secondary School (SPSS) student Lara Cottam has been named the recipient of Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation’s (GPHSF) and Helping Others Participate Equally’s (HOPE) 2025 Steve Montador Bursary, announced on Thursday.

Vince Bierworth of GPHSF (left) with Cottam (right) at SPSS. Photo courtesy of Susan Owen and GPHSF.

The H.O.P.E. Bursary, in honour of Steve Montador, was established to support students transitioning from high school to college/university who suffer the long-term effects of a sports-related concussion and require a reduced academic course load due to injury.

“Having first sustained a serious concussion in elementary school, Lara has consistently had to battle the lasting symptoms and reaggravation of the injury while balancing the demands of being a high performing student, athlete and community member” said Nick Beamish, SPSS chair of physical education and athletic director, in a reference letter. “As a student athlete she has been a role model and leader for others. Her peers look up to and respect her, as she is always one of the most dedicated athletes on all of her teams.”

Cottam is planning to attend Queen’s University in Kingston this fall.

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Peterborough Lakers Asking For Donations For Kawartha Food Share For Thursday's Game

With the Peterborough Lakers’ next matchup against the Brampton Excelsiors, the former is asking the public to bring non-perishable items to donate in support of Kawartha Food Share (KFS) at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Lakers.

The donations support KFS in distributing it among its 37-member network of food banks. They will be accepted at the doors.

Thursday’s game will feature a special salute to all Peterborough Minor Lacrosse Association rep Lakers teams before the game. 

The Lakers are atop the standings with a 2-0 record after back-to-back wins over the Brooklin L.C. and the two-time defending-champion Six Nations Chiefs.

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U11s Win Peterborough Laker Classic; Dedicate Win to Teammate's Late Twin Brother

In dedication to nine-year-old Mark Mose, who passed away on Wednesday, the U11 Peterborough Lakers captured the Laker Classic in his honour at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Sunday.

Photo courtesy of the Ennismore Eagles.

Mose had passed away in his family’s arms and had a progressive genetic condition.

His twin brother Ben was on the winning U11 Lakers team, scoring two goals in the championship in a 6-5 win over the U11 Orangeville Northmen.

“It was incredible,” said Stephanie Mose, Mark and Ben’s mother. “It felt like everyone was behind us and behind Ben the whole time.”

“He scored a few goals in the tournament and every time was an emotional time on the bench,” said Kyle Martin, U11 Lakers head coach. “He played amazing, a true man.”

Photo courtesy of U11 Peterborough Lakers.

The team had struggled early in the three-day tournament, losing their first two games to the Centre Wellington Riverhawks and Nepean Knights. The team bounced back, winning four straight games that ultimately led to a championship.

“We were surprised to move on after two losses and it was a second chance. explained Martin. “The boys changed their game plan and the boys were fired up for that game three.”

Stephanie said Ben had the option not to play this weekend because of their tragedy but he refused to take that offer.

“He told us he wanted to play for Mark,” she explained.

“It’s a true testament of character,” added Martin. “The beauty of lacrosse. It’s the medicine game. It’s something the kid loves and it’s a good outlet for them.

Photo courtesy of U11 Peterborough Lakers.

A day after Mark’s passing, the U11 Lakers paid tribute to him by adding a little extra to their gear.

“There’s a blue ‘MM’ that we put on our helmets,” said Martin. “Mason Crow (Ben’s teammate) spoke up and he said, ‘let’s do this for Mark.’”

When Ben received the championship trophy during the presentation ceremony, his teammates were heard chanting ‘Benny’ to honour both Mose brothers.

“It was pretty incredible. The boys got the rust off the first two games and came together as a group. Everyone bought in,” said Martin.” “It was surreal that we could do it for Mark.”

“It’s nothing short of amazing. It made what we went through last week exactly what we needed. The whole Lakers community behind us felt unreal,” explained Stephanie. “It was incredible in so many ways and it’s just what we needed as a family. Honestly, it really helped us after the first few days that he passed. It felt like everyone was behind us and behind Ben the whole time.”

Mark was a student at St. Martin Catholic Elementary School in Ennismore. He was known for his bright smile and ability to touch the hearts of everyone he encountered. This included family, friends, classmates and school staff.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the Nisbett Funeral Home.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Northview Community Church. Interment to follow the service at Rosemount Memorial Gardens.

At the family’s request, donations can be made to the Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada or the Make-A-Wish Foundation Canada.

The public can also purchase raffle tickets from the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers, with all proceeds to benefit the Mose family. They can be purchased by emailing djmcphail@ptbolax.com or sending a direct message to the U11 Lakers Instagram page.

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Peterborough Petes Sign 2025 Third-Round Pick to OHL Standard Player Agreement

The Peterborough Petes have signed their 2025 third-round pick, Gerry DiCunzolo, to an OHL Standard Player Agreement, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Petes.

“We’re very excited to announce that Gerry DiCunzolo has signed with the Petes,” said Michael Oke, general manager and vice president of operations. . “He had a very strong season with Shattuck-St. Mary’s last year and caught the attention of our scouts. He showed very well at development camp earlier in May and we’re looking forward to seeing him on the ice at training camp later this year.”

The Buffalo, N.Y. forward was originally selected by the Petes 61st overall, in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection. The left-handed centreman played 62 games for Shattuck-St. Mary’s 15O last season, leading the team in scoring with 57 goals and 90 assists for 147 points. He also played in four games with Shattuck at the USA 15-only National Championships, leading his team in scoring with three goals and three assists for six points.

“It feels amazing to sign with the Petes,” said DiCunzolo. “It’s a dream come true to advance to the next level and be a part of such an amazing organization like the Petes. I’m looking forward to getting started and making an impact.”

In the official 2025 OHL Draft Guide, OHL Director of Hockey Development Darrell Woodley wrote the following:

“Gerry is a highly skilled centre that the puck seems to follow around the ice when he is out there. He is a very good skater with the ability to change gears in full flight and has that top gear that many players just don’t have. He plays the game at a high pace and has the ability to make highly skilled plays while moving his feet and constantly putting pressure on the opposition,” said Darrell Woodley, OHL director of hockey development. “Although he isn’t the biggest player, he rarely backs down or turns away from going into the high-traffic/contact areas. He is an exceptional playmaker and sees the play developing well before most others do. Gerry has all the talent and skill to be a very dynamic player at the next level.”

In the 2022-23 season, DiCunzolo was coached by former Pete and Buffalo Sabre Patrick Kaleta while playing for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 13U.

This signing makes DiCunzolo the first player from the Petes 2025 draft class to sign an OHL Standard Player Agreement.

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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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