Peterborough Blogs
Former Peterborough Petes Konnor Smith Scores In His AHL Debut With the San Diego Gulls
/Former Peterborough Pete Konnor Smith will not forget his American Hockey League debut anytime soon as he scored his first professional goal with the San Diego Gulls against the Tucson Roadrunners at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego on Saturday night.
The goal occurred with less than five minutes left in regulation. San Diego had yet to score in the contest and was facing a 3-0 deficit. The Gulls forced a turnover at the Roadrunners’s blue line, creating a three-on-one chance with Smith joining the rush.
The 6’6 defenseman tipped in a one-timer past the Tuscon goaltender for the team’s only goal.
“It was about 12 hours after my season ended in Owen Sound that I got the call up to San Diego,” explained Smith. “It was pretty crazy. I got the call, went home to my billets, packed everything up and drove home to Windsor.”
Check yes, Konnor, are you with me!?#LetsMosh | #TUCvsSD pic.twitter.com/BQ3UPx0d44
— San Diego Gulls (@SDGullsAHL) April 7, 2024
Smith had signed an amateur tryout on the same day with the club.
“I spent that night with my family and was on a flight out of Detroit at 8:30 a.m,” said Smith. “I landed in San Diego met the staff and team and checked into the hotel. The next day at morning skate was when I found out I was going to be in the lineup that night. It wasn’t expected to be in the lineup that early but I was stoked.”
He won an OHL Championship with the Petes last season and had two assists in 23 playoff games. He also had one more helper in five Memorial Cup games.
Smith was drafted 97th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the fourth round, at the 2023 NHL Entry Level Draft in Nashville, Tenn. on June 29.
The Petes originally selected the 209-pound defenseman in the ninth round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection out of the Windsor Jr. Spitfires program.
On Jan. 2, Smith and forward Sam McCue were traded to the Owen Sound Attack in exchange for forward Nico Addy, defenceman Martin Matejicek and a third-round pick in 2026.
“Suiting up for that game and eventually scoring my first AHL goal in the 3rd period was such an unreal feeling,” he explained. “Words can’t even describe my experience so far.”
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35th Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby a Go Starting April 27
/The 35th annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby is ready for another big year as it returns from April 27 to May 5, announced on Friday.
“Back by popular demand are early bird registration prizes, goody bags, a hot dog lunch for the kids, and sponsored tagged fish with cash prizes for anglers of all ages to win,” said David Ryrie, OFAH youth education manager.
The youth derby kicks off on April 27 for children 15 and under. It includes 500 tagged trout for instant prizes and a chance to win one of four grand prizes.
The big fish prize of $1,000 cash will go to whoever catches Walter, a rainbow trout estimated to weigh between six and eight pounds.
Travis Parker and Justin Desbarbieux have caught Walter three years in a row. Desbarbieux’s stepson, Benjamin Bumstead, caught it in record time last year, less than half an hour.
The second and third-place grand prize fish ‘Rosie’ and ‘Berty’ are each worth $200 cash plus a free registration to OFAH day camp. The fourth grand prize (appropriately named ‘Kayak’) wins a sit-on kayak and paddle.
The all-ages derby will run from April 28 through May 5. For the third year, it will include tagged fish with cash prizes sponsored by local businesses.
“We still have fish in need of a local sponsor that will both challenge anglers and offset the cost of the stocked Trout for the youth derby,” said Ryrie.
Registration is required for all participants. Admission is $15 for the first child, $10 for siblings and $25 for adults. Purchase tickets online or in person at both Peterborough Canadian Tire locations.
The fish are being released into the canal on April 24 at 1 p.m.
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Peterborough to Host International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians From April 6 to 12
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough and Peterborough-Kawartha and Bridgenorth-Ennismore-Lakefield (BEL) are hosting the 27th World Championships of the International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians from April 6 to 12.
The tournament is being held at the Curling Club of Peterborough, hosting 21 teams from across Canada, England, Scotland, and the United States who will participate in Friendship Division and Championship Division draws.
The general public is welcome to attend to spectate throughout the event.
The Rotary’s committee has worked hard over the past two years to create a fantastic week of unforgettable moments, friendship, and exceptional curling performances, according to a press release and statement by tournament organizer Ken Seim of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.
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First Career Goal a Game-Winner For Former Peterborough Pete
/Former Peterborough Pete Akil Thomas’s first NHL goal was the game-winner for the Los Angeles Kings in a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center on Thursday night.
It was Thomas’s second game in the NHL with the Kings after making his debut against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night.
His goal came just over halfway through the first period. After winger Adrian Kempe scored for the Kings, Thomas scored 18 seconds later.
He joined teammates Pierre-Luc Dubois and Jordan Spence on the rush as they entered the offensive zone. After Spence left a drop pass for Thomas, the latter used the former and a Sharks defenceman as a screen to snap the puck past Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, making it 2-0 for the Kings.
“It felt amazing,” said Thomas. “I just wanted to have a good first (period) and to score in the first period just made the nerves go away. It just made me feel a little bit more comfortable.”
The Sharks scored late in the third period with 1:52 left in the game to make it 2-1 but could not score again. That made Thomas’s goal the game-winner for the Kings.
AKIL THOMAS!!! FIRST NHL GOAL!! 👑
— NHL (@NHL) April 5, 2024
📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/DWiaoRim2n
He was acquired by the Petes in a trade from the Niagara IceDogs in Jan. 2020 for Cameron Butler, two second-round picks (2020, 2022), one third-round pick (2022) and a fourth-round pick (2024).
He played 22 games for the Petes, scoring nine goals and 31 assists before the Ontario Hockey League was shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas was invited back to the Peterborough Memorial Centre for Game Three of the OHL Championship against the London Knights as part of the pre-game ceremonies to pump up the fans on May 15.
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Former Peterborough Pete Nick Lardis Signs a Three-Year Entry Level Contract With the Chicago Blackhawks
/Former Peterborough Pete forward Nick Lardis has agreed with the Chicago Blackhawks on a three-year, entry-level contract that runs through the 2026-27 season ($896,667 salary cap hit), signed on Wednesday.
Lardis spent a full season with the Petes in 2021-22, playing 63 games for 18 goals and 19 assists. He played another 36 with the Petes before being traded to the then-Hamilton Bulldogs on Jan. 7 last year with Sahil Panwar, a 2023 third-round pick (obtained from the Flint Firebirds), and a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick for Avery Hayes and Gavin White.
The 18-year-old appeared in 37 regular-season games with the Bulldogs this season, posting 29 goals and 21 assists.
The 5-foot-11, 171-pound Oakville native was originally drafted by the Blackhawks in the third round (67th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft.
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Peterborough Petes Forward Brennan Faulkner Named Westland Insurance Community Player of the Month
/Peterborough Petes forward Brennan Faulker is the recipient of the Westland Insurance Community Player of the Month for March.
The London native participated in three ball hockey visits to local schools and attended the Volt Hockey launch event at the YMCA of Central East Ontario which is designed to create a team environment for players with disabilities.
“I think it’s very important to be active members of the community,” said Faulkner. “We’re role models for these kids and it’s important to be a positive influence.”
The Petes Ball Hockey Program launched last year and has provided free ball hockey to over 2,000 local students and counting.
The Petes, in collaboration with educator ambassadors in each school, provide each participating school with all necessary equipment, training and support to play ball hockey at no cost.
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Former Peterborough Pete Makes NHL Debut With Los Angeles Kings
/It was a few years in the making but former Peterborough Petes Akil Thomas made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings who took on the Winnipeg Jets at the Canada Life Centre on Monday night.
Thomas got his opportunity after centreman and former Montréal Canadien Philip Danault is day-to-day with an upper body injury. Thomas got to play on the fourth line with former Hamilton Bulldog Arthur Kaliyev and rookie Alex Laferriere. Thomas only logged 3:42 of ice time and was on the ice for the Jets’s first goal of the game.
“It's kind of a crazy couple of days and a lot has to be taken in pretty quick but I'm very thankful to be here,” said Thomas.
Thomas’s parents were in attendance for the game and drove roughly 22 hours to see their son in his debut. They were unable to get a flight in time and opted to drive from Toronto to Winnipeg for the game.
“It means the world with the injuries and everything so I'm very thankful for the opportunity and obviously having people come out and support me means the world to me,” said Thomas.
Welcome to the National, Akil! 👏#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/lxfqqkOmIS
— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 2, 2024