Champions Gymnastics Isn’t Just for the Kids Who Want to Compete

By Scott Arnold

For families looking for a fun way for kids to get moving, make new friends and take a break from screens, recreational gymnastics can be a pretty good place to start.

Champions’ recreational programs give kids the chance to stay active while having fun and exploring the different areas of gymnastics. (photo by Scott Arnold)

Walk into Champions Gymnastics and one of the first things you notice is the noise.

There’s laughter, the sound of feet hitting the floor and the occasional excited squeal as kids work their way through the gym. For some, they’re learning a gymnastics skill for the very first time. For others, they’re building on something they’ve been working toward for weeks.

And while gymnastics can sometimes be associated with competition and high-level athletes, that’s only part of the picture at Champions.

The recreational programs are designed to give kids of all ages a chance to get active, learn the basics of gymnastics and, most importantly, have fun doing it.

Erica Austin, Champions Gymnastics’ Recreation Coordinator, has been coaching gymnastics for more than 30 years after first getting involved in the sport at five years old. (photo by Scott Arnold)

“We do a lot of basic gymnastics, a lot of learning and just teaching the basics of gymnastics and getting them to love the sport,” says Erica Austin, Champions’ Rec Coordinator.

That can start remarkably early.

Champions offers recreational programming beginning at the six-month crawling stage, with programs continuing through the preschool and school years and all the way into adulthood. The majority of participants are children, with particularly strong participation among kids ages 4, 5 and 6.

The goal isn’t to turn every child into a competitive gymnast.

Instead, recreational classes give participants the opportunity to experience different parts of gymnastics through circuits and stations. Rather than spending an entire session working on one skill or piece of equipment, kids can move around the gym and experience the different events.

That might mean working on balance, strength, flexibility or coordination while getting comfortable with the equipment and learning new skills along the way.

And those skills can be useful far beyond the gymnastics floor.

Austin says gymnastics can provide a foundation for children who eventually take part in other sports, helping develop things like balance, speed, strength and flexibility.

“It’s the development for a lot of other sports as well,” she says.

For families looking for an activity that gets kids moving, that makes gymnastics an interesting starting point even if competing is nowhere on the radar.

From balance and flexibility to strength and coordination, gymnastics can help children build skills that can carry over into other sports. (photo by scott arnold)

Something for Everyone

Champions’ recreational programming is also built around different stages of childhood.

There are morning programs for younger children who aren’t in school yet, after-school programs for school-aged kids and weekend programming on both Saturdays and Sundays.

The recreational program is open to boys and girls, and there’s no requirement to arrive with gymnastics experience.

In fact, for many children, that first class is simply about discovering what they can do.

Austin knows that feeling well.

She started gymnastics at five years old, eventually competed during high school and then moved into coaching. She has now been coaching for more than 30 years.

So she’s seen plenty of changes in the sport, including how much the equipment and facilities have evolved.

But one thing remains the same: watching a child figure out a new skill for the first time never gets old.

“It’s really gratifying to watch them learn the skills,” Austin says.

That’s also what she enjoys most about working in the recreational program. The coaches aren’t simply teaching skills from one station to the next. They get to see the progression that happens when a child comes back week after week and suddenly realizes they can do something they couldn’t do before.

And judging by the atmosphere inside the gym, the coaches aren’t the only ones having fun.

With recreational programs offered on weekday mornings, after school and on weekends, Champions welcomes participants at a variety of ages and experience levels. (photo by scott arnold)

A Peterborough-Area Gymnastics Fixture

Champions has been part of the community since 1988 and has been operating at its current Lansdowne Street West location since 2019.

The facility was designed as a private sport centre serving the greater Peterborough area, with the main gym spanning 12,000 square feet.

There’s plenty inside for young athletes to explore, including a 1,700-square-foot foam pit, three vault runways, a 40-foot spring tumble track, a full power tumbling runway and both men’s and women’s Olympic-standard gymnastics equipment.

For younger children, there is also preschool-specific equipment designed to keep them moving and engaged.

The facility also includes viewing areas for families, including an upstairs viewing area that provides a panoramic view of both gyms. A downstairs viewing area is fully wheelchair accessible.

But for all the equipment and space, the heart of the recreational program is considerably simpler.

Get kids moving. Let them try something new. Help them build confidence and skills. And give them a place where they can have fun while doing it.

That’s especially meaningful in an age when so many children's activities can revolve around screens.

At Champions, there are no tablets needed to keep kids entertained. They’re climbing, balancing, jumping, running, tumbling and figuring out what their bodies can do.

And sometimes, they’re laughing while they do it.

For families who have always been curious about gymnastics but assumed it was only for kids who wanted to compete, the recreational program offers a different way to look at the sport.

You don’t have to be a gymnast before you walk through the door.

You just have to be ready to move.


Scott Arnold
is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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PVNC Catholic Reports Steady Progress From Latest EQAO Literacy and Math Results

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released the latest results for Ontario school boards from the 2025-2026 school year, showing significant boardwide progress in literacy and across Priority Schools in mathematics within PVNC Catholic.

Photo courtesy of PVNC.

“We are extremely proud of the growth our students, educators and administrators have achieved in literacy and mathematics this year,” said Stephen O’Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Education Officer. 

The following are the results:

  • Grade 3 Reading and Writing: Reading proficiency grew to 76.7 per cent, an increase of 5.5 per cent from last year. Similar gains were realized in writing, with a result of 66.2 per cent, which marks a 5.1 per cent year-over-year increase 

  • Grade 3 Math: Students exhibited gains of 2.4 per cent, with 65.3 per cent of students now meeting or exceeding the provincial standard, which mirrors provincial results and outpaces the provincial year-over-year increase of 1.5 per cent

  • Grade 6 Reading and Writing: PVNC Catholic students continue to excel in reading, with 84.2 per cent achieving or exceeding the provincial standard. Writing results exhibited gains, with 86.2 per cent meeting the standard, slightly above the provincial result 

  • Grade 6 Math: Results across PVNC Catholic Priority Schools indicate the number of Gr. 6 students who have met the provincial standard in math has increased by 21 per cent since 2021-2022 

  • Grade 9 Math: PVNC Catholic students’ success rate in relation to the provincial standard was 51.8 per cent 

  • Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT): 78.2 per cent of first-time eligible students passed the test, which mirrors last year’s results

“Our Grade 3 results meet or exceed provincial results in all areas, while our Grade 6 mathematics results demonstrate that we have virtually eliminated the achievement gap between PVNC Catholic Priority and non-priority schools. The number of Grade 6 students in Priority Schools who have met the provincial standard in math has increased by 21 per cent since 2021-2022. We are very pleased with the substantial reduction in the Priority School mathematics achievement gap over the past three years,” said O’Sullivan. “These results reflect the hard work, dedication, and innovative teaching strategies that our staff have implemented to boost student confidence in literacy and mathematics. We will continue to provide opportunities for educators to build their content knowledge and to grow in their confidence and efficacy with respect to both instructional and assessment practices to support continued student academic growth.”

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Peterborough Petes Forward Named OHL Player of the Week For Sept. 28

Peterborough Petes forward and Vancouver Canucks prospect Adam Novotný has been named the OHL Player of the Week after recording three goals, three assists and six points over three games.

Photo courtesy of Logan Taylor and the Brantford BUlldogs.

Novotny returned from Canucks training camp and made his season debut last Thursday. He had two goals and two assists in a 7-4 win over the Sarnia Sting. He followed with a goal and an assist last Saturday as the Petes fell 6-3 at home to the Ottawa 67’s. All three of Novotny’s assists were primary and he led all OHL players last week with 18 shots on goal.

Hailing from Kobylice, Czechia, he was originally selected eighth overall by the Petes in the 2024 CHL Import Draft. He was the first Czech player taken in that year's draft and the first Pete. Novotny won bronze with Czechia at the 2025 World Junior Championship and claimed silver in 2026.

The Petes take on the Erie Otters this Thursday, with puck drop scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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Truth Has to Come First: Peterborough Raises Every Child Matters Flag on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough raised the Every Child Matters flag on Wednesday, September 30th, as local leaders called on the community to remember the children who never came home from residential schools and recognize that reconciliation cannot be limited to one day each year.

Peterborough County OPP Detachment Commander Chris Galeazza, Hiawatha First Nation Chief Laurie Carr, Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark, Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal and Selwyn Township Mayor Ron Black gather at the Peterborough County Courthouse on September 30th for the raising of the Every Child Matters flag on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

There was a heaviness to the ceremony at the Peterborough County Courthouse.

September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honour residential school Survivors, the children who never returned home, their families and communities, while recognizing the ongoing impacts of the residential school system.

But as the Every Child Matters flag was raised Wednesday afternoon, the message from those gathered was clear: this is not a celebration.

It is a day to remember.

And, perhaps most importantly, it is a day to listen.

Chief Laurie Carr of Hiawatha First Nation told those gathered that before the children taken to residential schools were numbers or names in government records, they were children.

“They were someone's son, someone's daughter, someone's grandchild, someone's brother or sister,” Carr said. “They were loved.”

“They had families, languages, cultures, dreams, and futures that should never have been taken from them.”

Carr said she carries a responsibility as a mother, grandmother, auntie, cousin and Chief to honour those children, stand with Survivors and stand with the families and communities that continue to carry the pain of those losses.

But she also stressed that reconciliation is a responsibility shared by everyone.

“It begins with the truth,” she said. “And the truth is painful. The truth is ugly.”

Canada's residential school system was part of a colonial policy of assimilation that removed Indigenous children from their families and communities and sought to separate them from their languages, cultures and identities. The federal government recognizes that the effects of that system continue to be felt today.

For Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark, that truth is difficult to comprehend.

In an interview following the ceremony, Clark became emotional while talking about the children who were taken from their homes.

“If any of us as parents had our children removed and never seen them again, how could you not just be changed?” she said.

“It's just about sharing that history and I just cannot fathom how taking a child away from their home, their family, it's just unimaginable.”

Clark said the annual flag raising has become about more than a ceremony.

Since she became Warden, the County has invited the Mayor, the Chiefs of the area's two First Nations communities and the OPP detachment commander to take part.

“To me, it's about establishing relationships,” Clark said. “We can't change the past, but we have to acknowledge that and move forward.”

She said the growing attendance at these events is encouraging because it reflects a greater recognition of what happened to Indigenous peoples.

“You have to know the truth,” Clark said. “And certainly I would say you have to know the truth and you have to own it.”

'The Truth Is Harder'

That idea of truth was also at the centre of Inspector Chris Galeazza's remarks.

The Peterborough County OPP Detachment Commander spoke about an observation made following a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation event he co-hosted in Hiawatha last year.

The feedback was that there had been a lot of discussion about reconciliation, but not enough about truth.

Galeazza said he has reflected on that ever since.

“One of the conclusions that I arrived at is that reconciliation is an easier conversation,” he said. “It allows us to talk about partnerships, relationships and where we want to go.”

“The truth is harder.”

Galeazza said truth requires people to honestly consider where they are and where they have been, acknowledging that his own perspective as a settler and someone with privilege can affect what he sees.

He pointed to the continuing overrepresentation of Indigenous people in Canada's criminal justice system as an example of why the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's findings cannot simply be treated as history.

Galeazza noted that Government of Canada data shows Indigenous people make up about 5 per cent of Canada's population, yet represented approximately 33 per cent of those in federal custody. He also noted that Indigenous women account for about half of all federally incarcerated women.

“These are not just statistics,” he said. “They are reminders that the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are not confined to history books. They continue to be reflected in the experiences of Indigenous peoples today.”

He also shared a personal experience involving an institutional failure that affected his own family, while making clear that he was not comparing his family's experience to the profound harms experienced by Indigenous peoples through residential schools.

What the experience taught him, he said, was that institutions can fail the people they are supposed to serve and that when those failures go unacknowledged, the harm can continue.

“Truth requires us to acknowledge those realities, even when they are uncomfortable,” Galeazza said.

He described his commitment moving forward as being willing to remain uncomfortable in the search for truth and to continue being an ally.

“Reconciliation is not a destination where we can simply choose to arrive at,” he said. “It begins with the truth. It begins with listening.”

'Every Opportunity I Speak With Chief Carr, I Learn Something New'

For Mayor Jeff Leal, Wednesday's ceremony carried an added significance.

Leal has announced that he will not seek re-election, meaning this was his final National Day for Truth and Reconciliation ceremony in his public capacity as Mayor.

He reflected on the opportunity he has had over the years to share a platform with Chief Carr and Warden Clark.

He also pointed to a permanent memorial of shoes at Peterborough City Hall, created during his time as Mayor with the City's Indigenous advisor Shelley Knott.

The memorial is intended to provide a daily reminder of the children who never came home.

During his remarks, Leal also spoke about a story shared earlier Wednesday at the Healthy Planet Arena about a residential school Survivor who became known simply as “Number 47.”

“Arrived at a residential school. Stripped of their identity. Stripped of their culture. Stripped of their language. And just became sort of a nonentity” Leal said.

“Just virtually became Number 47.”

In an interview with PTBOCanada, Leal said Canadians need to hear stories like that.

“We won't come to grips with a very dark part of Canadian history unless we hear those stories, unless we comprehend those stories, to make sure that this kind of thing never, ever happens again,” he said.

Leal said he has been a friend of Chief Carr for many years and that every opportunity to share a podium with her has been an opportunity to learn.

“Every opportunity I hear Chief Carr speak, I learn something new,” he said.

'It Has to Go Year Round'

Carr said she sees the growth of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events across the country and, particularly, here in the Peterborough area.

She said the local community has increasingly seen municipalities and organizations create opportunities for Indigenous voices to be heard and for people to learn.

But she stressed that the work cannot stop when September 30th ends.

“It's talk about it, learn about it,” Carr said in her interview with PTBOCanada. “There's some amazing books out there. Read about the history.”

She encouraged people to share what they learn with their children, families and friends, wear orange and connect with First Nations communities to find ways to support future events and reconciliation work.

“It's important to send those good messages and the truth,” Carr said. “The truth is always important to share for people to learn.”

She also spoke about the emotions that come with a day like this.

Her mornings begin with prayer and thought, she said, along with gratitude that her community remains strong and resilient and is relearning its culture and language.

But there is sadness too.

“And sometimes there is that anger that comes,” Carr said. “It's like, why is this still happening? It's 2026. Why do we still have to have that reality face us?”

Carr said the answer cannot simply be another ceremony next year.

“Reconciliation cannot be something we speak about once a year,” she told those gathered.

“It must be something we live in schools, workplaces, health care systems, institutions and in our communities.”

Because, she said, reconciliation requires more than words.

“It requires action.”

Every Child Matters

As the Every Child Matters flag was raised outside the County Courthouse, the ceremony brought together municipal leaders, Indigenous leadership, police and members of the community.

Warden Clark said the County's commitment is about continuing to build relationships and trust.

Carr said it is about continuing to tell the truth, listening to Survivors and standing against racism and hate.

Leal said it is about remembering.

And Galeazza said it is about being willing to listen even when the truth is uncomfortable.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 80 and was first observed nationally in 2021. September 30th also coincides with Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led initiative focused on the ongoing impacts of residential schools and the message that Every Child Matters.

But the words spoken in Peterborough on Wednesday made clear that the meaning of the day extends far beyond a flag, an orange shirt or a date on the calendar.

It is about the children who were taken.

The families who lost them.

The Survivors who continue to carry what happened.

The cultures, languages and identities that were attacked.

And the responsibility of everyone else to listen, learn and act.

As Carr said at the end of her remarks:

“We will remember, we will honour, we will speak truth, we will continue forward together, and we will stand together against hate and racism because every child matters.”


Scott Arnold
is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Canada and the City of Peterborough Jointly Invest Over $7.5 Million In Little Lake Loop

The City of Peterborough and the federal government will complete a new segment of the Little Lake Loop through a joint investment of more than $7.5 million, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The investment helps complete the 4.46-kilometre multi-use trail as part of the Little Lake Master Plan. The Loop is vital to the City’s cycling and pedestrian network and helps to connect residents and visitors to businesses, parks and major tourism destinations.

“The Little Lake Loop is part of a long-term vision that will help make Peterborough a more connected, active, and beautiful place to live,” said Emma Harrison, Peterborough-Kawartha MP. “I am grateful for the federal government’s support for multi-use trails across the country, which strengthens communities and improves people’s lives. I’m pleased to see funding support this important project for Peterborough – a project residents have long advocated for and care deeply about.”

The Little Lake Loop is currently 2.34 kilometres long and this project will extend it by another 1.15 kilometres along Crescent Street and Haggart Street.

This trail segment will include 250 metres of lakeside pedestrian paths, 600 metres of two-way cycle tracks, 860 metres of sidewalk and 350 metres of multi-use paths and a Woonerf or shared streetscape. The plan also includes landscaping, plantings, shade structures and seating areas.

"Completing another segment of the Little Lake Loop is an important step toward creating a more connected and accessible trail network in Peterborough,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “This investment will provide more opportunities for residents and visitors to walk, cycle and enjoy the natural beauty of Little Lake, while connecting people to our parks, businesses and tourism destinations. We’re pleased to see this vision continue to take shape and to invest in infrastructure that will serve our community for years to come.”

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Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre Remains Open During HVAC Upgrades

The Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre remains open during upgrades to its Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system beginning Friday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Work is expected to be completed by mid-December. Access to certain spaces will be limited on a rolling basis as the improvements are made.

The universal changeroom adjacent to the pool will close starting Friday and reopen on Oct. 24. Men’s and women’s changerooms (adjacent to the pool and on the west side of the building) remain open and will be temporarily available to users of all ages. The patient transfer lift is temporarily unavailable during this time; however, the water wheelchair and pool lift will remain in service.

Starting Oct. 24, and in line with Fleming College’s schedule reading break, work will begin in the Fleming changerooms and officials’ rooms. The changerooms will reopen on Nov. 2.

From Nov.9 to 29, construction will commence on the fitness centre. Partial access to areas of the fitness centre not actively under construction will remain available.

The women’s changeroom adjacent to the pool will close on Nov. 29 and reopen on Dec. 10. During this period, users can access the universal changeroom or use the changerooms on the west side of the building.

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One City Overnight Shelter Temporary Relocated to Admiralty Building During Flooring Repairs

One City Peterborough programs at the Trinity Community Hub will be affected by the facility's closure while flooring is replaced with the overnight shelter program temporarily relocated to the Admiralty building at Peterborough Naval Memorial Park.

photo courtesy of one city peterborough.

The relocation is from Thursday to Oct. 19, operating from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily.

One City daytime programs at Trinity Community Hub, including the daytime drop-in centre, will be temporarily suspended until Oct. 19.

Overnight parking at the Peterborough Naval Memorial Park is prohibited while the temporary overnight shelter is operational.

Food programs

  • The Salvation Army, 219 Simcoe St., offers a daily take-away breakfast program from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday to Friday.

  • All Saints’ Church, 235 Rubidge St., offers a free meal on the third Friday of each month from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

  • St. Luke’s Church, 566 Armour Rd., offers a community meal every second Saturday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

  • Murray Street Baptist Church, 175 Murray St., offers a community breakfast on the third Saturday of every month beginning at 9 a.m.

Public bathrooms are available at the main branch of the Peterborough Public Library, the Peterborough Transit Terminal and Social Services at 178 Charlotte St., during operating hours.  

Public bathrooms are also available at Del Crary Park and Millennium Park seasonally.

Outdoor water bottle filling stations are available at City facilities in the following locations:

  • Quaker Foods City Square, 215 Charlotte St.

  • Eastgate Park, 2150 Ashburnham Dr.

  • Peterborough Marina, 92 George St. N.

  • Beavermead Park washroom facilities, 2011 Ashburnham Dr.

  • Rogers Cove washroom facilities, 131 Maria St.

  • Bonnerworth Park washroom facilities, 560 McDonnel St.  

Water bottles can also be refilled inside the following City facilities during hours of operation:

  • Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St.

  • Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr.

  • Healthy Planet Arena, 911 Monaghan Rd.

  • Kinsmen Civic Centre, 1 Kinsmen Way

  • Social Services office, 178 Charlotte St.

  • Miskin Law Community Complex, 271 Lansdowne St. W.

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New Series Called Drive PTBO Launches With a Friendly Game of Mini Golf

By Scott Arnold

There’s a new way to explore Peterborough and the surrounding area with PTBOCanada. Drive PTBO, powered by Peterborough Mitsubishi, is a new video series where Dan Choate and Scott Arnold hit the road to check out local businesses, attractions and the people who make Peterborough such a great place to live.

drive ptbo with dan and scott, powered by peterborough mitsubishi will feature new episodes twice a month, showcasing place and people around peterborough. In this episode, dan and scott visit the little mini golf co.

Each episode will take them somewhere different around the community, with a few friendly competitions along the way.

The series will feature two new episodes each month, released on Wednesdays.

For the first episode, Dan and Scott head to The Little Mini Golf Co., where an 18-hole course brings Peterborough and the Kawarthas to life through holes inspired by local places, history and landmarks.

And, of course, the visit wouldn't be complete without a little competition.

Check out the first episode of Drive PTBO below.

Want Dan and Scott to visit your business? Or have any idea of where they should go next? Send PTBOCanada a message and let us know!


Scott Arnold
is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Five Peterborough Connections on the Field as Canada Opens Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championship With Convincing Win Over Mexico

By Scott Arnold

Erica Evans wasted no time making an impact for Team Canada, scoring just five seconds into Tuesday’s 32-2 win over Mexico at the 2026 Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championship in Oshawa.

peterborough native erica evans had seven points in the opening game of the Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championship at oshawa civic fields (photo via instagram @lacrossecanada)

The Peterborough native finished the game with three goals and four assists as Canada opened the tournament with a dominant victory.

Evans was joined on the Canadian roster by two members of the Peterborough Lakers’ 2026 championship-winning team, Madalyn Baxter and Nicole Perroni.

Perroni led Canada with five goals and added three assists, while Baxter scored twice.

The Trent Excalibur have a trio of athletes playing on the Canadian roster, including the aforementioned Baxter, along with Kylea Dobson and Maggie Cuddy.

Dobson found the back of the net twice in the win, while Cuddy scored four goals.

For anyone trying to add that up right now, the local connections combined for 16 goals and seven assists.

Canada returns to action on Friday at 7:30pm against Jamaica at Oshawa Civic Fields. Anyone who can’t make it to the game can watch it online through World Lacrosse TV.


Scott Arnold
is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Goaltender Owen Nelson Leaves Peterborough Petes and the OHL for NCAA Scholarship

By Scott Arnold

After a couple days of social media speculation, the rumours surrounding Owen Nelson were confirmed Tuesday, with the Peterborough Petes goaltender leaving the team for an NCAA opportunity.

After a couple days of social media speculation, the rumours surrounding Owen Nelson were confirmed Tuesday, with the Peterborough Petes goaltender leaving the team for an NCAA opportunity.

less than two weeks into the regular season the petes have lost goaltender owen nelson to the ncaa (photo courtesy of the peterborough petes, via kenneth Anderson)

Nelson has accepted a scholarship to play NCAA Division I hockey at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The Minnesota native joined the Petes as a free agent from the USHL's Tri-City Storm and had quickly established himself in Peterborough's crease. He started three of the team's first five games this season, including Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Ottawa 67's.

His departure leaves the Petes with Masen Johnston and Luka Gelinas as their current goaltending options.

Johnston has started two games this season, while Gelinas has yet to appear in an OHL regular-season game.

Nelson's departure comes as the NCAA has opened its doors to Canadian Hockey League players following a rule change in 2024 that made CHL players eligible to play NCAA hockey.

The Petes are 1-4 to start the 2026-27 season and return to action Thursday, October 1st against the Erie Otters at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.


Scott Arnold
is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.