Peterborough Petes Welcome New Wave of Players After Trade Deadline; Johnathan Melee Named 63rd Franchise Captain
/Shortly after the OHL Trade Deadline had finished at noon, the Peterborough Petes introduced their acquisitions and named Johnathan Melee as the franchise’s 63rd captain at a press conference at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Wednesday.
Melee (left) has been named the 63rd captain in franchise history after the departure of former captain Donovan McCoy who was traded the the Sudbury Wolves on Monday. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations, named Melee as team captain after the Petes had traded Donovan McCoy to the Sudbury Wolves on Monday. The Rockland, Ont. native said he would take what he learned from past captains such as McCoy and Shawn Spearing and use those teachings to lead the team.
“When I came in from the (McTavish) trade two years ago, he (Spearing) brought me in right away,” said Melee. “He made me feel welcome and I feel like I need to do that for these guys and I'm excited to have that responsibility.”
Oke also announced that Tommy Purdeller and Cam Gauvreau are alternate captains to back up Melee.
“They were here last year and a big part of our championship run so they'll have lots of experience to give out too,” he explained. “They'll definitely take some weight off my shoulders in teaching the young guys how to play and how to be a hockey player.”
Gauvreau (left) with Oke (middle) and Purdeller (right) shortly after they were named alternate captains to the media during the Petes press conference. Photo by David TUan Bui.
Oke was active in making deals prior to Wednesday’s trade deadline. All players he acquired in trades were introduced to the media during their press conference.
Oke said that he was willing to go in either direction depending on the team’s performance during the season to either build for a successful title defence or to reload and retool the roster for the future.
“We felt it was in the best interest of ourselves and of the players that were absolutely unbelievable during last year's magical run to put them in a position to have some success and further along their OHL careers as they were coming to an end,” explained Oke. “At the same time, allow us to acquire some new players to come and retool for another championship run on our end.”
Oke’s phone rang many times over the trading season and he knew the value of his players, especially after coming off an OHL Championship.
“A lot of our players were sought after,” he said. “We made it very clear how highly we value them that if teams were interested in acquiring them for their respective championship run this year that it was going to have to be a certain player or certain level of draft picks.”
The following were the transactions Peterborough made before the trade deadline:
Nico Addy (forward), Martin Matejicek (defenceman) and 2026 third-round pick from the Owen Sound Attack for Konnor Smith (defenceman) and Sam McCue (forward)
A second-round pick in 2024, Soo’s third-round pick in 2027 and Ottawa’s fifth-round pick in 2027 from the Ottawa 67’s for Samuel Mayer (defenceman)
Flint’s second-round pick in 2025, Guelph’s third-round pick in 2026 and Windsor’s fifth-round pick in 2027 from the Kingston Frontenacs for Jax Dubois (forward)
Aiden Young (forward), Ottawa’s second-round pick in 2025, Saginaw’s second-round pick in 2027, and Mississauga’s third-round pick in 2026 from the Saginaw Spirit for Owen Beck (forward)
Caden Taylor (forward) and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2027 from the Sudbury Wolves for Donovan McCoy (defenceman)
Grayden Strohack (defenceman) from the Flint Firebirds for London’s third-round pick in 2025, a fourth-round pick and a fifth-round pick both in 2027
William Haley (defenceman) from the Mississauga Steelheads for a conditional 15th-round pick in 2027
Oke stated that all of the players should be in Thursday’s lineup against the Kingston Frontenacs except for Strohack who was absent from the press conference due to an illness. His status is being monitored and could play Thursday depending on his health.
(From left to right) Nico Addy, Martin Matejicek, Aiden Young, Caden Taylor and William Haley as the team’s newest Peterborough Petes. Grayden Strohack was absent due to an illness. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
