Survivors Abreast Peterborough Heads to International Festival In Aix-Les-Bains, France

The Survivors Abreast Peterborough dragon boat team is Europe-bound, headed to Aix-les-Bains, France, to represent Peterborough at the International Breast Cancer Paddling Commission (IBCPC) Participatory Dragon Boat Festival from Aug. 24 to 30.

The International Dragon Boat Races for Breast Cancer Survivors occur every four years.  Survivors Abreast hosted the event in Peterborough in 2010 and has since attended Sarasota, Florida (2014), Florence, Italy (2018) and Waikato, New Zealand (2023). Photo courtesy of Survivors Abreast.

The team is made up of breast cancer survivors from Peterborough and the surrounding area.

The France festival will host 4,500 breast cancer survivors paddling on 170 teams, representing 37 countries.

The parade of nations and opening ceremonies are on the 27th, followed by two full days of races (3 x 500m & 3 x 200m). The Sandy Smith Global Finale race, a special flower ceremony and closing ceremonies are on Aug. 29.

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Hiltz Hat Trick Leads Canada to Second Straight Win at Pan-Am Championship

By Scott Arnold

Owen Hiltz scored three times as Canada continued its perfect start to the Pan-American Men’s Lacrosse Championship with a 17-5 win over Haudenosaunee in Jamaica.

Peterborough native Owen Hiltz scored three goals as Canada defeated Haudenosaunee 17-5 to improve to 2-0 at the Pan-American Men’s Lacrosse Championship in Jamaica (photo via instagram @beyondscoreco)

The Peterborough native was one of Canada’s offensive leaders Wednesday, scoring three goals on four shots as Canada improved to 2-0 in the tournament.

Hiltz scored twice in a span of just two minutes during the second quarter, finding the net at 17:39 and 19:01 to help Canada take a 9-2 lead into halftime.

He completed the hat trick early in the third quarter, scoring at 11:21 to put Canada up 11-2.

Hiltz wasn’t the only Canadian attacker to have a big night. Finn Thomson led the way with four goals and two assists, while Alex Simmons and Graydon Hogg each scored three and added two assists and one assist, respectively.

Canada outshot Haudenosaunee 44-16 and built a 12-2 advantage through the first half before cruising to the 17-5 victory.

Peterborough’s Wyatt Wiggins was once again part of Canada’s defensive group as the team limited Haudenosaunee to just five goals.

The victory leaves Canada 2-0 in pool play after opening the tournament with a 19-2 win over Mexico, when Hiltz had a goal and an assist.

Canada will continue its tournament Thursday against the U.S. Virgin Islands before wrapping up pool play against Argentina on Friday.

The Pan-American championship is being held in Kingston, Jamaica, and serves as a qualifier for the 2027 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship in Japan.

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

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Lakers Drop Game 1 to Chiefs in Major Series Lacrosse Final

By Scott Arnold

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers fell 11-5 to the Six Nations Chiefs Wednesday night in Game 1 of the MSL final at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena.

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers battle the Six Nations Chiefs during Game 1 of the MSL Final on Wednesday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. The series shifts to the Peterborough Memorial Centre for Game 2 on Thursday. (Photo courtesy of peterborough lakers, via anna taylor)

The Chiefs came out flying, scoring twice in the opening 1:14 before Thomas Hoggarth got Peterborough on the board just past the two minute mark. Six Nations continued to build its lead, but Rob Hellyer’s goal late in the period made it 4-2 before the Chiefs added two more to take a 6-2 lead into the second.

Six Nations added three more in the second period to take a 9-2 advantage into the final 20 minutes.

The Lakers came out with a strong response in the third. Ryan Lanchbury scored shorthanded to get things started, followed by goals from Hellyer and Hoggarth to cut the deficit to 9-5.

The comeback attempt was short-lived, however, as Lyle Thompson and Chris Cloutier scored power-play goals to restore the Chiefs’ six-goal lead.

Lanchbury, Hellyer and Hoggarth each scored twice for Peterborough, while the Lakers also got goals from Hoggarth and Hellyer. Ryan Smith led Six Nations with three goals and three assists, while Dhane Smith and Josh Byrne each finished with five points.

Nick Rose took over in goal for Peterborough late in the first period, replacing Drew Hutchison, and finished the game with 42:22 played. Doug Jamieson made 36 saves to earn the win for Six Nations.

The Chiefs now lead the best-of-seven series 1-0 with Game 2 set for Thursday at 8pm at the Peterborough Memorial Centre,

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

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Hiltz Picks Up Points as Team Canada Opens Pan-Am Championship With Big Win

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough’s Owen Hiltz found the scoresheet as Team Canada opened the Pan-American Men’s Lacrosse Championship with a 19-2 win over Mexico in Jamaica on Monday.

Peterborough native owen hiltz takes the ball down field during canada’s opening game of the pan-am championship in jamaica (photo via instagram @beyondscoreco)

Hiltz scored once and added an assist as Canada jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the opening quarter and never looked back.

The Peterborough native’s goal came early in the game, with Hiltz finding the net 2:44 into the opening quarter on a setup from Finn Thomson.

Hiltz added an assist later in the second half, setting up Ty English for Canada’s 14th goal of the afternoon.

Meanwhile, fellow Peterborough native Wyatt Wiggins was part of Canada’s defensive group as the team held Mexico to just two goals.

The win gave Canada an impressive start to the tournament, which runs through August 23rd in Kingston, Jamaica, and serves as a qualifier for the 2027 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship in Japan.

Canada’s next test comes Tuesday, August 18th, when they face the Haudenosaunee team at 6pm ET.

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

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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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