Peterborough Special Olympics Athletes Bring Home 24 Medals At Canada Summer Games In Medicine Hat

Peterborough Special Olympics athletes were covered in hardware, bringing home 24 medals while representing Team Ontario at the Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat, Alb., from Aug. 11 to 15.

Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Ontario.

The Peterborough Special Olympians at the event were: Tessa Scates, Breanne MacKenzie, Steve Caban, Michael Brioux, Kristen Lackey, Miriam McHugh, Candace Bushie, Gillian McHugh, Hayley Fowler, Gaerrisen Freeland, Blair Bastien, Dalton Davis and Dylan Armstrong.

They competed in events such as bocce ball, 10-pin bowling, soccer, swimming and track and field. Peterborough combined for 14 gold, five silver and five bronze medals.

“The athletes represented Peterborough, their families, their coaches and Team Ontario with tremendous pride,” said Debbie Quinlan, swimming head coach. “Their accomplishments on and off the field, pool and court are something our entire community can celebrate.”

The following are the results of Peterborough’s Special Olympics Athletes:

• Athletics (Track and Field)

  • Gaerrisen Freeland: Two Gold and two Bronze Medals

• Basketball

  • Blair Bastien: Finalist playing for Guelph Mixed

• Bocce ball (Coach Al Brioux)

  • Dalton Davis: One Gold Medal

• Bowling (10 pin)

  • Mike Brioux: Three Gold, one Silver Medal

• Men's Soccer

  • Dylan Armstrong: One Silver Medal (Playing for Brampton team)

• Women's soccer (Coach Bill Chapman)

  • Candace Bushie, Haley Fowler, Gillian McHugh, Miriam McHugh Kristin Lackey, (combined Ontario/Quebec team): Gold Medal

• Swimming (Coach Debbie Quinlan)

  • Tessa Scates: Two Gold Medals, one Silver Medal and one Bronze Medal

  • Breanne McKenzie: One Gold Medal, one Silver Medal and two Bronze Medals

  • Steve Caban: One Silver Medal

“I had so much fun and it was nice to play with six Québec players and five from Peterborough,” said Jillian McHugh.

“My overall experience went well. The volunteers were awesome and I also made new friends,” said Michael Brioux. “The sportsmanship from all the athletes was amazing, (with) everyone helping out. Plus, all the volunteers that they had helping out at the games were great and without them, I don’t think it could have happened. All of our coaches were great and helped us through the experience of playing in a National Games experience.”

The games in Medicine Hat were the first time the event was held in Canada since 2018, in Antigonish, N.S.

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Gerry DiCunzolo Leaving Petes for Upcoming Season to Join U.S. National Team Development Program

By Scott Arnold

Gerry DiCunzolo will spend the upcoming season developing with the United States National Team Development Program, but the Peterborough Petes still have his OHL rights and expect him back.

Gerry DiCunzolo will spend the 2026-27 season with the United States National Team Development Program after recording four goals and five assists in 39 games with the Peterborough Petes last season. (Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes)

The Petes announced that the 17-year-old forward will join the NTDP for the 2026-27 season after playing 39 games with Peterborough last season.

DiCunzolo was selected by the Petes in the third round, 61st overall, in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection. He recorded four goals and five assists during his first season with the Petes and was the recipient of the team’s Ed Redmond Memorial Trophy, while also being named an OHL East Academic Player of the Month.

The Buffalo, N.Y., native will now get the opportunity to continue his development with the NTDP, while the Petes retain his OHL rights. DiCunzolo will rejoin Peterborough prior to the 2027-28 season.

DiCunzolo has already gained considerable experience with Team USA. Most recently, he represented the Americans at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, recording one goal and five assists in five games as Team USA reached the championship game for the second consecutive year.

He also represented the U.S. at the 2025 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament, where he led the team in goals with five and tied for the team lead in points with eight.

Before joining the Petes, DiCunzolo had a highly productive 2024-25 season with Shattuck St. Mary’s 15U team, recording 147 points on 57 goals and 90 assists in 62 games.

The left-handed shot is committed to Penn State University and has also attended USA Hockey’s Select 15 and 16 player development camps and competed in two USA Hockey Youth Nationals tournaments.

While DiCunzolo will be away from Peterborough for the 2026-27 season, the Petes will retain his OHL rights and hope to have him back for the 2027-28 season.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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International Debut a Success as Peterborough's Audrey Martone Makes Her Mark With Canada

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough’s Audrey Martone made her first experience wearing the Maple Leaf a memorable one, recording four assists in three games as Canada finished its U18 series against the United States with two wins.

Peterborough’s Audrey Martone made her international debut with Canada’s U18 team, recording four assists in three games against the United States (photo via instagram @hockeycanada)

Martone and Canada opened the 2026 National Women’s U18 Team Series with a 5-2 victory over the United States on Wednesday, August 12th, before following it up with another convincing win, 5-1, on Thursday, August 13th.

The United States answered in the series finale on Saturday, August 15th, edging Canada 5-4 to make it a 2-1 series finish in Canada’s favour.

For Martone, the results were only part of an impressive first international experience.

The Peterborough native recorded two assists in the opening game, added another assist in Canada’s second victory and picked up one more in the final game, finishing the three-game series with four points.

Peterborough’s Audrey Martone, third from the left in the back row, was part of Canada’s U18 team that won two of three games against the United States in the 2026 National Women’s U18 Team Series (photo via facebook @hockeyCanada)

It marked Martone’s first time representing Canada after she earned a spot on the country’s U18 National Select roster following a national selection process that included a six-day selection camp.

Martone is the younger sister of Philadelphia Flyers forward Porter Martone, who has represented Canada internationally, including at the World Junior Championship and World Hockey Championship.

After a strong showing on the national stage, the youngest Martone will now turn her focus to the upcoming season with the Central York Panthers of the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA).

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Peterborough Lakers Capture First WMSL Provincial Championship

By Scott Arnold

For a team that came within one goal of a championship a year ago, the Peterborough Lakers did not leave much to chance this time.

The Peterborough Lakers celebrate after capturing their first-ever WMSL provincial championship with a 7-5 victory over the defending champion Mimico Mountaineers in Six Nations on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Lakers)

The Lakers completed a perfect run through the 2026 Women’s Major Series Lacrosse (WMSL) Provincial Championship on Sunday in Six Nations, defeating the defending champion Mimico Mountaineers 7-5 in the championship final to capture the first WMSL provincial title in franchise history.

And there was a little extra to the matchup.

The final was a rematch of the 2025 championship game, when Mimico edged Peterborough 4-3 in the final hosted at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. A year later, with the championship on the line again, the Lakers turned the tables.

This time, they were the ones celebrating.

A Perfect Weekend

Peterborough's championship run was exactly that: perfect.

The Lakers opened the provincial championship Friday with an 8-3 win over the Niagara Turtle Islanders before returning to the floor later that day and knocking off Mimico 9-5.

They followed that up Saturday with a 6-3 victory over the Whitby Rush and a 7-1 win over the Grand River Attack.

Sunday began with another meeting with Whitby, this time in the semifinal. The Lakers came through with a 4-3 victory to book their place in the championship game.

That set up the rematch everyone would have wanted.

Mimico entered the final as the defending champion, while Peterborough entered it having won every game it had played at the tournament.

By the time the final whistle sounded, the Lakers had made it six wins in six games.

A Strong Start Against The Defending Champions

Peterborough wasted little time putting itself in position to finish the job.

The Lakers scored four times in the opening period while holding Mimico to two goals, taking a 4-2 lead into the first intermission.

Mimico answered with two goals in the second, but Peterborough matched them with two of its own and carried a 6-4 advantage into the final period.

The Mountaineers got one more in the third to pull within a goal, but Nicole Perroni provided the insurance marker with 8:46 remaining, scoring on a setup from Maddy Moloney to make it 7-5.

That proved to be the final goal of the championship game.

Peterborough's defence took care of the rest.

Moloney, Perroni Lead The Way

The Lakers received a huge offensive performance from Maddy Moloney, who scored three times and added an assist in the final.

Nicole Perroni was right there with her, finishing with two goals and three assists for a five-point performance.

Madelyn Baxter added a goal and two assists, while Clare Johnston had a goal and an assist. Shonley Wallace recorded two assists, with Megan Hiltz and Abby Hiltz each adding an assist.

The first-period scoring began with Mimico taking a 1-0 lead, but Peterborough answered with four straight goals.

Baxter tied it at 1-1 with Hiltz and Wallace assisting.

Moloney then put the Lakers ahead, with Perroni and goaltender Chloe Chalmers picking up the assists.

Perroni extended the lead to 3-1, assisted by Wallace and Johnston, before Mimico got one back late in the period.

Peterborough restored its two-goal lead early in the second when Johnston scored, with Baxter and Perroni assisting.

Mimico answered again, but Moloney's third of the game with 4:20 left in the second gave Peterborough a 6-4 lead and proved to be the game-winning goal.

Perroni's third-period marker then put the championship within reach.

A Championship A Year In The Making

The significance of the victory goes beyond one weekend.

The Peterborough Lakers are still a relatively young WMSL organization. The team was launched in 2024, giving local players an opportunity to compete in the province's top women's box lacrosse league while representing their hometown.

That first season ended with a 5-3-1 regular-season record and a trip to the provincial semifinals, where Peterborough fell 2-0 to the eventual champion Whitby Rush.

Then came 2025.

The Lakers not only returned to the provincial championship, but hosted it in Peterborough. The opportunity was particularly meaningful for Chelsea Campbell and Victoria Clark, two lifelong Peterborough lacrosse players who helped bring a WMSL team to the city.

The championship game against Mimico ended in heartbreak, however, as the Mountaineers won 4-3.

There was no consolation in that result, but there was plenty of evidence that Peterborough had arrived as a legitimate contender.

A year later, the Lakers finished what they started.

And they did it against the same team that had stood between them and the championship the year before.

More Than Just A Trophy

When Campbell and Clark talked about bringing women's WMSL lacrosse to Peterborough, the goal was bigger than simply putting another team on the floor.

The Lakers were created to give local women an opportunity to play high-level box lacrosse in the community they call home, while helping build the next generation of women's lacrosse players in Peterborough.

The timing has been particularly significant as women's lacrosse continues to grow.

But ultimately, championships are won by the players on the floor.

This group earned this one the hard way.

Six games. Six wins. A 2025 championship rematch. A five-goal victory over Mimico during the preliminary round. Then a five-goal victory over the defending champions when everything was on the line.

The final score was 7-5.

The record for the tournament was 6-0.

And for the first time, the WMSL provincial championship belongs to Peterborough.

The 2026 Dion Gemmiti Peterborough WMSL Lakers

The championship-winning Lakers lineup included:

Players: Maddy Moloney, Chelsea Campbell, Victoria Clark, Olivia Fredericks, Taya Keast, Anastaisa Thrope, Megan Hiltz, Shonley Wallace, Madalyn Baxter, Grace Shaughnessy, Abby Hiltz, Hayley Bartlett, Clare Johnston, Elyse Young, Lauren Lewis, Lori Vassiliadia, Juliana Gemmiti, Mack Webb, Sadie Henderson, Rachel King, Nicole Perroni and Lexie Kinmond.

Goaltenders: Chloe Chalmers and Lydia Knott.

Coaching and staff: Head Coach Chad Campbell; Assistant Coaches Darryl Gibson, Mary James and Bobby Keast; and Trainer Alicia Wake.

For a team that came so close in 2025, Sunday was not about what might have been.

It was about what finally was.

The Peterborough Lakers are WMSL provincial champions.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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John Grant Jr. Adds Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame to Growing List of Honours

By Scott Arnold

Just two months after entering the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame, Peterborough native John Grant Jr. is headed into another Hall of Fame.

Peterborough lacrosse legend John Grant Jr. (centre), pictured with Peterborough Lakers broadcasters Scott Arnold (left) and Pete Dalliday, is adding another Hall of Fame honour to a career that has already seen him recognized among the greatest players in the history of the sport.

Grant Jr. was announced Sunday as one of 12 inductees into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, adding another major honour to a career that has already earned him recognition in several of the sport’s most prestigious halls.

The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame announced its new class on August 16th, with Grant Jr. joining Glenn Clark, Grant Hamilton, Karolyn Karpun and Bruce Murray in the Player category.

The Veteran inductees are Michael John Howard, Jim Weller and Steve Manning. Walt Christianson and Bob McMahon were selected as Builders, Ray Durante was named in the Officials category, and the Team Canada Women’s Sixes 2022 squad was selected for induction.

The formal induction banquet and ceremonies are scheduled for October 24th at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, British Columbia.

For Grant Jr., the announcement comes remarkably soon after his June induction into the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame, where he joined his father, John Grant Sr., as a member.

After already being inducted into several Halls of Fame in the United States, Grant Jr.'s induction into the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame in June marked his first Hall of Fame induction in Canada.

Now, just a couple of months later, he's about to add another Canadian Hall of Fame to the list.

And this one is specifically dedicated to the sport that has defined his career.

A young John Grant Jr. takes the floor as a Minor Peterborough Laker, long before the Peterborough native would go on to become one of the most decorated players in lacrosse history.

A Career Built in Peterborough

Grant Jr.'s connection to lacrosse began in Peterborough, where he played Junior A with the Lakers from 1991 to 1995 and Major Series Lacrosse with the Peterborough Lakers from 1994 through 2016.

His career eventually took him across North America and onto the international stage, but Peterborough remained a significant part of the story.

He represented Canada in both box and field lacrosse, playing on national teams at multiple World Championships. His championship résumé includes three World Indoor Lacrosse Championship gold medals, a World Field Championship gold medal, five Mann Cup championships and an NLL championship.

He was also a five-time Major League Lacrosse champion.

Individually, the list is just as extensive. Grant Jr. was an OLA Junior A MVP, MSL Rookie of the Year, USILA National Collegiate Player of the Year, NLL Rookie of the Year, a two-time NLL MVP and NLL Championship MVP. He was also a two-time Mann Cup MVP.

Over a playing career spanning more than 25 years, he accumulated more than 3,000 points.

The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame induction adds to a list of Hall of Fame honours that already includes the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2010, NLL Hall of Fame in 2021, Professional Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2022 and US Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2024.

His playing career eventually gave way to coaching, where he has continued to contribute to the sport at the professional and collegiate levels in the United States.

Peterborough lacrosse legend John Grant Jr. receives the key to the city from then-Mayor Daryl Bennett, another honour recognizing the impact his remarkable career has had both on the sport and the community he grew up in.

A Class That Spans Lacrosse History

Grant Jr. is the name that will immediately stand out locally, but the 2026 class represents a broad cross-section of Canadian lacrosse.

Glenn Clark is being honoured for a career that included championships with the Brooklin Redmen, Coquitlam Adanacs and Toronto Rock, as well as international success with Canada.

Grant Hamilton is being recognized for a career that included championships with the Victoria Shamrocks and Calgary Roughnecks, along with his contributions as both a player and leader.

Karolyn Karpun is being inducted after an extraordinary career in both box and field lacrosse, including 10 Canadian senior women's field lacrosse championships and appearances at three World Cups.

Bruce Murray is being honoured for a career that saw him evolve from a scoring forward into one of the era's most respected defenders, while also representing Canada internationally.

The Veteran category includes Michael John Howard, who won nine Minto Cups during his career; Jim Weller, a standout at the University of Massachusetts who represented Canada at three World Cups; and Steve Manning, who was part of two Mann Cup-winning New Westminster Salmonbellies teams as a player and later contributed as a coach.

The Builder category recognizes Walt Christianson, whose coaching career has included national and international success, and Bob McMahon, whose decades of coaching have included Team Canada's 2003 World Indoor Championship victory.

Ray Durante, who spent 31 years as an on-floor referee after a 12-year playing career, is being inducted in the Officials category.

And Team Canada Women’s Sixes 2022 is being honoured after winning the first-ever World Games gold medal in women's Sixes lacrosse.

For Grant Jr., though, the announcement brings the focus back home.

Peterborough has been part of his lacrosse story from the beginning, and this latest honour is another recognition of just how significant that story has become.

In June, Grant Jr. could say that the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame was his first Hall of Fame induction in Canada.

By October 24th, he'll have another one to add to the résumé.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Jr. C Lakers Fall Short in Meredith Cup Final as Six Nations Claims First Championship

By Scott Arnold

The Peterborough Jr. C Lakers' run at a third straight Meredith Cup championship came to an end Friday night, but they leave the postseason having put together another deep playoff run and another memorable championship series.

Members of the Peterborough Jr. C Lakers gather following Friday night's Game 4 loss to the Six Nations Stealth at Healthy Planet Arena. The defeat brought an end to a season that included a Central Division title and a third straight trip to the Meredith Cup Final. (Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Jr. C Lakers)

The Six Nations Stealth captured their first Meredith Cup with a 13-7 victory over Peterborough at Healthy Planet Arena, winning the best-of-five final 3-1.

Six Nations took control early, scoring three times in the opening period while holding the Lakers off the scoreboard.

Peterborough came out stronger in the second, with Kennen Withers getting the Lakers on the board at 12:09, assisted by Quinn Jacobs and Ryder Perry. Cardiff Mader and Ryder Evans followed with goals of their own, cutting the Six Nations lead to 5-3.

The Stealth answered with two more goals before the end of the period to take a 7-3 lead into the third.

Peterborough continued to battle in the final period. Ryder Evans scored at 12:20, assisted by Perry, before Owen Thake and Kyson Campbell also found the net. Bobby Crowe scored the Lakers' final goal of the season with 25 seconds remaining, assisted by Campbell.

Six Nations, however, scored six times in the third period to secure the Ontario Junior C Lacrosse League (OJCLL) championship.

A packed house at Healthy Planet Arena brought plenty of energy for the Meredith Cup Final, with Lakers supporters backing Peterborough while a large contingent of Six Nations fans made the trip to cheer on the Stealth as they chased their first championship. The atmosphere stayed loud throughout the night (Photo by Scott Arnold)

Despite the result, the Lakers' season included another trip to the Meredith Cup Final, their third consecutive appearance in the championship series.

Peterborough opened the playoffs by sweeping the Huntsville Hawks in three games before defeating the Whitby Warriors in four games in the Central Division Final. The Lakers then swept the Cornwall Celtics in the Meredith Cup semifinals to earn their return to the championship series.

The final put Peterborough up against the Six Nations Stealth, who finished the regular season with the league's best record at 14-2. The Lakers split the first two games of the final, winning Game 2 at home 9-6 after dropping the opener 7-3 in Six Nations. The Stealth then won two in a row, winning Game 3 by a score of 9-7 before their Game 4 championship win.

The Six Nations Stealth celebrate with the Meredith Cup after defeating the Peterborough Jr. C Lakers in Game 4 on Friday night to capture the first championship in franchise history. (Photo courtesy of the ojcll)

The Lakers also continued to develop a young group throughout the season. Amongst their young stars is Braxtin Howard who was named Central Division Rookie of the Year while finishing as the division's runner-up for MVP after leading Peterborough with 54 points in 14 regular-season games, which included a team leading 29 goals.

For a team chasing a third straight championship, the season did not end the way Peterborough wanted, but another trip to the Meredith Cup Final means the Lakers once again finished their season among the league's final two teams, with a group that will have plenty to build on moving forward.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Peterborough Petes’ Dr. Bob Neville Named 2026 Recipient of Bill Long Award

By Scott Arnold

Dr. Bob Neville has been recognized for nearly four decades of service to the Peterborough Petes and the Ontario Hockey League, receiving the 2026 Bill Long Award for Distinguished Service to the OHL.

Dr. Bob Neville accepts the 2026 Bill Long Award for Distinguished Service to the Ontario Hockey League at the OHL’s Champions Reception in Muskoka Lakes. (Photo courtesy of the PEterborough petes)

The OHL announced the honour on August 14th, with Neville presented with the award at the league’s Champions Reception in Muskoka Lakes this past week.

The Bill Long Award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the OHL. It honours the legacy of Bill Long, who spent more than three decades in the league as a coach and manager with the Niagara Falls Flyers, Ottawa 67’s and London Knights.

For Neville, the recognition caps a remarkable 39-year connection with the Petes.

He joined the organization in 1987 as the team’s physician, travelling with the club and being part of the Petes’ Memorial Cup appearances in 1989 and 1993. He joined the Petes Board of Directors in 1995 and chaired the successful bid to bring the 1996 Memorial Cup to Peterborough, later serving as chairman of the tournament.

Neville also served on the Peterborough Memorial Centre Renovation Committee in 2000 and was president of the Petes Board of Directors from 2002 to 2005. He currently serves as governor of the Petes Board.

His involvement has extended well beyond Peterborough. Neville was elected to the OHL Board of Governors’ Executive Council in 2005, serving as secretary, treasurer and later chairman, while also sitting on several league committees.

OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford called Neville a “most deserving recipient” and praised his passion for the league, his focus on players and the perspective he has brought to the OHL Executive Council.

Away from hockey, Neville has worked as a family physician, occupational health physician, coroner and medical review officer. He has also taught family medicine at Queen’s and McMaster universities and held a number of leadership roles in Peterborough’s healthcare community.

Neville is the fifth Petes representative to receive the Bill Long Award, joining Pat Casey, Jeff Twohey, Norm Bryan and Herb Warr.

For a Petes organization that has been fortunate to have Neville involved in so many different capacities over the years, this latest honour recognizes just how significant that contribution has been.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Two Local Pickleball Athletes to Represent Team Ontario At National Championships On Aug. 27

Two local pickleball athletes, Marie Aubie and Cole Lester, have been chosen to represent Team Ontario at the Canadian National Pickleball Championships at Pickleplex Downsview in Toronto on Aug. 27.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Pickleball Association.

Both athletes are affiliated with the Peterborough Pickleball Association. Lester is competing in Men’s Singles while Aubie is partnering with Whitby’s Steve Robinson for Mixed Doubles.

“I am honoured to have been selected for the Team Ontario Masters Team, competing at Canadian Nationals in August,” says Marie Aubie. “Both Cole Lester and I have worked hard this past year to improve our respective games despite injuries. The competition at Nationals will be fierce but I know that collectively as a team, we are in the running for a podium finish.”

“The competition level across the province is strong which pushes Marie and I to elevate our games every day,” says Cole Lester. “We are both excited to be members of the provincial team heading to the national stage to represent our province, compete at the highest level, and help bring home gold for Ontario.”

“To have not one, but two Smash Courts coaches selected again to represent Team Ontario at the Pro level is an incredible achievement for them, Peterborough, and our club, states Jodi Allen, Owner, Smash Courts, Peterborough. “Cole and Marie were selected among the top athletes in the province, to compete against some of the best players in Canada, an accomplishment we couldn’t be more proud of. They are an inspiration to players of all ages, especially our young summer campers who get to watch them train, up close and personal, day after day. Our youth witness firsthand that success isn’t handed to you; it’s earned through commitment, perseverance, and hard work.”

“The Provincial Team Competition brings together the nation’s top provincial talent in an exciting inter-provincial team competition,’ says Danielle French, Peterborough Pickleball Association president. “Our local exceptional athletes, Cole and Marie, earned their place through dedication, sportsmanship, and outstanding performance. We are confident they will represent our city and province with pride and excellence on the national stage.”

Selected provincial team members will compete head-to-head against other provinces in a team format, which also doubles as an evaluation for the National Development Program Pool.

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Fan Support Needed Tonight as Jr. C Lakers Look to Keep Meredith Cup Hopes Alive

By Scott Arnold

The Peterborough Jr. C Lakers return to Healthy Planet Arena tonight with their season on the line and their pursuit of a third straight Meredith Cup championship hanging in the balance.

the Peterborough Jr. C Lakers return to Healthy Planet Arena on Friday night needing a win over the Six Nations Stealth to force a deciding Game 5 in the Meredith Cup Final. (Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Jr. C Lakers)

The Lakers trail the Six Nations Stealth 2-1 in the best-of-five Meredith Cup Final after Six Nations took Game 3 by a 9-7 score Wednesday night.

That leaves Peterborough needing a win tonight at 8pm to keep the championship series alive.

And regardless of the outcome, it will be the Lakers' final home game of the season.

A win would send the series back to Six Nations for a deciding Game 5 on Sunday at 6pm. A loss would give the Stealth the Meredith Cup and bring the Lakers' championship run to an end.

One More Game at Home

For a team that has received plenty of support throughout its playoff run, tonight offers one final opportunity for Peterborough fans to see the Lakers at Healthy Planet Arena this season.

The Lakers have already played nine playoff games, going through Huntsville, Whitby and Cornwall before reaching the Meredith Cup Final for the third straight year. They then split the first two games of the final with Six Nations before Wednesday's Game 3 loss.

The series has been close throughout. Peterborough won Game 2 at home 9-6 after dropping Game 1 in Six Nations, and Wednesday's game was a seven-goal night for the Lakers, who held leads during the contest before Six Nations pulled away late.

A Chance to Keep the Chase Alive

The Lakers came into the season looking to defend their Meredith Cup championship and become just the second team in the Meredith Cup era to win three championships in a row.

They have already secured another trip to the final. Now, they need to find a way to extend it.

Head coach Ryley Martinell has used that phrase throughout the season: find a way.

It has become the theme of a playoff run that has included tight games, comebacks and one-goal decisions. Tonight, that message takes on even more importance.

The Lakers need one more win in Peterborough to force the series back to Six Nations for Sunday night's deciding game.

For the players, coaches and fans, tonight is the final chance to keep the championship run going on home floor.

Game time is 8pm at Healthy Planet Arena.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Darcy Tucker and Chris Neil Coming to Peterborough for Battle of Ontario Rivalry Night

By Scott Arnold

The first two NHL alumni have been announced for Rivalry Night: The Battle of Ontario, with former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Darcy Tucker and Ottawa Senators legend Chris Neil set to take part in the November 6th event at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

darcy tucker and chris neil have been announced as the latest players to join the battle of ontario rivalry night on november 6th at the peterborough memorial centre (photo courtesy of GPHSF)

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators rivalry is coming to the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Friday, November 6th, with Tucker representing the Leafs alumni and Neil joining the Senators alumni.

For fans who remember the heated playoff battles between Toronto and Ottawa in the early 2000s, the two names should be familiar. The teams met in the playoffs four times between 2000 and 2005, producing plenty of memorable moments, including several involving Tucker and Neil.

Tucker spent 16 seasons in the NHL and played more than 1,000 games, including eight seasons with Toronto. He became a fan favourite in Toronto thanks to his physical, hard-nosed style and was a prominent figure during the Leafs' playoff battles with Ottawa.

Neil spent his entire 16-year NHL career with the Senators after being drafted by the organization in 1998. Known for his physical play, he became a popular figure in Ottawa and had his number retired by the Senators in 2023.

The two were involved in one of the rivalry's most memorable confrontations, including a bench altercation during a March 2003 game.

The November 6th event will feature alumni teams representing both clubs, with the full rosters expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Lineups are subject to change.

Meet-and-greet packages will also be available for fans who want the chance to meet Tucker and the Maple Leafs alumni or Neil and the Senators alumni.

The game is being held as a fundraiser for concussion education and awareness in youth sports through the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation's Concussion Fund. The fund supports concussion programming, including Peterborough Athletic Concussion Awareness and the H.O.P.E. Bursary in honour of former Peterborough Pete and NHL defenceman Steve Montador.

Tickets are available online or through the Peterborough Memorial Centre box office.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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