Peterborough Hockey Association to Continue Annual Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament In 2027

A cherished tradition will continue after all, as the Peterborough Hockey Association (PHA) will host the Annual Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament for 2027, announced on Wednesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The decision came after close collaboration with the City of Peterborough.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the current and past volunteers and board members of the Liftlock Atom Tournament for their many years of dedication, which have sustained this cherished event,” according to a statement made in a press release.

The original tournament organizers announced that the 66th edition would be the last back in late July due to a lack of volunteers and the shifting landscape of minor hockey.

The past organizers stated that “finding and retaining enough individuals to manage the extensive logistics, from scheduling to arena operations, has become increasingly difficult.”

They also mentioned that “changes within the broader minor hockey landscape may have also contributed to the challenges faced by the Peterborough Liftlock Atom Tournament.”

Eighty-seven alumni participated in the tournament and went on to play in the National Hockey League.

They include:

• Wayne Gretzky - The Great One and was one of hockey’s greatest goal scorers

• Eric Lindros - NHL MVP

• Bob Gainey - Multiple Stanley Cup winner and successful coach

• Corey Perry - Hometown Stanley Cup champion with the Anaheim Ducks

• Steve Larmer - An ‘iron man’ forward who played 884 consecutive games for the Chicago Blackhawks

• John Vanbiesbrouck - Stanley Cup goaltender and finalist

• Tie Domi - Renowned Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer

• Mickey Redmond - Montréal Canadiens forward and Detroit Red Wings colour commentator

• Cory Stillman - A two-time Stanley Cup champion

• Mike Fisher - An 18-season NHL veteran

“Their connection to this tournament highlights its role in developing young talent, and the legacy we build upon,” PHA stated.

The 2026 edition is being held from Jan. 9-11.

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Peterborough Petes's Friday Road Game Against Soo Greyhounds Given Rescheduled Time

The Peterborough Petes’s road game against the Soo Greyhounds this Friday has been changed to 6:07 p.m. from the previously scheduled 7:07 p.m., announced by the Ontario Hockey League on Thursday.

The Petes are fourth in the East Division with a 5-5-0-1 record. Photo courtesy of Kenenth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

The game will take place at GFL Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie and is the second and final meeting between the two teams this season. The Soo won the previous matchup in Peterborough on Sept. 25, 3-0, after two late empty net goals.

The Petes are on the road this Thursday for their next game. They take on the North Bay Battalion with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens.

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Peterborough Memorial Centre to Host OFSAA Wrestling Championship From March 2 to 4

Canada’s largest wrestling tournament –the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Wrestling Championship – is returning to town on March 2 to 4 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The championship brings together over 900 competitors and 450 coaches from 250 secondary schools across Ontario. Last held in Peterborough in 2012, it will be hosted in collaboration with three Peterborough secondary schools: Kenner Collegiate, Adam Scott Collegiate and Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School.

“Events like the OFSAA Wrestling Championships celebrate the incredible dedication, spirit, and talent of young athletes from across Ontario,” said Councillors Lesley Parnell and Alex Bierk. “We’re proud to welcome this next generation of athletes and their supporters to Peterborough, and to showcase the best of what our community has to offer as we continue to position the City as a destination of choice for sporting events.”

OFSAA is a federation of 18 regional school athletic associations from across the province that supports 45 provincial championships and seven festivals across 21 sports for Ontario’s student athletes.

“It is a dream come true to bring the OFSAA Wrestling Championship to Peterborough,” said Ryan McCracken, OFSAA convenor and Adam Scott Collegiate teacher and coach. “Being able to host this event will not only inspire a new generation of wrestlers in the region, but it will also recognize the hard work our local athletes and coaches have been doing to grow the sport after it was shut down for several years due to the pandemic. With the help of local partners and sponsors, we plan on pulling out all the stops to put on an unforgettable event.”

Athletes will be competing this season to earn the right to attend the OFSAA Championship, with the top two wrestlers from each region qualifying.

Each category features 32 wrestlers competing for the podium, divided into 18 female and 18 male categories.

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Trent Excalibur Women’s Lacrosse Team Capture OUA Patterson Cup

The Trent Excalibur women’s lacrosse team are Ontario University Athletics (OUA) champions after claiming the 2025 Patterson Cup over the weekend in Waterloo.

Photo courtesy of Marina Particelli.

Trent entered the championship as the top seed following a 7-1 regular season. The Excalibur opened their postseason with a 17–2 rout over the McMaster Marauders on Friday evening.

Saturday’s semifinal was a rematch against the host Laurier Golden Hawks, the only team to defeat Trent during the regular season. The Excalibur got revenge with a 14–6 win to Sunday’s championship. 

In the final, Trent faced the two-time defending champion, Queen’s Gaels. Their first matchup saw the Excalibur defeating them 13–6 in their season opener back in September.

Queen’s got on the scoreboard first but the Excalibur quickly responded with a pair of goals by OUA Rookie of the Year Maddy Baxter to take a 2-1 lead after the first quarter. Trent’s Tyler McDonald and Natalie Fournier book-ended a Gaels marker in the second quarter to give the green and white a 4-2 half-time lead. 

Queen’s cut the lead to 4-3 early in the third but McDonald scored her second of the game. Baxter completed the hat-trick to end the quarter as Trent increased their lead to 6-3. OUA offensive player of the year and Peterborough’s Abby Hiltz got on the board with a power play marker in the fourth quarter and Fournier notched her second of the game as Trent controlled the final stanza to win 8-4. 

OUA goalkeeper of the year Kieran Gerow was named Trent’s player of the game, making nine saves. The Excalibur outshot Queen’s, 14-13 for the game. 

The win marks Trent’s fourth OUA title in program history, following gold medal finishes in 2016, 2019 and 2021.

Trent Athletics will be hosting next year’s OUA Championship at Justin Chiu Stadium. 

Several Excalibur players were recognized among the league’s best for their outstanding performances throughout the year:

• OUA Rookie of the Year: Maddy Baxter 

• OUA Offensive Player of the Year: Abby Hiltz 

• OUA Goalkeeper of the Year: Kieran Gerow 

Trent’s excellence was also recognized across the league’s All-Star selections: 

• Attacker: Abby Hiltz 

• Midfielder: Natalie Fournier 

• Midfielder: Maddy Baxter 

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Peterborough Petes Split Games Over the Weekend In OHL Rivalry Week

The Peterborough Petes split their weekend games during OHL Rivalry Week, defeating the Ottawa 67s on Saturday but falling to the Oshawa Generals Sunday night.

The Petes are fourth in the East Division with a 5-5-0-1 record. Photo courtesy of Kenenth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes hosted the Ottawa 67’s for the first time this season at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Adam Novotný’s late was the game-winner, defeating the Ottawa 67’s, 2-1.

Easton Rye led the way for Peterborough, stopping 25 of 26 shots for his fifth win of the season. Carson Cameron and Novotný scored, while James Petrovski picked up two assists. Matthew Soto (his 100th OHL assist) and Braydon McCallum each picked up an assist in the game.

The Petes finished rivalry week with a road game at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa. The Generals got revenge from Thursday’s game, defeating the Petes, 6-4.

Colin Fitzgerald had two goals, Novotný scored his sixth goal in his last five games and added an assist. Kaden McGregor and James Petrovski each picked up two assists in the game. Braydon McCallum scored, while Yanis Lutz and Leon Kolarik both had an assist.

The Petes are on the road this Thursday for their next game. They take on the North Bay Battalion with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens.

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Canadian Hockey Enterprises to Launch U18 Academy Starting In the 2026-27 Season

Canadian Hockey Enterprises (CHE) has launched the CHE Academy, set to begin in the 2026-27 season at the U18 level, announced on Friday.

Photo courtesy of CHE.

Fully sanctioned by Hockey Canada, the CHE Academy is based in Peterborough. It provides a developmental opportunity for aspiring young athletes.

The CHE Academy is committed to fostering athletic, academic, and personal growth in a supportive and high-performance environment.

Through strategic partnerships with Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, Hybrid FHP, Miskin Law Community Complex and the City of Peterborough, the CHE Academy is poised to make a meaningful impact both on and off the ice including with the community.

The partnerships and professionals are meant to equip student-athletes to succeed both as athletes and as engaged members of the community.

“The City of Peterborough is proud to support the launch of the CHE Hockey Academy — a program that embodies the values of teamwork, dedication, and community that define our city,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “This partnership represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen Peterborough’s reputation as a hub for athletic excellence while providing young athletes with the tools to thrive both on and off the ice.”

Canadian Hockey Enterprises was founded in 1987 and has been heavily involved in the hockey community through its camps, tournaments and player development programs.

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Matthew Soto's Five-Point Night Gives Peterborough the Win Over Rival Oshawa Generals

Matthew Soto helped the Petes prevail during OHL Rivalry Week with five points en route to a 7-3 win over the Oshawa Generals at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

The Petes are fourth in the East Division with a 4-4-0-1 record. Photo courtesy of Kenenth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes coughed up the opening goal as they turned over the puck in their own zone and Brooks Rogowski wristed one home for a 1-0 lead just 2:47 into the period.

It took almost 13 minutes but Peterborough got the equalizer after Brennan Falkner had a turnaround bid from the high slot and scored for a tie game. Soto had the primary assist from a rebound shot. It took 67 seconds for the Petes to strike again as Soto had a breakaway shorthanded and got it above the pad for a 2-1 lead after the first period.

Peterborough kept rolling as Kaden McGregor got a juicy rebound from a Gerry DiCunzolo shot and the former buried it home for his second goal of the season. Adam Novotný got on the scoreboard just under six minutes later after pouncing on a rebound from a Thanasi Marentette point shot. He scored to make it 4-1 and Soto got the secondary assist on the play. Vadim Smirnov got one back for the Generals late in the period and it was a 4-2 game after two frames.

Soto found the back of the net just 17 seconds into the final period with a tip-in from a James Petrovski cross-crease pass. He struck again after a loose puck rebound found the back of his stick. He got it past the goaltender with a backhand shot from one knee for the hat trick and fifth point of the night. Peterborough kepts pouring it on as Novotný wristed one home from inside the faceoff circle for his second of the game. The Generals tacked one on late but the Petes easily left the Memorial Centre with a 7-3 win.

The Petes continue the OHL’s Rivalry Week on Saturday when they host the Ottawa 67’s. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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Trent Excalibur Men's Soccer Ends Their Season With a 3-1 Playoff Loss to the Carleton Ravens

The Trent Excalibur men’s soccer team’s 2025-26 season came to an end after being downed by the Carleton Ravens, 3-1 at TAGG Park in Ottawa on Wednesday night.

Excalibur goalkeeper Owen Schultz was Trent’s player of the match, making 13 saves on 16 Ravens shots. The team finished with five shots on goal. Photo courtesy of Trent Excalibur.

The Ravens squad took control early with goals in the 15th and 20th minutes to take a 2-0 lead. Trent could have been in a bigger hole but was saved by a few posts.

The gExcalibur cut the lead in half in the 35th minute with their first playoff marker since 2016 as Oliver Parratt capitalized on a Ravens turnover and put a low strike into the back of the net. The half ended with Carleton holding a 2-1 advantage. 

Trent was more offensive in the second half with several narrow misses but Carleton was able to hold off the attack. Eventually, the Ravens found a hole in the 78th minute to extend their lead to 3-1 and hold on for the victory.

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Peterborough Petes Sign Defenceman to OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement From 2023 Priority Selection

The Peterborough Petes have signed defenceman Calum Hartnell to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement, announced on Wednesday evening.

Photo courtesy of Kenenth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

“We’re excited to announce that we’ve signed Calum Hartnell to a Scholarship and Development Agreement,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “Calum had a strong season last year with Carleton Place, making his debut with the Petes later in the year. He has shown throughout his time in Peterborough that he has the qualities that we’re looking for, both on and off the ice.”

The 2007-born defenceman was originally selected by the Petes in the 10th round, 193rd overall, in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. Last season, he played in 52 games for the Carleton Place Canadians of the CCHL, scoring three goals and adding 17 assists for 20 points.

Over the past two seasons, Hartnell has played in five games for the Petes, making his OHL debut in Brantford on March 1 of this year.

The Petes are back in action for the OHL’s  Rivalry Week on Thursday when they host the Oshawa Generals. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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Peterborough Petes Kaden McGregor Announced to Canada White Roster For U17 World Challenge

Peterborough Petes forward Kaden McGregor has been named to the roster for Canada White at the upcoming 2025 U17 World Challenge in Truro, N.S. from Nov. 2-8, announced by Hockey Canada on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Kenenth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

“We’re very excited for Kaden to be able to represent Canada at the upcoming U17 World Challenge,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “This is a great opportunity for him to compete with some of the top talent in the 2009 age group from around the world. We know that this experience will be very beneficial for him moving forward.”

The Braeside native was selected first overall by the Petes in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection, winning the Jack Ferguson Award as the draft’s first selection. McGregor played in four games for the Petes, making his debut on Oct. 2. He scored his first goal in a 5-2 win over the Kingston Frontenacs at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Oct. 9.

In July, Kaden was invited to Hockey Canada’s U17 National Development Camp in Oakville, along with Petes 2025 second-round pick Kieran Raynor.

McGregor will be joined on Canada White by Alex Darling, Petes video coach and assistant to the General Manager. Darling was named Video Coach for Canada White on July 15.

Canada White kicks off the 2025 U17 World Challenge on Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m. AST when they take on Sweden.

The Petes are back in action for the OHL’s  Rivalry Week on Thursday when they host the Oshawa Generals. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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