Peterborough Petes Reflect On Historic Championship Season As Off-Season Begins

After winning the OHL Championship and finishing third at the Memorial Cup, the Peterborough Petes head into the offseason preparing for a title defence while looking back on their historic year.

Photo by Samantha Bianco.

The Petes won the OHL Championship in six games against the London Knights on May 21. The team won their first J. Ross Robertson Cup since 2006 when they ironically swept the Knights.

“That meant the world to me,” explained Shawn Spearing, Petes’ captain. “Five years with this team, it's been unbelievable and I've loved every second of it. There's no better way to cap it off, I can't even explain that feeling, it's surreal.”

“Nobody gave us a shot except for us,” said Rob Wilson, Petes head coach. “We felt about three-four weeks before the end of the season, we were starting to come together. We made a lot of changes and it was quite the battle. The way worked for each other, (I’m) just super proud of them.”

Petes goaltender Michael Simpson was named OHL Playoff MVP for his efforts.

The following was the Petes playoff run:

• Eastern Conference quarterfinals: Peterborough Petes def. Sudbury Wolves, 4-0 series

• Eastern Conference semifinals: Peterborough Petes def. Ottawa 67’s, 4-2

• Eastern Conference finals: Peterborough Petes def. North Bay Battalion, 4-2

• OHL Championship: Peterborough Petes def. London Knights

The OHL Championship win qualified the Petes for Memorial Cup in Kamloops B.C. They were joined by Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League, the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.

The Petes had a rough start, losing their first two games to Seattle and Kamloops but rebounded with a much-needed win against the Remparts to force a tiebreaker game for a semifinal spot.

Peterborough won two straight, defeating Kamloops in a revenge game to advance to the semifinals but lost out to the Thunderbirds and be eliminated from the tournament.

“A wonderful effort by the boys,” said Dave Pogue, Petes president. “Some lows and some highs but they definitely showed the resilience that they showed time and time again during the playoffs and we couldn't ask any more of them.”

The following were the Memorial Cup results for the Petes:

• Round Robin: Seattle Thunderbirds def. Peterborough Petes, 6-3

• Round Robin: Kamloops Blazers def. Peterborough Petes 10-2

• Round Robin: Peterborough Petes def. Quebec Remparts, 4-2

• Tiebreaker game: Peterborough Petes def. Kamloops Blazers, 5-4 OT

• Semifinals: Seattle Thunderbirds def. Peterborough Petes, 4-1

The Petes roster will need retooling as 10 players are graduating from the team with only three overage (OA) spots available for next season. Gavin White, Avery Hayes and Spearing were the team’s OAs this year and will move on from the Petes. White signed an entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars of the NHL on Mar. 2.

The following are the team’s graduating players becoming or are already OAs and their NHL prospect teams if applicable:

• Samuel Mayer

• Michael Simpson

• J.R. Avon (Philadelphia Flyers)

• Cam Gauvreau

• Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers)

• Connor Lockhart

• Chase Stillman (New Jersey Devils)

• Jax Dubois

• Tucker Robertson (Seattle Kraken)

• Gavin White* (Dallas Stars)

• Avery Hayes*

• Shawn Spearing*

*denotes an overage prior to the season’s start

The Petes added some hometown talent during this year’s OHL Priority Selection in first-round pick defenseman Carson Cameron (Bobcaygeon) and sixth-round pick, goaltender and hometown boy Masen Johnston. The team added 13 players including eight forwards, four defencemen and a goaltender.

The following are the Petes draft results:

• First round, 13th overall: Carson Cameron, D, Central Ontario Wolves

• Fourth round, 76th overall: Joseph Cadorin, F, Toronto Marlboros

• Fifth round, 88th overall: Liam Ladds, D, Elgin-Middlesex Canucks

• Sixth round, 112th overall: Masen Johnston, G, Peterborough Petes

• Seventh round, 133rd overall: Chase Del Colombo, F, Toronto Nationals

• Eighth round, 153rd overall: Gavin Lock, F, Detroit Little Caesars

• Ninth round, 173rd overall: Easton Lynds, F, Mississauga Senators

• 10th round, 193rd overall: Calum Hartnell, D, Ottawa Jr. Senators

• 10th round, 196th overall: Thanasi Marentette, D, Toronto Nationals

• 11th round, 213th overall: Francis Parish, F, Central Ontario Wolves

• 12th round, 234th overall: Aiden Lee, F, Markham Majors

• 13th round, 253rd overall: Brody Leet, F, Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs

• 14th round, 273rd overall: Joshua Kaufman, F, Kitchener Jr. Rangers

• 15th round, 293rd overall: Kaiden Thatcher, D, Ajax-Pickering Raiders

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Photos: Peterborough Cadet Units Celebrate Annual Ceremonial Review at the Peterborough Airport

The local Peterborough Cadet Units (534 Raider, 2672 Hasty P's, 112 Howe) held their Annual Ceremonial Review this past Sunday, June 4 at the Peterborough Airport.

All photos by Felicia Massey.

The parade was attended by this year's reviewing officer, Brigadier-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, Formation Commander of the Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Group.

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May Photo Recap with Dave Ellis

Local wildlife photographer Dave Ellis shares his captures from the month of May; featuring many different environments and species of wildlife all over Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

PTBOCanada often features his work in our ‘Good Morning PTBO’ posts, which you can find on our social media accounts.

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Peterborough Public Health Reports High Risk Level Air Quality Due to Ongoing Forest Fires

On Monday, Peterborough Public Health (PPH) has advised residents to take precaution as outdoor air quality remains at the high risk level due to ongoing forest fires.

photo courtesy of peterborough public health, facebook.

Smoke from forest fires throughout the province and from Quebec is present in the air in the region. Forest fire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health even at low concentrations. PPH is advising everyone to take action to reduce their exposure to smoke.

People with lung disease (such as asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by forest fire smoke.

Those who are at higher risk of health complications due to air pollution are advised to:

• Avoid going outdoors altogether, especially for prolonged periods

• Avoid strenuous activities outdoors, which carry a significant risk of making underlying medical conditions worse

• Improve indoor air quality by cleaning or changing furnace air filters, using a portable air filter system, or creating your own Corsi Rosenthal box

• Wear a respiratory mask (N95, KN95) at all times when outdoors

Other community members are advised to:

• Reduce time spent outdoors

• Improve indoor air quality by cleaning or changing furnace air filters, using a portable air filter system, or creating your own Corsi Rosenthal box

• Consider wearing a respiratory mask (N95, KN95) when outdoors, particularly for prolonged periods

Visit www.airhealth.ca for information on how to reduce your health risk and your personal contribution to pollution levels, as well as for current and forecast AQHI values for the Peterborough region.

Learn more about indoor air quality and filter systems, visit the website.

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Photos: Peterborough Petes Welcomed Home By Fans After Returning From Memorial Cup In Kamloops

Captain Shawn Spearing signing an autograph on a young fan's t-shirt. All photos by Samantha Bianco.

The Peterborough Petes were welcomed home by fans after finishing their Memorial Cup run, returning home from Kamloops after placing third place in the tournament.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Propel Physiotherapy, The Vine, Escape Maze and Kingdon Timber Mart

PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

Propel Physiotherapy is celebrating its new clinic in Peterborough with a grand opening on Thursday, June 22 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Kawartha Heights Business and Professional Centre at 1600 Lansdowne St. W., Unit 9.

The clinic features four private treatment rooms and an open gym area with treatment tables and specialized equipment. Find out more about their services, meet the team, or book an appointment at propelphysiotherapy.com.

A new pescatarian-friendly restaurant is open at 165 Sherbrooke St., Unit A in the former Electric City Bread Company location.

The Vine opened its doors May 30 and offers comfort food and a weekend brunch with a plant-forward philosophy. Owners Tyrone Flowers and Lauren Mortlock plan to offer dishes that include salads, soups, sandwiches, entrées and pizza. Check out their menu at thevineptbo.com.

Get ready to battle it out with friends, family, or co-workers as Escape Maze launches its new indoor/outdoor laser tag space.

Located just south of Peterborough at 156 Cedar Bank Rd., Escape Maze offers a variety of group activities, including escape rooms, games, adventure trails, glamping and a variety of experiences from corn farmer zombies to weekend packages solving secret case files. You can find more details at escapemaze.ca.

Kingdon Timber Mart recently celebrated the grand opening of its location at 1873 8th Line Smith on the edge of Lakefield.

The celebrations included deals, food, and activities. The huge new facility first opened its doors back in 2020, but this year is the time to throw a party and make it official. Locally owned and operated, Kingdon Timber Mart has been serving the community for more than 90 years, providing the products that have literally built our communities. The team at Kingdon are ready to help you with your home projects, whether you’re looking for supplies, expert advice or need to rent some specialized equipment.

“Like” StoosNews page on Facebook here!

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Fans Invited to Peterborough Airport to Welcome Peterborough Petes Home After Memorial Cup Run

It was a little sooner than wanted but the Peterborough Petes are inviting fans and community members to welcome the team at the Peterborough Airport as they arrive home from the Memorial Cup in Kamloops, B.C.

The team is expected to arrive just before 4:00 p.m. announced by the team on Saturday morning.

The Petes had an overall record of 2-3 in the Memorial Cup, finishing in third place. Photo by Samantha Bianco

The team requests fans to park in the main terminal at the Peterborough Airport and enter the terminal building to welcome the team home. The team fell short of reaching the finals after taking a 4-1 loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds Friday night in the semis and finished third.

Dave Pogue, Petes president wrote a letter to Peterborough to thank the fans for the historic season the team had that includes winning an OHL Championship.

To the Petes Fans in Peterborough, across Canada and around the world,

The 2022-23 season was one of historic highs for the Mighty Maroon and White, and on behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, players, and every member of the Peterborough Petes organization, I want to personally thank you for your passionate support during this championship season.

At our annual Season Ticket Member BBQ before the season started, I stood in front of hundreds of our biggest fans and said that we would be satisfied with nothing less than an Ontario Hockey League championship, and I cannot be more proud of our team for delivering that for our community.

Lifting the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions on home ice on Sunday, May 28 was something that many in our community, myself included, will never forget. To share that moment with our fans and families in our own barn, and then to celebrate with thousands of fans at Quaker Square the next day, was a perfect way to showcase just how much this championship belongs to the entire Petes community. 

In Kamloops, BC, at the Memorial Cup, the team did not disappoint. Our players, coaches, and staff represented our historic franchise, and the Peterborough community, in exemplary fashion, with many in Kamloops embracing Peterborough as their own. Although we fell just short of winning the most elusive trophy in sports, a standard of excellence in Peterborough has been re-established by the performance of the 2022-23 Petes. 

To the hundreds of thousands of fans in our city, across the province, and around the world, thank you! You showed up for our team this season in record numbers at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, at our watch parties and championship celebration event, and out and about in the community every day. Petes pride is at an all-time high, and with season tickets already nearly sold out for the 2023-24 campaign, I know that our fans will continue to serve as the backbone of our storied franchise’s success. 

Thank you, and Go Petes Go!

Dave Pogue

President

Peterborough Petes

Petes Memorial Cup 50/50 tickets are still on sale with a minimum $5,000 jackpot. The draw will take place after the Memorial Cup Final on Sunday.

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

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

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.”

The Queensville Players High School Musical cast having a reunion lunch with Rowghan earlier this month. Photos courtesy of Karin Simpson.

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

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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