Peterborough Petes Sign Colin Fitzgerald to OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement

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The Peterborough Petes has signed Colin Fitzgerald to an Ontario Hockey League Scholarship and Development Agreement on Saturday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The Peterborough native was selected by the Petes in the first round, third overall of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. Last season, he featured in 34 games with the U16 Peterborough Petes scoring 39 goals and adding 25 assists for 64 points. In eight playoff games, he scored 13 times and added eight assists, helping the Petes to the OMHA Championships and the 2024 OHL Cup.

“It’s special to continue to be wearing the maroon and white and play for my hometown team,” said Fitzgerald. “Thank you to Coach Wilson and Mike Oke for giving me the opportunity to be a Pete.”

In six OHL Cup games, the 6’1”, 174 lbs centre finished tied for the tournament lead in scoring with eight goals and five assists for 13 points, leading the Petes to a semi-final finish and being named to the All-Star team.

“We’re extremely excited to add Colin to our group,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “Colin is a very talented right-handed centreman who uses his size to his advantage. He’s got a good shot and is strong at faceoffs. With Colin being a Peterborough native, we were able to watch him a lot this year as he continuously improved his game, leading the U16 Petes to an OHL Cup Semi-final appearance and being named to the tournament all-star team. We’re looking forward to aiding in his development for years to come.” 

The CHL Import Draft takes place on July 3 at 110 a.m. The Petes hold the ninth overall selection in the draft.

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Peterborough Petes Release Development Camp Schedule

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The Peterborough Petes annual Development Camp will encompass three days and starts this Friday, wrapping up on Sunday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Roughly 50 players are expected to attend camp. They will be split into three teams for the on-ice scrimmage portion of the weekend.

On Friday, the camp will begin with off-ice fitness testing at Hybrid FHP (not open to the public) before transitioning to on-ice scrimmages on Saturday and Sunday morning.

All scrimmages will occur at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) and are open to the public. Scrimmages will also be streamed on the Petes Facebook page with commentary.

Full scrimmage Schedule:

Saturday, April 27

  • 9:00 a.m.  - Team East Side Mario’s (White) vs Team Sign-A-Fied (Black) 

  • 9:50 a.m. - Team Sign-A-Fied (Black) vs Team Hybrid (Maroon)

  • 10:40 a.m. - Team Hybrid (Maroon) vs Team East Side Mario’s (White)

  • 2:30 p.m. - Team East Side Mario’s (White) vs Team Sign-A-Fied (Black)

  • 3:20 p.m. - Team East Side Mario’s (White) vs Team Hybrid (Maroon)

  • 4:10 p.m. - Team Hybrid (Maroon) vs Team Sign-A-Fied (Black)

Sunday, April 28

  • 8:30 a.m. - Team Sign-A-Fied (Black) vs Team Hybrid (Maroon)

  • 9:20 a.m. - Team East Side Mario’s (White) vs Team Sign-A-Fied (Black)

  • 10:10 a.m. - Team East Side Mario’s (White) vs Team Hybrid (Maroon)

A full camp roster will be released on Friday afternoon. Print out rosters will be available at the PMC during the scrimmages.

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Peterborough Petes Draft a Forward and Defenceman In the 2024 OHL U18 Priority Selection

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The Peterborough Petes have selected forward Dylan Turcotte and defenceman Cameron Martin in the 2024 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection on Wednesday night.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Turcotte was taken in the first round, third overall from the Ottawa Jr. 67’s U18s. The Orleans native was featured in 30 games for the Jr. 67’s this season, leading the HEO U18 league in scoring with 28 goals and 21 assists for 49 points.

He added another 15 points in 10 playoff games, leading his team to an HEO Championship and a spot in the 2024 Ontario U18 AAA Championships. In the tournament, Dylan finished tied for third in scoring with 11 points in seven games.

The 6’ forward played in four games for the Ottawa Jr. Canadians (EOJHL) this year, picking up six points, while also appearing in two games with the Ottawa Jr. Senators of the CCHL.

“Dylan is a power forward with good size who can score,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “He’s a proven winner, leading his team to an HEO Championship this season. We’re looking forward to seeing him on the ice at Development Camp in the coming weeks.”

Martin was taken in the second round, 23rd overall. The Minesing-born defenceman stands at 6’3 and played 32 games for the Barrie Colts U18s this season. He scored four goals and adding 13 assists for 17 points. He also played in 13 playoff games, picking up four assists.

“Cameron is a huge defenceman who moves the puck well,” said Oke. “We had an opportunity to watch him a lot this season as he played in Barrie alongside Petes prospect Francis Parish. We were very impressed with his game and are excited to see him on the ice at Development Camp.”

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Peterborough Petes Draft 15 Players From OHL Priority Selection; Take Hometown Prospect In First Round

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After a weekend in the war room, the Peterborough Petes have drafted 15 players in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection including hometown top prospect Colin Fitzgerald in the first round over the weekend.

Colin Fitzgerald (pictured) was selected third overall by the Peterborough Petes. Photo courtesy of Dan Hickling and the Peterborough Petes.

Fitzgerald was taken with the third overall pick.

“Colin is a big centreman who plays a great two-way game, knows how to score and is good on faceoffs,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “We’ve been monitoring him all season and were really impressed with his play, especially in the OHL Cup. It’s very exciting to be able to add a local player with a skillset like Colin’s.”

Fitzgerald played 34 games last season with the Peterborough Petes U16s, scoring 39 goals and adding 25 assists for 64 points. In eight playoff games, he scored 13 times and added eight assists, helping the Petes to the OMHA Championships and the 2024 OHL Cup. In six OHL Cup games, the 6.01, 174 lbs centre finished tied for the tournament lead in scoring with eight goals and five assists for 13 points, leading the Petes to a semi-final finish and being named to the All-Star team.

In the second round, Peterborough selected defenceman Blake Gowan with the 32nd overall pick.

“Blake is a very big, solid defenceman who plays a hard-hitting game,” said Oke. “He was a big part of a very good Barrie Colts team and is somebody who will physically be able to step in to the OHL.”

Gowan, a defenceman from Kingston, played in 33 games with the Barrie Colts U16 last season, scoring two goals and adding 25 assists for 27 points. In 10 playoff games this season, Gowan scored three times and added eight assists for 11 points, helping the Colts to an OMHA Championship and an OHL Cup berth.

The following is a list of the Petes draft picks:

  • 1st round, 3rd overall: Colin Fitzgerald, F, Peterborough Petes U16

  • 2nd round, 32nd overall: Blake Gowan, D, Barrie Colts U16

  • 5th round, 85th overall: Adam Levac, F, Eastern Ontario Wild U16

  • 5th round, 99th overall: Genc Ula, D, North Jersey Avalanche U15

  • 6th round, 105th overall: Alexander Hage, F, Vaughan Kings U16

  • 7th round, 125th overall: Raiden Doxtator, F, London Jr. Knights U16

  • 8th round, 145th overall: Elijah Chavez, F, Vaughan Kings U16

  • 9th round, 165th overall: Luka Gelinas, G, Eastern Ontario Wild U16

  • 10th round, 185th overall: Marcus Sulug, D, Niagara North Stars U16

  • 11th round, 205th overall: Luis Sturgeon, D, Lambton Jr. Sting U16

  • 12th round, 225th overall: Jonny Brooks, F, Oakville Rangers U16

  • 13th round, 245th overall: Alexander Smyth, F, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes U15

  • 14th round, 265th overall: Kasra Fathi, F, Kitchener Jr. Rangers U16

  • 15th round, 283rd overall: Matthew McKenna, F, Central Ontario Wolves U16

  • 15th round, 285th overall: Matthew Crawford, F, Sun County Panthers U16

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What You Need to Know About the Petes 2024 OHL Priority Selection

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With a third-overall pick in hand, the Peterborough Petes will begin their quest to draft future young stars in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection that kicks off Friday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The first three rounds will be drafted on Friday at 7 p.m. Rounds 4-15 will occur on Saturday at 9 a.m. The Petes have 15 selections in the draft, two on day one and 13 on day two.

With the Petes drafting third, it is the fifth time Peterborough has attained the spot in franchise history. They have drafted names like Jordan Staal and Matt Spencer at three.

A full list of Peterborough’s selections can be found below:

  • Round 1 (3)

  • Round 2 (32) - From Ottawa

  • Round 5 (85)

  • Round 5 (99) - From Oshawa

  • Round 6 (105)

  • Round 7 (125)

  • Round 8 (145)

  • Round 9 (165)

  • Round 10 (185)

  • Round 11 (205)

  • Round 12 (225)

  • Round 13 (245)

  • Round 14 (265)

  • Round 15 (283) - From Niagara

  • Round 15 (285)

In last year’s OHL Priority Selection, the Petes made 14 selections. They included Bobcaygeon native and 2024 Ushers Trophy winner Carson Cameron, forward Joseph Cadorin and defenceman Liam Ladds.

The following is a last from last year’s selection:

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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Former Peterborough Petes Konnor Smith Scores In His AHL Debut With the San Diego Gulls

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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.

x Photo, San Diego Gulls.

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.”

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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Former Peterborough Pete Nick Lardis Signs a Three-Year Entry Level Contract With the Chicago Blackhawks

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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.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

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

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Peterborough Petes forward Brennan Faulker is the recipient of the Westland Insurance Community Player of the Month for March.

Photo by dAVID tUAN bUI.

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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Local Online Radio Station to Stream Throwback Peterborough Petes Broadcasts

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Following last season’s run to an OHL Championship for the Peterborough Petes, the Kawartha Time Machine online radio station makes up for the Petes’ absence in the post-season by streaming several full throwback games beginning this Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Kawartha Time Machine was founded in 2015 by retired broadcaster Gordon Gibb to curate and preserve regional broadcast archives through a music-based, online nostalgia station. Gibb has served as the in-house public address announcer for the Peterborough Petes since the 1996-1997 season. Photo courtesy of Kawartha Time Machine.

Running each Thursday for seven straight weeks, several games streamed include a reprise of the 1974 exhibition game between The Peterborough Petes representing the Canadian entry in The World Junior Invitational Hockey Championship. This non-sanctioned tournament served as the precursor to the annual tournament enjoyed in the modern day.

The pivotal game for the Petes was played on Jan. 6th, 1974, against Russia. The game—as well as the tournament and the events leading up to it—is the subject of ‘The First Ones,’ a book by Ed Arnold released in the fall.

The game between the Petes and Team Russia was originally broadcast live from Leningrad on 1420 CKPT with Bill Bennett on the morning of Jan. 6th.

With a copy of the broadcast loaned to us from Pete Pearson, The Kawartha Time Machine originally streamed the broadcast archive on the morning of Jan. on the exact 50th anniversary of the game. The Petes vs. Russia game will be the first game of a multi-week series.

The full schedule is as follows:

  • March 28: Petes @ Russia Jan. 6 1974 (1420 CKPT, Bill Bennett)

  • April 4: Petes @ Niagara Falls Flyers, Game 2 of the OMJHL Finals (Cable, 1979. The Petes would go on to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup that year and later, bring home The Memorial Cup for the first, and only time in franchise history).

  • April 11: Petes v Marlies Jan. 2, 1986 (Gary Hahn, Kevin Varrin, Cable 6)

  • April 18: Petes @ Oshawa Dec. 1, 2002.

  • April 25: Petes v Plymouth Whalers, Dec. 15, 2005 (Bob Eakins Your TV)

  • May 6: Petes v London Knights (Game 2) May 7, 2006

  • May 13: Petes @ Kingston March 13, 2013

Several games will feature several NHL alumni and current players such as Eric and Jordan Staal, Dallas Eakins, Ron Tugnutt, Doug Jarvis, Stan Jonathan and John Druce, the latter also serving as colour commentator in later games. Neilson served as a coach for the 1974 Russia game.

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Peterborough Petes Draw Third Overall Pick In 2024 OHL Priority Selection

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Following the OHL Priority Selection Lottery, the Peterborough Petes have drawn the third-overall pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection on Wednesday evening.

Screenshot.

Full Lottery Results:

  1. Windsor Spitfires

  2. Sarnia Sting

  3. Peterborough Petes

  4. Niagara IceDogs

The Petes entered the evening with a 20 per cent chance of receiving the first overall pick. The Niagara IceDogs had the odds of 40 per cent, followed by the Windsor Spitfires at 30 per cent and the Sarnia Sting at 10 per cent.

The 2024 OHL Priority Selection will begin on April 12th at 7 p.m. with the first three rounds. Picks four to 15 are selected on the 13th.

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