Fitzgerald opened the scoring 50 seconds off a one-timer on a pass from Ryder McIntyre to give Peterborough a 1-0 lead. Battalion’s Zach Wilson was charged with a high-sticking double-minor penalty which gave Peterborough a four-minute power play. Quinton Pagé capitalized after gathering a rebound from a point shot and scoring on the backhand to make it 2-0. On the same power play, Fitzgerald scored again, similar to Pagé’s goal but on the forehand to make it 3-0.
North Bay had battled back as less than two minutes later, Kent Greer and Jacob LeBlanc had scored to make it 3-2 at the end of one.
The visitors were the only team to score in the second thanks to Lirim Amidovski and the game was tied going into the third.
Ethan Procyszyn scored just under eight minutes into the frame to give North Bay their first lead of the game. Peterborough had 13 shots in the period but could not find the back of the net. They also allowed one empty-net goal from Anthony Romani and the Battalion leave Peterborough with a 5-3 win.
Fitzgerald, the Peterborough native was selected by the Petes in the first round, third overall of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. His two goals were the first of his OHL career.
“It was pretty special,” he said. “I think I went dizzy when I scored. It didn’t feel real out there. Once the boys got me the puck, it kind of sunk in that I scored my first goal.”
The Petes play on back-to-back days as they hit the road to take on the Sudbury Wolves. The game is on Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Sudbury Community Arena.
