Peterborough Petes Select Three From 2025 CHL Import Draft

The Peterborough Petes have selected three players in Leon Kolarik, Yanis Lutz, and Melvin Fernström from the 2025 CHL Import Draft on Wednesday.

“We’re very excited about the players that we were able to select in today’s Import Draft,” said Michael Oke, general manager and vice president of operations. “Over the course of the season, Rob Wilson, Patrick O’Connor, myself, and other members of our staff have had the chance to watch these players in person and on video. All three players displayed the abilities needed to succeed in the OHL and the characteristics that we look for in a Peterborough Pete.”

The Petes’ first pick in the draft was 63rd overall in round two, taking Kolarik, the Austrian forward from Red Bull Hockey Akademie Juniors.

A 2007-born forward from Vienna, he played in 36 games for the RB Hockey Juniors in the AlpsHL last season, scoring 10 goals and adding 13 assists for 23 points. He also played in seven games for EC Salzburg in the ICEHL (Austria’s top league), scoring once and adding two assists for three points. In the playoffs, Kolarik led EC Salzburg U20 in scoring, with eight goals and six assists for 14 points in eight games. Kolarik has also represented his home country of Austria at multiple levels. This past year, he scored seven points in five games at the U18 World Championship Division 1A, while also recording four assists in five games at the U20 World Championship Division 1A.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

With the Petes second pick, 109th overall, they selected Lutz from EV Zug U20 in Switzerland.

The 2008-born forward from Lachen, played 34 games for EV Zug U20 this season, scoring 14 goals and adding eight assists for 22 points. He also played in 12 games for EV Zug U17 this year, scoring eight goals and adding five assists for 13 points. Lutz has represented his home country of Switzerland at the U17 level. In 2024-25, he played in 16 games for the Switzerland U17 team, scoring six goals and providing six assists for 12 points.

Photo courtesy of Philipp Hegglin and EV Zug.

The Petes third and final pick in the draft came at 121 in round three, taking Fernström, a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect from Orebro HK in Sweden.

A 2006-born forward from Bålsta, he was initially selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the third round, 93rd overall, in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 1, along with Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais and a first-round pick in exchange for Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor. On June 13, Fernström signed an entry-level contract with the Penguins after putting up 17 points in 48 games with Örebro HK in the SHL in 2024-25.

Photo courtesy of Steve Ellis.

“We are very pleased with how the Import draft went today,” said Patrick O’Connor, Petes director of player personnel and assistant coach. “Rob (Wilson) and I spent extensive time in Europe doing a lot of research on these players and we’re very happy to be able to select them today. Leon is a talented, quick young player with a good hockey IQ, and is someone who we believe will put up good offensive numbers in the OHL. Yanis is an explosive, offensive player who is a little bit younger, but is also someone who we believe will succeed at the OHL level. Melvin has a good shot, knows where to be on the ice and has professional experience playing in the SHL.”

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Peterborough Petes Forward Named to U.S. Under-17 Select Team

Peterborough Petes forward Gerry DiCunzolo has been named to the 2025 U.S. Under-17 Select Team to compete at the Under-17 Four Nations Tournament from Aug. 5-9 in Plymouth, Mi.

Photo courtesy of TDavid Pickering and the Peterborough Petes.

“I’d like to congratulate Gerry on being named to the U.S. Under-17 Select Team,” said Michael Oke, general manager and vice president of operations. “This is a great opportunity for him to play with and against some of the top players in the 2009 age group. This experience will be very beneficial as he prepares for his first season in the OHL with the Peterborough Petes.”

The Buffalo native was initially selected by the Petes in the third round, 61st overall, in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection. The left-handed centre played 62 games for Shattuck-St. Mary’s 15O last season. He led the team in scoring with 57 goals and 90 assists for 147 points. DiCunzolo 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.

On May 27, DiCunzolo signed an OHL Standard Player Agreement (SPA)with the Petes, becoming the first player from their 2025 draft class to do so. Second-round picks Kieran Raynor and Matthew Perreault have both been signed to an SPA.

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Ontario Offering Free Fishing Until July 6

The Ontario government is celebrating Canada Day by allowing all Canadian residents to fish for free in Ontario until Saturday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“This week is the perfect chance to gather with friends and family to reel in new experiences and explore all the great fishing opportunities our province has to offer,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “I encourage fishing enthusiasts and first-timers alike to cast a line in celebration of Canada – the True North, strong and free, and the place we call home.”

According to the provincial government, recreational fishing is a vital part of Ontario's economy and heritage, contributing significantly to local tourism and employment.

These free-fishing opportunities remove barriers and encourage those new to fishing to give it a try, allowing them to discover the enjoyment of fishing first hand says the Ontario government

Anyone participating in Family Fishing Week, must follow all conservation licence catch and size limits and obey sanctuaries and other fishing regulations.

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Peterborough's Porter Martone Drafted Sixth Overall to the Philadelphia Flyers

The NHL dream has come true for Peterborough’s Porter Martone as he was drafted sixth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Ca. on Friday evening.

Photo by Jordan Cooper.

Martone spent the majority of his Ontario Hockey League career with the Mississauga/Brampton Steelheads and had a brief stint with the Sarnia Sting, playing 29 games during the 2022-23 season.

He finished this season with 37 goals and 61 assists in 57 games while captaining the Steelheads. He also captained Team Canada to a gold medal at the IIHF U18 World Championship last year in Finland.

The Peterborough forward was a member of the Petes U15 AAA team, scoring six goals and 15 assists in 36 games.

Porter is the son of his father and former NHL player Mike Martone. The latter was known for scoring the game-winning overtime goal in the 1996 OHL Championship against the Guelph Storm.

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Trent University's President’s Excalibur Golf Tournament Raises a Record-Breaking $92,000 For Student-Athlete Scholarships

The 19th annual Trent University President’s Excalibur Golf Tournament showed its support for student-athletes, raising a record $92,000 for the Excalibur Green and White Scholarships, held at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club on Thursday afternoon.

Dr. Cathy Bruce, Trent president and vice-chancellor, tees off at the second hold at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“Today marks the highest fundraising total in the 19-year history of this tournament, and we couldn’t have done it without our generous sponsors and participants,” said Nathan McFadden, Trent Athletics & Recreation director. “The Green and White Scholarship Fund is a lifeline for many of our athletes. It eases financial burdens, but more importantly, it sends a powerful message: we believe in you. That belief fuels their drive, their discipline and their dreams.”

@ptbo_canada The 19th annual @trentuniversity President’s Excalibur Golf Tournament showed its support for student-athletes, raising a record $92,000 for the Excalibur Green and White Scholarships. #ptbocanada #ptbo #peterborough #journalism #journalist #news #fyp #trentuniversity ♬ Mario like action game 2 - Jun Takahashi

The $92,000 raised brings the cumulative amount raised to over $792,000. To date, the Green and White Scholarship Fund has benefited more than 400 student-athletes.

For the 2024/25 season, 34 student-athletes were awarded a Green and White Scholarship for their academic achievement and athletic talent. Students receiving this scholarship may be eligible for subsequent years if they maintain a minimum academic average, accumulating significant support over their studies at Trent.

“The Green and White Scholarships have made an incredible difference for me and so many other student-athletes,” said Isabelle Pellerine, student-athlete. “Not every athlete gets the chance to compete at the varsity level, but today shows there’s a community that believes in us. At Trent, we’re more than just athletes, we’re supported to succeed in every part of our lives. I’m so proud to be part of a university that invests in us and our future.”

This year, 20 teams of four participated in the scramble tournament and George Ripoll – BMO Nesbitt Burns, captured first place. 

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Peterborough Lakers Drop Third-Straight Game In Loss to Cobourg Kodiaks

The woes continue for the Peterborough Lakers as they lost their third straight game, 9-8, against the Cobourg Kodiaks at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of Anna Taylor and the Peterborough Lakers.

The Lakers started strong with two goals from Joe Resetarits and Taite Cattoni. However, they allowed a three-goal run from Cobourg to cap off the period, 3-2.

Both teams alternated the first three goals with the Kodiaks striking first. Cattoni got his second of the game but the Lakaers found themselves trailing 5-3. On the next four-goal run, both teams traded scores with Thomas Hoggarth and Matt Gilray scoring for Peterborough but found themselves trailing 7-5 after two periods.

The Lakers opened with two straight goals from Hoggarth and a shorthanded goal from Cattoni for the hat trick. Special teams went in favour of Cobourg as they scored two straight on the power play and shorthanded respectively. Cattoni scored his fourth goal of the game to pull the Lakers to within one with 9:23 left in regulation. Despite 13 shots on goal, they could not find another past Cobourg goaltender Jackson Brown and the Kodiaks escape Peterborough with a 9-8 win.

“It’s a tough time for us. Our best players were not our best players tonight. We need to stick to our roles,” said Mike Hasen, Lakers head coach. “The guy are frustrated. They’re disappointed. We’re searching for answers within ourselves.”

The loss puts the Lakers at a 7-4 record but they remain in third place in the standings.

“We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and come back focused and ready to… commit to each other, trust each other and play our best because there are no easy games in this league,” said Hasen. “We have to consistently take that next step. We took steps on Tuesday, and tonight there were good moments, but overall we took a step back.”

The Lakers wore special Canada-themed jerseys that were auctioned off at the game in support of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation. Over $4,000 was raised through both a silent auction during the game and live auction after the game. Holden Cattoni’s game-worn jersey fetched the highest winning bid at $700.

The Lakers return to the Memorial Centre next Thursday for Country Night against the Owen Sound North Stars.

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Peterborough Lakers Fall In First-Place Battle Against Six Nations Chiefs

In a battle for first place in the Major Series Lacrosse Standings, the Peterborough Lakers could not claim the top spot after losing to the Six Nations Chiefs, 9-6, at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena on Tuesday night.

Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Lakers.

Both teams alternated the games first five goals with the Lakers getting the elad after the opening period, 3-2. Joe Resetarits scored twice and Holden Cattoni got on the board for Peterborough.

The Chiefs took over the second period, scoring four times to Peterborough’s one thanks to a pair of Shayne Jackson tallies for Six Nations. Resetarits was the lone goal-scorer for the Lakers to complete the hat trick but the score was 6-4 after two periods.

The third period saw the Chiefs extend their lead with two goals but Peterborough responded with two of their own to keep it close. However, a late power play goal from the Chiefs dashed any hopes of Peterborough making a comeback and fell 9-6.

The Chiefs’ win improves their record to 9-1 and keeps them in first place, while the Lakers stay in third place as 7-3.

The Lakers return to the Memorial Centre this Thursday to host the Cobourg Kodiaks during a Canada Day celebration. Fans are asked to wear their best red and white outfits to match the Lakers, who will be wearing special Canada jerseys, to be auctioned off following the game in support of the PRHC Foundation’s $60 million Campaign.

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Peterborough Petes Acquire Overage Defenceman From Owen Sound Attack

The Peterborough Petes have acquired overage defenceman James Petrovski from the Owen Sound Attack in exchange for four draft picks, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Terry Wilson and the OHL.

In exchange for Petrovski, the Petes send away Owen Sound’s third-round pick in 2026, a second-round pick in 2027, a fifth-round pick in 2028, and a third-round pick in 2029.

The Mississauga-born defenceman was originally selected by the Flint Firebirds in the second round, 33rd overall, of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. He played parts of two seasons in Flint, scoring 14 points in 73 games, before being acquired by the Owen Sound Attack in November 2022. Since joining Owen Sound, Petrovski registered 85 points in 180 games. In October last year, Petrovski was named an assistant captain of the Attack.

“James is a big, veteran defenceman who plays a solid two-way game,” said Michael Oke, general manager and vice president of operations. “With over 250 games in the OHL and his time being an assistant captain, his leadership and experience is a great addition to our blueline as we continue to build our team for next season. This move falls in line with the plan that we’ve been putting together to reshape our roster. We’ll be making some more exciting roster announcements in the near future.”

This past season, Petrovski had career numbers, scoring four goals and 37 assists for 41 points. Petrovski also has 30 games of playoff experience during his time in the OHL, including helping Flint reach the Western Conference final in the 2021-22 season.

Petrovski is the second overage player that the Petes have brought in this offseason. On June 12, Peterborough acquired OA forward Matthew Soto from the Kingston Frontenacs in exchange for three picks.

The CHL Import Draft takes place on July 2 at 11 a.m.

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Second-Period Surge Sinks Peterborough Lakers At Home to Brooklin L.C.

The Peterborough Lakers could not get the comeback after a six-goal period from the Brooklin L.C. and fell 13-9 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Lakers.

The Laker had the lead after the first period. Taite Cattoni opened the scoring, Joe Resetarits had a power play goal and recently-acquired Dustyn Birkhof scored the third goal of the period for Peterborough to have a 3-2 lead.

The second saw a flurry of goals from the visitors after Austin Hasen had extended Peterborough’s lead. Brooklin scored six unanswered to take an 8-4 lead heading into the third.

“It got a little ugly,” said Adam Thistlethwaite, Lakers defenceman. “It got away from us there.”

Peterborough tried to come back but Brooklin was able to go step-for-step. The visitors scored the first three of four goals to extend their lead as Braedon Saris had the Lakers’s only goal. Peterborough went on a three-goal run with Taite Cattoni, Jake Withers and Matt Gilray scoring but Brooklin scored the last two of three to clinch the 13-9 win over the Lakers.

“We need to stay focused on the end goal,” said Thistlethwaite. “When you see things get messy in the game, you want to support your teammates through those rough spots and help them stay focused on the end goal of the game. You don’t like to see teammates being taken advantage of. We try to score goals for each other, for the city.”

The loss drops the Lakers to third in the league with a 7-2 record. Peterborough takes on the two-time defending Mann Cup Champion Six Nations Chiefs on Tuesday on the road.

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Peterborough Petes Announce 2025 Education Fund Award Winners

The 2025 winners of the Peterborough Petes Education Fund Scholarships have been announced, which are awarded annually to a player from the Petes U18 AAA and the Peterborough IceKats U18 AA, as selected by their coaches.

(From left to right) Mike Martone, Cameron Meek, Hannah McInnes and Rod McGillis. Each year, the Peterborough Petes Education Fund also awards six $500 scholarships to local high schools, to be presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated self-improvement through hard work during their high school years. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

“The Peterborough Petes Education fund was established by former Petes Board of Directors member Pat Casey in the late 1970s,” said Rod McGillis, Petes Vice President. “We are proud to continue to give out these scholarships each year to deserving athletes and students. Pat always knew that education was a critical part of the Peterborough Petes program and his work has allowed for these scholarships to continue to current students and athletes.”

This year’s winner from the Peterborough Petes U18AAA is Cameron Meek. Meek, a forward from Port Perry, attends Port Perry High School and served as Captain of the team this season.

“I’m honoured to receive this award,” said Meek. “I want to thank my coaches for giving me the opportunity to lead this team. Your support and belief helped me to be better every single day both on and off the ice. I also want to thank the boys for an amazing season and wish them the best with whatever they do next year.”

“Cameron Meek spent two impressive years with the U18 Petes, earning the captaincy in his second season,” said Scott Roche, Petes U18 Coach. “Known for his exceptional leadership, Cameron consistently led by example, demonstrating a strong work ethic both on and off the ice. His infectious attitude helped elevate the team's morale, making him a key motivator and a great teammate. Always putting in the effort and displaying a high level of commitment, he quickly became someone others looked up to, not just for his skill, but for his character and dedication to the game.”

This year’s winner from the Peterborough IceKats U18AA is Hannah McInnes. McInnes, a Peterborough native, plays defence for the IceKats and attends St. Peter Secondary.

“I feel very fortunate and grateful to receive this award,” said McInnes. “I want to thank the entire IceKats organization and all of my coaches over the years who have helped develop me as a player and a person along the way. As I have just graduated from  my last season of minor hockey; I will always remember all of my teammates and the memories we made over the years. I’m so lucky to have been part of such an amazing sport with awesome people. I’m looking forward to going away in the fall to university and putting this Peterborough Petes Education Fund scholarship towards my education. Lastly, I want to give a huge ‘thank you’ to the Peterborough Petes organization for this generous award.”

“Hannah McInnes has been a dedicated and inspiring IceKat,” said Cameron Mann, IceKats U18AA Head Coach. “She is an outstanding student, leader and teammate who always puts the team first. Her hard work, coachability and commitment, on and off the ice, make her a true role model. The University of Guelph is lucky to have her this fall.”

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