71 Teams Battling It Out In the 64th Annual Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament Beginning Friday

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One of Peterborough’s most significant hockey traditions is back for its 64th year as the Annual Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament hits the ice starting Friday, announced at the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame on Monday night.

Garth Stoner (left), Neil Moloney (middle) and Carl Silevestri (right) The tournament was formerly called the Peterborough Liftlock Atom Hockey Tournament. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The three-day event starts Friday, with opening ceremonies for house league and rep divisions beginning at 10 a.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC). YourTV Cogeco is broadcasting the first two opening games for house and rep divisions.

The broadcasted games are the Ennismore Eagles White taking on the PHA Purple Panthers for the house league opening game at 10 a.m. Friday. The other is the Peterborough Petes battling against the Toronto Wolverines at 11:30 a.m. in the rep league opening game, also known as the Chris Fee Cup. It pits the host Peterborough team against the visiting squad.

This year features 71 teams from throughout the province in 13 divisions. They are playing throughout six arenas in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. This tournament runs for a second straight year after being shelved for 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tournament chairman Wally Moore says that since the inaugural tournament in 1958. The event has been supported for generations by volunteers and sponsors to help make it a long-standing Peterborough tradition which fits the tournament motto, ‘Not just a hockey tournament...It's a community affair.’

“The longevity of this has made this tournament so well. All the volunteers come back year after year,” he explained. “A lot of us have been doing this for 40 years but the new ones we bring in, our kids have been doing this for 20 years so it's a community thing.”

A cheque presentation of $2,500 was also donated to Kairos Non-Profit Housing of Peterborough and Camp Northern Lights as the chosen beneficiaries, as the tournament supports a local charity or more annually.

Several awards were distributed ahead of the opening ceremonies recognizing some volunteers for their contributions to the tournament over the years:

  • Don McCrory Referee’s Award for exemplifying McCrory’s dedication to officiating - Neil Moloney

  • Steve Casey Award for a volunteer going the extra mile to contributing to the tournament’s success – Garth Stoner

  • Frank Lustic Award for exemplifying all Lustic’s qualities who volunteered for over 25 years in minor sports – Carl Silvestri

A full tournament schedule can be found online.

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Ryan Foster Named Head Coach to the U16 AAA Peterborough Petes

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Former assistant coach Ryan Foster has been named the head coach of the U16 AAA Peterborough Petes for the 2024-2025 season.

The U16 AAA Petes had 13 players drafted to the OHL. Graphic by Mark Dizon.

Foster was an assistant coach for former head coach Michael Farrugia for the Peterborough Elite Court Sports U16 AAA Petes 2022-2023 season. The latter was hired as an assistant coach for the Oshawa Generals in late November.

Foster was a coach and player in the Peterborough Petes minor system. During the 1993-94 season, he was part of the Peterborough Petes Provincial Jr. A team.

He has had several coaching stints with the Petes from 2016-2018 and 2021-2023 in peewee, bantam and midget divisions.

“I’m really thankful to get the opportunity to coach in the PMHC, particularly the U16 program,” said Foster. “I have been very lucky to work alongside some terrific coaches, hockey people and players these last few years and I am looking to bring that knowledge and experience to the 2024/25 team.

The U16 Petes had a successful last season as runner-ups to the Steve Richey Cup in January (in a 1-0 loss), crowned Ontario Minor Hockey Association champions in March (in triple overtime) and semi-finalists in the OHL Cup.

“The U16 program has been top-notch in recent years and we are looking to continue that trend with a team that is hard-working, disciplined and competitive,” said Foster.

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Local Hockey Coach Michael Farrugia Hired to Oshawa Generals Coaching Staff

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AAA Petes head coach Michael Farrugia is joining the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals as an assistant coach announced by the team on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of the Oshawa Generals.

Farrugia spent three seasons as the head coach with the minor bantam, U15 and U16 Peterborough Petes AAA program.

Last year, he coached the U16 Petes to the 2023 OMHA Championship and had 13 of his players taken in the most recent OHL Priority Draft.

The Brampton native spent the beginning of this season as the head coach of the U15 Prep Team with Okanagan Hockey Ontario.

He was the associate coach of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Wellington Dukes, where they were finalists in the 2018 RBC Cup and with the Cobourg Cougars in 2017 as a skill development coach.

“We wanted a coach that would come in and be able to adapt quickly and work on the finer details of development and we thought Michael was the perfect fit,” in a statement made by the Oshawa Generals.

Farrugia had his first practice with the team Thursday before his first full weekend with the team in their three-in-three weekend.

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Peterborough Petes Knock Off Kingston Frontenacs With 5-4 Win In Home Opener

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The Petes’ championship-banner-raising home opener goes unspoiled as they defeated the rival Kingston Frontenacs, 5-4, at the Peterborough Memorial Cetnre on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen Photography and the Peterborough Petes.

Prior to the game, the Petes held a banner-raising ceremony to commemorate their 2023 OHL Championship. The ceremony featured members of the Petes Board of Directors including President Dave Lorentz, Dave Pogue, Rod McGillis and George Gillespie. They joined general manager Michael Oke and 2022-23 Petes Captain Shawn Spearing on the ice before the puck drop.

Donovan McCoy was named the 62nd captain of the Peterborough Petes. He is entering his fourth year with the Petes after being selected in the first round, 15th overall, of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.

“Donovan’s demonstrated over his time here to be a consummate teammate,” said Oke. “He’s respected by coaches, management and most importantly his teammates. He’s a very hardworking individual that works hard on the ice and in the gym and is a positive influence to everyone around him. At this time, the remainder of the leadership group will be named at a later date.”

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen Photography and the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard as Sam McCue attempted a wraparound chance but the puck went awry. Luckily, Jax Dubois became Johnny-on-the-spot and scored off the loose puck for a 1-0 lead, 52 seconds into the game. Ethan Miedema gave Kingston a highlight reel goal as he made a windmill deke over Brayden Velliaris and beat Liam Sztuska on the forehand for a 1-1 tie.

Sam McCue made a centering pass to Johnathan Melee for a one-timed shot but Mason Vaccari made the same. McCue kept hacking away at the loose puck and found the back of the next for his first career OHL goal. Special teams started to favour Kingston as Matthew Soto was able to snipe a goal from just outside the faceoff circle for a 2-2 tie going into the second period.

The Petes had to face a five-on-three penalty kill as Kingston cycle the puck and Miedema capitalized on a rebound for his second of the game and a 3-2 Frontenacs lead. Melee was able to tie the game up at three fresh off the draw. The Kingston centerman gave up on the faceoff, believing there was going to be a redo but it counted, late in the second period. The tie was short-lived as Peterborough could not corral an intercepted puck, coughed it up and Linus Hemström sniped one home for a 4-3 lead. The Petes had a two-man advantage of their own and Peterborough made no mistake as Samuel Mayer teed up a slapshot for a game-tying goal with 69 seconds left in the period.

The third period only saw one goal but it was an important one for the Petes. In the dying seconds of the power play, Tommy Purdeller from just outside the faceoff circle, wristed one home for a 5-4 lead and the Pets hung on for their first win of the season.

The Petes travel to our nation’s capital to take on the defending regular-season champion Ottawa 67’s on Friday.

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Former Peterborough Petes Akil Thomas Scores Hat Trick Against Vegas Golden Knights In Preseason Game

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Former Peterborough Petes Akil Thomas is making a case to crack the Los Angeles Kings’s roster as he scored a hat trick against the Vegas Golden Knights in preseason action to lead the team to a 4-3 comeback win at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday night.

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

Thomas’s first goal came late in the second period with 4:21 left as Thomas shot a quick wrister after a pass from Francesco Pinelli to bring it to a 2-1 Golden Knights lead.

Now down 3-1 into the third, Thomas capitalized on a loose-puck rebound after a Steven Santini shot. It went off Vegas goalie Adin Hill’s pad and Thomas unleashed a quick wrist shot to cut the Golden Knights’s deficit to one.

With just over two minutes left, Los Angeles pulled their goalie to try and tie the game. Former Barrie Colts captain Brandt Clarke took a shot from the point that was blocked by Vegas’s Johnathan Marchessault. Thomas chopped at the loose puck on the backhand and hit the top-shelf corner for the hat trick to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Tyler Madden scored 4:30 into overtime to give the Kings a 4-3 comeback win over Vegas.

Thomas 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 COVID-19 pandemic shut down the Ontario Hockey League.

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. He has not played a regular-season game with the Kings since being drafted into the NHL.

The Toronto native 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.

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Newest Peterborough Petes Zach Bowen Ready to Get to Work

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Less than 24 hours after being traded to the Peterborough, newly-acquired Petes goaltender Zach Bowen is ready to help the team get a second championship after making his first public appearance at the Season Ticket Holder BBQ on Tuesday evening.

Bowen signing an autograph for a young Petes fan. The 18-year-old goaltender was welcomed to the team by several fans during the BBQ’s autograph session. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Petes traded OHL Playoff MVP Michael Simpson to the London Knights for Bowen and Kingston Frontenac’s third-round pick in 2025.

The trade was made two days before the team’s home opener against the Kingston Frontenacs. Head coach Rob Wilson says he is making sure that Bowen gets the time he needs to fit in with the team and get used to the Petes’s system.

“We're not rushing Zach in any way,” he explained. “We've got good goaltending with Easton and Stu (Stutska) so we're really confident with our goaltending and Zack's just another addition that just strengthens us in that position.

This was Bowen’s first public appearence with the team after being traded to the Petes. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Bowen, now in his second season, played 10 games in the playoffs last year with the London Knights as a rookie goaltender including appearances in the OHL Finals. That experience is rare and invaluable for the Petes moving forward according to Wilson.

“He's a really good goalie now,” he said. “He was 17 years old in a final. He's already battle-hardened and got some huge experience so we're excited about him and all our goalies and we're really strengthened in that area.”

“I just take it (experience) and use it and become comfortable out there now,” said Bowen. “There's no reason to be nervous anymore.”

Wilson said he knows who is starting in net for Thursday’s game but would not disclose it at the time. The Petes play the Frontenacs this Thursday at the Peterborough Memorial Centre for their home opener. The championship banner will be raised prior to puck drop, scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Peterborough Petes Hosting Season Ticket Member BBQ On Sept. 26

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The Peterborough Petes are hosting their Season Ticket Member BBQ on Sept. 26 inside the Morrow Building in the Peterborough Memorial Centre parking lot from 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

All Season Ticket Members and their families are invited to attend the event.

The BBQ features burgers and hot dogs from M&M’s Meat Shop, refreshments, and inflatables. Introductions for this year’s roster are being announced, a full-team autograph session and words from coaches and management. 

“We’re looking forward to hosting our Season Ticket Members and their Families ahead of the home opener on September 28,” said Tyler Hall, Petes coordinator of season ticket sales and service. “This is going to be a bigger and better BBQ than the Petes have done in the past and I’m excited to see everyone there and enjoying the fun.”

Only Season Ticket Members can attend with limited season tickets still available. Contact Hall by email or at (705) 743-3681 ext. 209.

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Hometown Goalie Masen Johnston Ready To Crack Peterborough Petes Roster During Training Camp

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After getting his name called in this year’s Ontario Priority Selection, hometown goalie Masen Johnston is ready to crack the team roster with the Peterborough Petes as the team is going through a four-day training camp that started Tuesday and will end on Friday.

JOhnston has been with the AAA Peterborough Petes since Novice and was a participant in this year’s OHL cup. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The team went through fitness testing and orientation at Hybrid Sports on Tuesday prior to the day one scrimmage that began Wednesday morning.

The 16-year-old Peterborough native was paired with OHL champion and playoff MVP goaltender Michael Simpson to represent Team Hybrid Sports for team scrimmages. It was a dream for Johnston to learn from and play backup to a championship goalie.

“Being able to be with a veteran goalie like that (Simpson), a guy that's been around the league and has been producing around the league too so it's just awesome,” said Johnston. “Hopefully, I can pick up a couple of things from him.”

The 6 ft. 186-lbs. goaltender got his first taste of Petes action in his scrimmage game against Team Sign-a-Fied on Wednesday morning. Simpson played just under 13 minutes of the 25-minute scrimmage before Johnston got on the ice to round out the game. He and Simpson combined for a shutout and a 3-0 victory over Team Sign-a-Fied.

“It's awesome putting on the maroon and white jersey. It's special. There's a lot of history behind the logo,” explained Johnston. “I just want to make the lineup and make a difference in the community too and be an all-around-team player.”

Johnston was taken 112th overall as Peterborough’s fourth pick in the sixth round from the U16 Minor AAA Peterborough Petes in this year’s Ontario Priority Selection. He was the winning goalie for the Petes when they won the Ontario Minor Hockey Association Championship on March 19 in triple overtime. He was also a finalist in the Steve Richey Cup in January.

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Peterborough Petes Wrap Up Day One of Training Camp

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Peterborough Petes 2023 Training Camp kicked off training camp at the Hybrid Sports facility with introductions, medicals and fitness testing on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

An orientation session was held for players and their families and was led by Michael Oke, Petes general manager before the players split off into medical testing, headshots and fitness testing.

“It was a great start to camp today with everyone working hard in the gym at Hybrid,” said Oke. “We’re looking forward to seeing that hard work carry over on the ice tomorrow as scrimmages begin.”

During the fitness testing portion of training camp, Donovan McCoy, Braydon McCallum, Owen Beck, Chase Lefebvre and Sam McCue all featured in multiple top threes. The top performing Petes in each fitness category were as follows:

300-yard Shuttle Run (two heats)

  1. Sam McCue 51s, 54s

  2. Jax Dubois 52s, 56s

  3. Raymond Thurston 52s, 58s

Vertical Jump

  1. Donovan McCoy 34.4”

  2. Braydon McCallum 33.4”

  3. Owen Beck 33.2”

Broad Jump

  1. Owen Beck, Braydon McCallum 10’

  2. Liam Sztuska, Rheydan McCoy 9’11”

  3. Chase Lefebvre 9’9’’

Pull-ups

  1. Brennan Faulkner 25 reps

  2. Quinton Pagé, Owen Beck 24 reps

  3. Jace McGrail 23 reps

5-10-5 Shuttle Run

  1. Donovan McCoy, Maximus Macerollo 5.14s

  2. Sam McCue, Braydon Mccallum 4.15s

  3. Chase Lefebvre 4.22s

20-Yard Dash

  1. Braydon McCallum 2.56s

  2. Donovan McCoy 2.57s

  3. Chase Lefebvre 2.58s

Wednesday and Thursday’s scrimmages are streamed live on the Petes Facebook page.

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Peterborough Petes Introduce Dave Lorentz as New Team President; Dave Pogue Steps Down From Role After Seven-Year Tenure

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The Dave Loretz era began as he was introduced to the public as team president in a press conference at the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday afternoon.

(From Left to Right) Petes Board of Directors Rod McGillis, Dave Lorentz, George Gillespie and Dave Pogue. Loretz becomes the second team president to ever play for the Petes behind the late Pat Casey who passed away peacefully last Saturday. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Lorentz takes over the role after former president Dave Pogue announced his retirement at the Petes 2023 Awards Banquet on March 28. The latter remains on the Board of Directors as Past President and Alternate Governor after a seven-year tenure with the Petes.

“I think it's time for a different voice. Eventually, you could become white noise in certain circles so it was time,” explained Pogue. “I've got some other ventures that I want to concentrate on and I'm going to start on the board assisting Dr. Bob Neville at the league level because I've made some good relationships with other owners in the league and just trying to work on bettering the Petes within the league and certainly to get a new facility.”

Pogue has fully endorsed Lorentz as the new team president and says he will be able to maintain the high standards and championship aspirations that the team exhibited last year when they captured the OHL title.

“Dave helped create that standard. We have been working very hard as a group to get to this point and 17 since our last championship, we've learned a lot over those years and Dave has been part of the driving force there,” he said. It won't be 17 years before we win another one, I can tell you that.”

Lorentz played three years for the Petes from 1987 to 1990 and was captain of Peterborough’s 1989 OHL Championship team. The team made deep playoff runs including a championship in the 1988-89 season. Lorentz wants to maintain the current atmosphere and mentality as team president to win another OHL Championship and hopefully a Memorial Cup title.

“I think building a culture of winning, building a culture that you're going to go for it when you have the opportunity and be successful builds champions,” he explained. “I'm expecting in the near future that we will do this again because I really want a Memorial Cup ring.”

Lorentz added that he did not want to change much in terms of the face of the organization but to put an emphasis on the Petes to foster a positive experience for everyone in the company.

“My focus is going to be directed to the players and the staff, trying to find ways that we can enhance their experience in Peterborough,” he said. “As a former player and alumni, I want those players coming here to experience the best that they can because not all of them are going to make the pros but they're going to go on to great careers. If we can provide them with every opportunity to achieve their goals then that's what we need to do.”

Single-game tickets for the Petes go on sale this Friday at 9:30 a.m. through the PMC Grant Thornton Box Office.

Fans can get tickets by visiting the Grant Thornton Box Office in person, calling (705) 743-3561 or going online.

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