Peterborough Petes Seeking U18 Program Billet Families For the 2024-25 Season

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The Peterborough Petes is recruiting Billet families for draft picks who have moved to town to play for the primary affiliate team, the Peterborough Petes U18 AAA hockey club, for the 2024-25 season.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Our partnership with the PMHC and U18 Petes has created a development model for our prospects to work out and practice with our OHL team,” said Michael Oke, general manager and vice president of operations. “It’s an opportunity for them to be around the players and learn what it takes to be in the OHL. In the past week we’ve signed Masen Johnston and Thanasi Marentette, both of whom credited their time with the U18’s as a major stepping stone towards becoming a Pete.”

Johnston, Marentette, Michael Simpson, Sam McCue, Quinton Pagé, Dylan Woulds, Brody Partridge, Easton Rye, Josh Kavanagh, and Cole Patey are all players who spent time playing with the Petes U18 hockey club before making the jump to the OHL Petes.

Families participating in the Billet Family Program receive two lower bowl season tickets, a room and board stipend ($115 per week, per player), invitations to exclusive team events, flex tickets and other team perks and benefits. For more information or to apply, contact Walter Di Clemente at (705) 743-3681 or email info@gopetesgo.com.

The Petes are back in action on Sunday when they host the Sudbury Wolves at the Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre in Norwood. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. Ticket details can be found online. The game will also be streamed live on the Petes official YouTube page.

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Peterborough Petes Single Game Tickets Available For 2024-25 Season

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Single Game tickets for Peterborough Petes 2024-25 regular season home games are on sale while supplies last at the Grant Thornton Box Office.

Photo courtesy of Cade Dunford and the Peterborough Petes.

A full Petes home schedule can be found online with the Community Big 8 schedule and details can be found here. According to the Petes, more theme nights will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets can be purchased by clicking here, calling (705) 743-3561 or visiting the Grant Thornton Box Office during business hours.

Flex vouchers can be redeemed by visiting the Grant Thornton Box Office at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC). Vouchers can only be redeemed in person during box office hours (Wednesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Fans interested in purchasing a Petes 10-Game Flex Pack can visit the Petes Store in person or online by clicking here.

The best way to guarantee tickets to every Petes home game is by purchasing a season ticket package while supplies last. Season tickets start at just $353 for the entire 34-game home schedule and include thousands of dollars in benefits and incentives. Interested parties can contact the Petes Coordinator of Season Ticket Sales and Service Tyler Hall by clicking here or by calling (705) 743-3681 ext. 209.

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Peterborough Petes Sign Defenceman 2023 Draft Pick to OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement

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The Peterborough Petes make another addition as they signed defenceman Thanasi Marentette to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

“Thanasi is a big, strong defenceman who is solid in his own end,” said Michael Oke, general manager and vice president of operations. “We had a chance to watch him a lot last season as he developed with the U18 Petes, working out and practicing with the OHL team regularly. This is another good example of how our relationship with the U18 Petes provides players with a development model and pathway to the OHL.”

The Petes selected the Windsor native in the 10th round, 196th overall, in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. Last season, the 2007-born, 6’0” defenceman played 31 games for the Peterborough Petes U18s, scoring four goals and adding 12 assists for 16 points. He also played in 10 playoff games, scoring once and picking up four assists for five points.

In 2022-23, Marentette had 13 points in 32 games for the Toronto Nationals U16s, adding another three in five games in the 2023 OHL Cup.

“It feels amazing,” said Marrentette. “Being with the U18s last season gave me a great opportunity to learn about what it takes to be an OHL player. I can’t wait to get started.”

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Peterborough Pete Alumnus Selected to NHLPA Rookie Showcase On Sept. 4

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Peterborough Petes alumnus and Los Angeles Kings forward Akil Thomas has been selected as one of 33 players to participate in the 14th annual NHLPA Rookie Showcase at the MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va. on Sept. 4.

Thomas is well-known for his game-winning goal for Team Canada in the gold-medal game against Russia at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough PEtes.

This event allows Upper Deck to capture photographs and videos of the selected rookies and prospects in their respectful NHL team uniforms to utilize the content for the company’s future products.

Thomas made his LA Kings debut on April Fools’ Day., in seven games, he had three goals and one assist with the team.

The Petes acquired Thomas in a trade from the Niagara IceDogs in January 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 COVID-19 pandemic shut down the Ontario Hockey League for the season. 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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Peterborough Petes Sign Second-Round Pick to OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement

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The Peterborough Petes has signed 2024 second-round pick Blake Gowan to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

“It’s an honour to be a part of such an amazing organization,” said Gowan. “I can’t wait to get to Peterborough and get started.”

The Petes selected the Kingston-born defenceman in the second round, 32nd overall, of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. He played in 33 games with the Barrie Colts U16 last season, scoring two goals and 25 assists for 27 points.

In 10 playoff games, he scored three times and added eight assists for 11 points en route to an OMHA Championship and a spot in the OHL Cup.

“On behalf of the Petes, I’d like to welcome Blake to the team,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “Blake is a solid, hard-hitting defenceman who makes good decisions in his own end. We had the opportunity to watch Blake a lot this season with Barrie and were very impressed with his play, especially in the playoffs and the OMHA Championship.”

Gowan is the second Petes pick from the 2024 Priority Selection to commit to the team after the team signed third-overall pick Colin Fitzgerald to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement on May 4.

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First Career Goal a Game-Winner For Former Peterborough Pete

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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.

Thomas is well-known for his game-winning goal for Team Canada in the gold-medal game against Russia at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic. Twitter Photo of Los Angeles Kings.

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.

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 Makes NHL Debut With Los Angeles Kings

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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.

Akil Thomas skating with a young fan prior to a game. Photo courtesy of the PEterborough Petes.

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.

Thomas has struggled with injuries in the last two years. He missed the first half of the 2021-22 season and only played 40 games. The next year, he suffered another injury on Nov. 19 that ended his year after just 13 games.

Prior to being called up to the Kings, Thomas had 22 goals and 21 assists in 61 games with the Ontario Reign (the Kings’s AHL affiliate) this season.

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.

Thomas is well-known for his game-winning goal for Team Canada in the gold-medal game against Russia at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic.

Thomas was drafted by the Kings in 2018 in the second round, 51st overall. Following his OHL career, Thomas spent time with the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign since the 2020-21 season.

The Kings lost to the Jets 4-3 with a late goal from Winnipeg in the third.

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Peterborough Petes Commemorate Staff and Players in Annual Year-End Ceremony; Head Coach Rob Wilson Signs Eight-Year Extension

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To mark the end of the regular season, Peterborough Petes staff, family and friends attended the team’s annual year-end awards ceremony at The Venue on Tuesday.

In addition to winning the Petes Executive Trophy, Petes goaltender Liam Sztuska (left) was a recipient of the Molson Cup (most three-star selections voted by media). pHOTO BY dAVID tUAN bUI.

Michael Oke, Petes general manager, made a surprise announcement that the organization has signed head coach Rob Wilson to an eight-year contract extension through the 2031-32 season.

“I’m very privileged to be head coach of the Peterborough Petes and I do feel that,” said Wilson.

Wilson was the teams’s 23rd Head Coach in May 2018. Wilson has amassed 154 wins, clinching a playoff spot in four of his five seasons in his tenure with the Petes. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Following speeches from Wilson and team president Dave Lorentz, captain Johnathan Melee gave a public address in which he recognized his teammates, staff, and several others for supporting the organization throughout the season.

After the speeches, the following awards were presented:

  • Mark Teevens Memorial Award (most assists) – Tommy Purdeller (34 assists)

  • Ed Redmond Memorial Trophy (scholastics and hockey) – Brody Partridge

  • Outboard Marine Veterans Award (sportsmanship and ability) – Jonathan Melee

  • Black’s Family Trophy (rookie of the year) – Carson Cameron

  • Vince and Lottie Garvey Award (off-ice contribution) – Tracy and Chip Adamo

  • Molson Cup (most three-star selections voted by media) – Liam Sztuska

  • Donnie Marsh Memorial Trophy (most dedication to team) – Cam Gauvreau

  • Ed Rowe Memorial Award (most goals) – Braydon McCallum (18 goals)

  • Norm Bryan Award (most improved player) – Braydon McCallum

  • Ushers Trophy (best defenceman) – Carson Cameron

  • Bill Bennett/CKPT Memorial Award (leading scorer) – Tommy Purdeller (47 points)

  • Gary Dalliday Award (community service) – Tommy Purdeller

  • Petes Executive Trophy (most valuable player voted by teammates) – Liam Sztuska

The Board of Directors and Alumni Association presented gifts to the graduating and overage players:

  • Liam Sztuska

  • Quinn Binnie

  • Chase Lefebvre

  • Jonathan Melee

  • Ryder McIntyre

  • Tommy Purdeller

  • Cam Gauvreau

Oke ended the night with a speech, acknowledging the players, hockey and business staff, billets, parents and fans. He then continued by marking on- and off-ice achievements this season.

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Chase Lefebvre's Hat Trick Leads Peterborough Petes to Second-Straight Home Win Over Kingston Frontenacs, 5-3

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Chase Lefebvre’s first career hat trick lifts the Peterborough Petes over the Kingston Frontenacs for a 5-3 win at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Wednesday night.

pHOTO Bcourtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

The Frontenacs struck first as Petes goaltender Liam Sztuska opted to play the puck around his net and was picked up by Kingston’s Ethan Miedema. He took a sharp-angle shot but was saved. Matthew Soto quickly snapped it on the rebound and got it through for a 1-0 lead.

Peterborough got a powerplay roughly halfway through the period to try to get the equalizer. Quinton Pagé ripped a shot but was stopped by Kingston goaltender Mason Vaccari. However, Lefebvre had a juicy rebound and buried it at a wide-open net for a 1-1 tie.

The visitors got a powerplay opportunity late in the first frame. They regained the lead after Jacob Battaglia circled the offensive zone and shot against the grain, top corner to restore Kingston’s lead, 2-1.

Lefebvre responded once again for the Petes late in the second period on the man advantage. Nico Addy made a long pass in the offensive zone and Lefebvre's tip-in tied the game at two apiece heading into the third period.

The Petes earned their first lead of the game as Ryder Macintyre threw one at the net and Cam Gauvreau tipped it in front and scored for a 3-2 lead.

Kingston pulled their goalie with less than two minutes left in the game but Braydon McCallum got the puck in the defensive zone and sent it nearly 200 feet for the empty-net goal.

The Frontenacs kept things interesting. With the goalie still pulled, a point shot got deflected and created a loose puck situation. Both teams scrambled for it and Gabriel Frasca was able to get it past Sztuska for a 4-3 game with 1:26 left in regulation.

Lefebvre put the game out of reach, taking a shot from the neutral zone and buried the empty-netter for his first career OHL hat trick and a 5-3 Petes win.

The Frontenacs can get revenge on the Petes when the two teams head to Kingston on Friday for a 7 p.m. game at the Slush Puppie Place.

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Peterborough Petes Split Weekend Games, 10 Points Out of Playoff Spot

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The Peterborough Petes won and lost in back-to-back games over the weekend against the Niagara IceDogs and Brantford Bulldogs respectively and are now 10 points out of a playoff spot.

pHOTO Bcourtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes are 10 points behind the Barrie Colts who occupy the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 56 points but the latter has yet to clinch a postseason berth.

Peterborough has six games remaining while Barrie has eight in the regular season.

The Petes started their weekend with a 7-5 win over the last-place Niagara IceDogs in a high-scoring affair at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Saturday night.

The home team was down 2-1 late in the first period. At the end of the second, they tied the game at three and then exploded with four goals. Braydon McCallum could have scored an empty-net goal for a hat trick but he selflessly gave Ryder McIntyre the honour for his own and first career OHL three-goal game.

The defending OHL champions travelled to Brantford to take on the Bulldogs but lost 7-2.

After the first period, the Petes found themselves in a 2-1 deficit again. They failed to score in the second while letting in a goal for a 3-1 score. Unlike against Niagara, the Petes allowed several goals in the third including a four-goal flurry from the Bulldogs to Peterborough’s one.

The Petes will attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive when they host the Kingston Frontenacs on Wednesday at home. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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