Peterborough Petes Memorial Cup Hopes Dashed and Get Eliminated With 4-1 Loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds In the Semifinals

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The Petes storybook season ends with a semifinal loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds in a 4-1 loss at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops as Peterborough is eliminated from the Memorial Cup on Friday night.

the Petes were a perfect 4-0 during the OHL playoffs and Memorial Cup in elimination games prior to playing in the semifinal. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes were under duress right from puck drop as Seattle dominated time of possession as well as shots on net. They tested Petes' goaltender Michael Simpson early and often with 14 shots in the period. He stood strong however, stopping everything that came his way.

Peterborough was only able to muster five shots in the period however Brennan Othmann may have had the best opportunity but hit the crossbar and stayed out. The score remained a 0-0 tie after one.

The second period remained mostly the same as Seattle once again won the time of possession and shot battle throughout. Eventually, the Thunderbirds were rewarded on their 31st shot of the game and last of the period as Nico Myatovic wristed it on Simpson and the rebound came to Brad Lambert to swipe at it. The puck went through the five-hole and bounced the side of the left pad and went in for a 1-0 Seattle lead. This was Lambert’s first goal of the tournament and that was the score going into the third.

Seattle get their foot on the gas pedal as Lucas Ciona attempted to make a centering pass that went off a Petes’ skate. Off the broken play, Kyle Crnkovic scooped up the loose puck and passed it to Colton Dach who one-timed it home for a 2-0 lead, 88 seconds into the period.

Peterborough showing their resilience, saw Brennan Othmann get a puck alone in the slot off a turnover and slipped it five-hole past Thomas Milic to cut into the lead at 2-1. Just under seven minutes later, Seattle pressed again and had Simpson sitting down with the puck in front of him. Crnkovic rushed in and chipped it. Simpson snared the puck from out of the air but not before it crossed the line and extended Seattle’s lead to two, 3-1.

Peterborough pulled their goalie with less than three minutes in the game but Nico Myatovic deposited the empty-net goal and punched their ticket to the Memorial Cup finals with a 4-1 win.

Simpson stopped 43 of 46 shots on the night. Thunderbirds Crnkovic was named the player of the game.

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Queensville Players Theatre Group to Host Benefit Concert for Rowghan MacHart’s Transition Home June 17

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The Queensville Players community theatre group is hosting a benefit concert for cast member Rowghan MacHart on June 17; raising funds to support the re-fitting of her home with wheelchair accessible features.

photo courtesy of the queensville players.

After a collision on Hwy. 7 claimed the lives of 52-year-old Stefphanie Hart, 46-year-old Jonathan MacDonell and 18-year-old Riddick Hart in November of 2022, the Queensville Players of Keswick, Ontario are hosting a benefit concert for now 14-year-old Rowghan Hart who suffered life-altering injuries as a result of the accident.

Karin Simpson, president of the Queensville Players group and musical director for the show said that all four family members had roles in their production of Disney’s High School Musical, with Riddick playing Troy Bolton.

“Over the course of three months, we would rehearse anywhere from nine to twelve hours a week, and the MacHart’s would come all the way from Peterborough to Keswick,” Simpson said. “For the three hours (round-trip) to get there, and the three hours to rehearse, they came as a family. It was important to them that they did the show together.”

A week before the show started, Simpson says the crew was in the theatre everyday rehearsing. She says she remembers how close they all grew to each other as the MacHart family would stay at her home on occasion.

On Sunday, November 20 the group had another run of their show at the Stephen Leacock Theatre.

“People came from all over to see the show and were left raving about it, but (the cast) was really sad on that Sunday because we knew it wouldn’t be until Wednesday that we’d get to see each other again,” recalls Simpson.

It was that Tuesday, November 22 that the accident happened on Hwy. 7 near Drummond Line.

The next day, Simpson and the cast of the High School Musical production gathered at the theatre with a trauma team, sharing fond memories of the MacHart family. At the time Simpson recalls not knowing if Rowghan was going to live due to the injuries she sustained.

“We stayed there in the theatre and just held space with one another,” she said. “We had to cancel the show, there was no way we were going to go on with the level of grief that we all felt. Their roles were not replaceable.”

It was after the tragedy that Simpson says the Queensville Players knew they needed to do something for the MacHart family.

“When a tragedy like this happens you always feel helpless because you want to help so much, but of course the one thing that everybody wants in the world is the one thing that you can’t do- to bring them back,” said Simpson. “So with this (concert) we just want to wrap Rowghan in as much love from the community as possible and support her financially, emotionally and physically through whatever we can do.”

As a part of the event, two Ed Sheeran concert tickets to his June 17 show at the Rogers Centre in Toronto were raffled off, and on the day of the benefit concert there will be more raffle items and a 50/50 draw to participate in.

All proceeds from the Rowghan MacHart Benefit Concert will go towards the renovation of her home, making it wheelchair accessible.

“She’s going to face a lot of challenges, and there are many things that we’re not going to be able to foresee happening in this moment,” said Simpson.

She says the Queensville Players intend to support Rowghan through a similar benefit concert next year as well.

“The need for support will be an ongoing thing and the desire to be there for her will also be everlasting,” she said.

The matinee concert will take place at 2 p.m. June 17 at the Stephen Leacock Theatre in Keswick. Tickets are available for purchase using the link.

For those who wish to donate to the MacHart family GoFundMe, follow this link.

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Peterborough to Host OFSAA Boys Lacrosse Championships In Two-Day Event Starting Monday

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Peterborough is hosting the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Boys’ A/AA and AAA field lacrosse championships on Monday and Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of TAS Griffins.

The Holy Cross Hurricanes and Thomas A. Stewart (TAS) Griffins are co-hosting the event. The tournament is being hosted at Trent University’s Justin Chiu Stadium and at TAS for the AAA tournament. The A/AA division will see Sir Sandford Fleming Turf Fields and Holy Cross as their venues.

TAS and St. Peter’s Saints have qualified for the event from their standings at Central Ontario Secondary Schools Association (COSSA) for the AAA tournament. Holy Cross, Crestwood Mustangs will be in the A/AA tournament according to the league’s schedule.

Monday consists of round-robin play where each school plays everyone in their three-team pool. Tuesday is where all consolation and playoff games will be played.

Schedules for the AAA and A/AA tournaments can be found online.

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Canadian Canoe Museum Begins the Historic Move of Over 600 Watercraft and Artifacts

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The Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM) is preparing to relocate its entire collection from its current landlocked location to a new waterfront campus across the City; inviting the public to support through new fundraising campaign ‘Move the Collection: The Final Portage.’

photo courtesy of the canadian canoe museum, facebook.

The campaign is led by avid paddling enthusiasts and local community leaders Mike Judson and Neil Morton. As a symbolic gesture of the forthcoming move of the entire collection, the two will portage a symbolic canoe throughout Peterborough, from the current museum to its new 65,000-square-foot home for the campaign's duration, which will release videos at different milestones.

The CCM’s collection consists of more than 600 canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft (ranging up to 53’ long and weighing up to 1,500 pounds), hundreds of small artifacts and a library and archive. The collection was declared a cultural asset of national significance by the Senate in 2013.

The CCM has spent more than two years carefully preparing the collection for its upcoming relocation, cleaning and packing each artifact to ensure the utmost care during the move. The Museum has been temporarily closed since September 2022 to allow staff to remove artifacts on exhibit for the past two decades. When the new museum opens, it will also feature new exhibits, promising an enhanced and immersive visitor experience, including canoes and kayaks that have never been on public display.

McWilliams Moving and Storage has partnered with the CCM as its official mover of the collection.

“McWilliams Moving and Storage has been part of the CCM family since its inception with the first portage of museum artifacts from Dorset, Ontario, to Peterborough over two decades ago. We are honoured to continue this tradition as the Official Movers of the CCM and complete the final portage to a new architectural and cultural landmark in the city of Peterborough,” says Dan McWilliams, president of McWilliams Moving & Storage. “Having the opportunity to pack and transport these pieces of Canadian heritage allows us to be part of the journey and story of this national icon in our great City.”

As part of The Final Portage campaign, the CCM is releasing a series of videos and behind-the-scenes content this summer and fall featuring Mike Judson and Neil Morton portaging an iconic red canvas canoe past recognizable landmarks in Peterborough.

This will allow the public to follow the fundraising campaign’s progress while building excitement for the Museum’s reopening, anticipated this fall. To view the first video, visit the Canadian Canoe Museum website.

“Moving a collection of this size and scale in the span of months is no small feat for our team and supporters,” says Carolyn Hyslop, executive director of the CCM. “This move represents a pivotal moment in our museum's history. By relocating to the waterfront, we will not only enhance the accessibility and visibility of this extraordinary collection but also create a transformative experience for our visitors. We are inviting donors and sponsors to be a part of this monumental move and help us bring the legacy of paddled watercraft to a wider audience.”

“Canoeing is one of my great passions in life, and seeing this national treasure move to the water’s edge in this community I adore is a dream,” says Neil Morton, one of the campaign's Lead Portagers. “It’s fantastic to be a part of The Final Portage campaign and this historic moment with my fellow Lead Portager Mike Judson as we help carry this to the finish line!”

Surrounded by public parks, the Museum’s new home is located on a five-acre site at 2077 Ashburnham Drive that provides west-facing views of Little Lake and a connection to the Trans Canada Trail along the water’s edge in Peterborough. The purpose-built facility on the water, with an array of indoor and outdoor spaces, will allow the Museum to deliver on its mission in inspiring new ways. It will become a community space for outdoor activities, including the Museum’s canoeing and outdoor programs and events.

“Supporting initiatives like the Museum's historic move is an investment in preserving our shared heritage and cultural legacy. By contributing to this endeavour, we actively steward invaluable artifacts and ensure their accessibility to future generations,” continues Hyslop. “Institutions like ours serve as gateways to knowledge, inspiration, and understanding, and it is through your support that we enable the continued celebration and exploration of our collective history.”

The CCM invites donors and sponsors to join them in preserving history and shaping the future by supporting the campaign. Contributions will play a vital role in ensuring the safe and successful relocation of the world's largest and most significant collection of paddled watercraft.

Businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities can contact Rose Terry, philanthropy associate, via email.

To donate to the Canadian Canoe Museum, visit the link.

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Peterborough Lakers Open Season On the Road With 11-8 Win Over the Brampton Excelsiors.

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The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers got their ‘Drive For Five’ quest off to a good start by winning their opening game 11-8 on the road against the Brampton Excelsiors on Thursday night.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JERAMIE BAILEY AND THE PETERBOROUGH CENTURY 21 LAKERS.

Adam Churchill who was called from the Sr. B Ennismore James Gang struck first for the Lakers, giving them a 1-0 lead. Thomas Hoggarth extended the lead with a goal, 2:20 later. Brooklin responded with a James Whiteford goal but the Lakers tacked on two more with Hoggarth’s second and from Matt Gilray for a 4-1 lead after the first stanza.

Rory Graham inched Brampton closer, scoring the period’s first goal 63 seconds in but Peterborough kept responding in bunches with goals from Joel Tayler and Holden Cattoni to make it 6-2. Tayler returned to the lineupfor the first time since the Lakers’ 2017 Mann Cup win. Just as Henry Fallows scores for the Excelsiors, Turner and Shawn Evans score — with the former on the power play — for a an 8-3 lead. Tyler Ferreira got one back fro Brampton to make it 8-4 going into the third period.

The final stanza saw Brampton score the most goals of any period with four but two power play goals from Hoggarth — which gave him the hat trick — and Cattoni prior to their flurry help put the game out of reach. Gilray also scored late in the game and the Lakers won 11-8.

Drew Hutchison got the win in goal for the Lakers in the season debut.

The Lakers hit the road on Wednesday to take on the e Brooklin Lacrosse Club at Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby. Their home opener is set for Thursday at 8 p.m. vs. Brampton, with a parking lot tailgate party prior to the game.

Lakers game leaders:

  • Thomas Hoggarth (3-0)

  • Holden Cattoni (2-2)

  • Matt Gilray (2-0)

  • Shawn Evans (1-5)

  • Adam Churchill (1-2)

  • Turner Evans (1-0)

  • Joel Tayler (1-0)

  • Caleb Creasor (0-1)

  • Austin Hasen (0-1)

  • Jordan Stouros (0-1)

  • Eric Shewell (0-1)

  • Josh Currier (0-1)

  • Taite Cattoni (0-1)

  • Mitch Ogilvie (0-1)

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Community Care’s 35th Annual Grandparent of the Year Award Ceremony to Take Place June 6

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Community Care Peterborough is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its intergenerational recognition program, ‘Grandparent of the Year,’ which honours children’s relationship with a Grandparent, Elder or special older person in their lives, with this year’s winners and honourable mentions will be announced on June 6.

photo courtesy of community care peterborough.

Over the years, thousands of school children from across the City and County of Peterborough have nominated a loved one for this award. Children are encouraged to submit a hand-drawn picture and a piece of writing that addresses what is important about their relationship with their Grandparent, Elder or special older person, and why they think their nominee should win the award. 

This year, Community Care received almost 200 entries and their panel of volunteer judges has chosen: one winner and two honourable mentions from each group of grades; primary and junior. Primary is Grades 2 & 3, and junior is Grades 4, 5, & 6.  Submissions were accepted in both English and French.

“We want to thank every child that entered, they have a participation certificate coming to them,” said Alicia Vandine, CCP’s donor relations and communications lead. “Every year we are amazed by the scope of stories we have received, it was not an easy task for our volunteer judges to choose the winners.”

After two years of virtual events, Community Care says they are looking forward to a return to an in-person awards ceremony on June 6 at 6 p.m. at the lower level Community Room in the Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer St. N, Peterborough).

For more information about the annual Grandparent of the Year event, visit the website.

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Peterborough Petes Overcome Three-Goal Deficit, J.R. Avon Becomes Hometown Hero With Overtime Goal

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The Peterborough Petes come back from a three-goal deficit with hometown hero J.R. Avon scoring in overtime to eliminate the host Kamloops Blazers, 5-4 at the Sandman Centre on Thursday night.

This game was the first one that required ovetime to settle a winner for this year’s Memorial Cup. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes drew first blood as Jax Dubois from behind the net, fed Connor Lockhart out in front for a one-timed goal, beating Blazers goalie Dylan Ernst for a 1-0 lead.

The host Kamloops took over the rest of the period as they run off three straight goals from Logan Stankoven, Olen Zellweger (power play) and Harrison Brunicke for a 3-1 lead over Peterborough after the first.

Things did not get better as Logan Bairos extended Kamloops’s lead 4-1 with a point shot to help extinguish Peterborough’s hope to advance.

The Petes would not go down quietly and Brennan Othmann pickpocketed Bairos with a stick lift and quickly snapped it over Ernst’s glove to cut the lead to two.

Peterborough got some puck luck as Kamloops accidentally lifted the puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty and gave the Petes a power play. Samuel Mayer made it count as he one-timed a slapshot from the point and blasted it through heavy traffic to make it a one-goal game.

It only took 73 seconds for Peterborough to tie the game as the Petes won a board battle that saw Brian Zanetti tip in a Tucker Robertson pass for a 4-4 tie to finish off the second period.

The third period saw both teams play very cautiously but both goaltenders were up to the task, as Petes goaltender Michael Simpson stopped all 12 shots in the period as Ernst saved all seven shots. The game would require overtime to settle things, the first of the tournament.

The overtime period made hearts race as both teams had high-scoring chances in the first half of overtime. Simpson made a crucial save as Kamloops had a shot at ending the game. Owen Beck led the counterattack and attracted the attention of two Blazers. He passed it back to Selwyn’s J.R. Avon who shot against the grain and scored for a 5-4 walk-off goal.

Simpson was named player of the game making 43 saves on 47 shots for the overtime win. He shut the Blazers out in the last 46:37 of the game.

The Petes will get little opportunity to rest as they face the Seattle Thunderbirds in the semi-final matchup on Friday night. The puck drop is at 10 p.m. The winner moves on to the finals to play the Quebec Remparts for the Memorial Cup.

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Hometown PTBO: Traill College Principal Dr. Michael Eamon On the New Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre As a Hub

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This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Traill College principal Dr. Michael Eamon on how he assumed the position of the Trent University downtown location and the new Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre as a new hub for arts, culture, heritage and learning.

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New Canadians Centre Launches Multicultural Food Crawl For June

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The New Canadians Centre (NCC) and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (PTBO DBIA) have put on a fun and delicious way to celebrate diversity with the Canadian Multicultural Festival during all of June, announced at Poco Burro Burritos on Thursday morning.

(from left to right) Minal Burdrani, Poco Burro co-owner; Tu Nguyen, NCC community engagement assistant; Andy Cragg, NCC execcutive director and Sunny Dalia, Poco BUrro co-owner. Poco Burro had opened at the former Jimmy Guaco’s location on Nov. 7. Photo by David Tuan bui.

The festival is being kicked off with the launch of the Multicultural Food Crawl involving 10 Downtown Peterborough restaurants.

For every $10 spent during June, a stamp is given for your Multicultural Food Passport. Six stamps enter food lovers in a draw to win one of three $100 Boro Gift Cards. Passports can be collected at the ten participating restaurants or at NCC.

The following are the Downtown restaurants:

  • Bhojan

  • Brothers Pizza

  • Curry Mantra

  • Dirty Burger

  • La Hacienda

  • La Mesita

  • Levantine Grill

  • Milk and Tea Shop

  • Naka Japanese

  • Poco Burro Burritos

On June 24, free samples from the 10 restaurants are available from noon to 7 p.m.

Participants can vote for their favourite restaurant on the food crawl online where two posts are chosen at random to win a $25 Boro Gift Card. Tag us to share your experience @newcanadianscentre #multiculturalfoodcrawlptbo We will draw 2 posts at random to win a $25 Boro Gift Card!

“Journey through the culinary world in downtown Peterborough,” said Hillary Flood, PTBO DBIA communications and marketing manager. “We are very excited to support the New Canadians Centre for the second Canadian Multicultural Festival and to recognize the hard work of these newcomer entrepreneurs.”

In addition to the Food Crawl, there are several Canadian Multicultural Festival activities for the month of June:

  • June 24: Family Zumba party at Peterborough Square Courtyard

  • June 26: An introduction to Cricket with the Peterborough Cricket Club at New Canadians Centre

  • June 27: “Healing & Hope – Reflections on the Refugee Experience” Community Conversation at the Peterborough Public Library

  • June 28: Try Vietnamese Cooking at New Canadians Centre

  • June 29: K-Pop Dance Workshop at YMCA

  • June 30: Crafts from around the world at New Canadians Centre

  • June 30: Salsa Dance Night at Quaker City Square

“Celebrating the richness of multiculturalism is a cornerstone of our work,” said Andy Craig, NCC executive director. “We are so fortunate to share in unique customs, music, dance, food, sports and stories that contribute to a vibrant community.”

June 27 is Canadian Multiculturalism Day.

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Local Business Owner Allan Hill Named JA-NEO's Volunteer of the Year

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In recognition of his commitment and support, JA Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA-NEO) has announced that Allan Hill has been awarded Volunteer of the Year.

Since 2013, Allan has been an avid JA supporter and has volunteered his time and resources to a wide range of JA programs, including JA Days, JA Career Tour and World of Choices. Photo courtesy of JA-NEO.

“On behalf of JA-NEO, I am honoured to recognize Allan for his ongoing contributions,” said John McNutt, JA-NEO president and CEO. “From providing food and refreshments to sharing his business experience with students from across our region, his contributions have continued to make a positive impact and we are grateful for his support.”

Allan has worked for Domino’s Pizza for over 30 years and owns multiple franchise stores throughout the Peterborough area.

“As a volunteer, Allan has dedicated countless hours to programs that drive the success of youth in our region,” said McNutt. “He recognizes that we all have a role to play in helping the next generation progress on the road to success. Allan continues to be an outstanding mentor and business leader who guides those around him and helps them achieve lifelong success.”

In 2021, Allan was inducted into the JA-NEO Business Hall of Fame for his contributions to youth in the region and his success in his business ventures according to a press release.

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