Peterborough Petes Routed In 11-1 Landslide To Brantford Bulldogs

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The Peterborough Petes have seen better days as they had a rough going on the road, being routed 11-1 by the Branftord Bulldogs at the Brantford Civic Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Brandon Taylor and the Peterborough PEtes.

Florian Xhekaj — brother of Montréal Canadiens defenceman Arber Xhekaj — opened the scoring for Brantford late in the first period with a one-timer. Zakary Lavoie joined on the scoring to put up a 2-0 lead with a one-timer shortly after the Bulldogs won the faceoff. That was the score heading into the second period.

Peterborough found themselves on the scoreboard after killing off a four-on-three penalty kill. Jake O’Brien tried to deke around the Petes defence but Tommy Purdeller pickpocketed the Brantford captain and had a breakout stretch pass to Johnathan Melee. The Petes captain did a spin-o-rama dek and sniped it on the backhand to cut the deficit in half for a 2-1 game.

Unfortunately, it was all downhill for the rest of the game for Peterborough. Two minutes later, Brantford scored three straight goals in a 2:21 span to bring their lead to four with a 5-1 game.

Late in the frame, Peterborough had a massive opportunity as they got a five-minute powerplay after a check-to-the-head major penalty from Daniil Sobolev. He also got a game misconduct for the hit. In an ironic twist, Brantford scored three goals shorthanded on the same penalty kill thanks to Ben Bujold, Lawson Sherk and Xhekaj to round out the period.

The Bulldogs tacked on three more goals in the final stanza while suppressing Peterborough’s offence for an 11-1 beatdown.

The Petes will have to shake off the loss and get ready for Thursday as they host the Guelph Storm at the Peterborough Memorial Centre with the puck drop at 7:05 p.m.

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Photos: Peterborough Petes Alumnus Chris Pronger Holds Whiskey Bottle Signing At Local LCBO

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It was a spirited homecoming for Peterborough Petes Alumnus and Stanley Cup champion Chris Pronger as he held a bottle signing of his whiskey brand ‘JRNY’ at the LCBO on Lansdowne Street and Goodfellow Road on Thursday afternoon.

Roughly 20 people were lined up outside the LCBO prior to his bottle signing and several more joined in throughout the two-hour timeframe to get autographs including on their respective hockey apparel and photographs.

The whiskey was created alongside his brother and former NHLer Sean Pronger who was also present during the bottle signing.

Chris played for two seasons with the Petes from 1991 to 1993. The Hart Memorial Trophy-winning defenceman scored 32 goals and 107 assists in two seasons with the Petes.

Chris is performing the ceremonial puck drop for the Peterborough Petes game as they host the rival Oshawa Generals on the same night.

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Peterborough Petes Cannot Find the Back of the Net In 4-0 Loss Against the Soo Greyhounds; School Day Game Sees 3,700 Fans

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The Peterborough Petes tried to put on a show for the School Day game with 3,700 fans in attendance against the Soo Greyhounds but got blanked 4-0 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

With no scoring in the first period, the Greyhounds struck first on the power play. They cycled the puck well, resulting in a one-timed goal from Arttu Karki to get Soo on the board, 1-0.

The visitors kept their foot on the gas in the third period as they started their breakout from the defensive zone. Jack Beck stretched to keep the play onside as he crossed the blue line, corralling the puck and sniping it past Liam Sztuska for a 2-0 lead. The Greyhounds tacked on an empty-net goal and a garbage time power-play goal for the 4-0 to give them a win to start their three-game road trip.

The Petes will have to shake off the loss with a trip to the nation’s capital to take on the defending regular-season champion Ottawa 67’s on Friday night.

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Peterborough Petes Fall in Overtime 3-2 In Michael Simpson's Return to the Peterborough Memorial Centre

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It was a triumphant return for former Pete Michael Simpson as he and the London Knights took down Peterborough in overtime, 3-2, at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth ANdersen and the Peterborough Petes.

Jumping right to the second period, London drew first blood off an odd-man rush as Easton Cowan sniped a shot past Liam Stutzka for a 1-0 lead. Cowan had another chance to score off a penalty shot but Stutzka was able to track the puck and make the save. The Petes found themselves on the board as Meyer threw the puck at the net and created a mad scramble for the rebounded puck. It eventually got on Meyer’s stick again and he buried it past Simpson for a 1-1 tie going into the third period.

Peterborough was on the penalty kill but Jax Dubois forced a turnover in the Knights’ defensive zone and eat Simpson high for a 2-1 lead. Peterborough was trying to hang on to the lead but in the dying 17 seconds, Sam Dickenson slapped a one-timer and tied the game to go into overtime.

The extra frame saw London have the puck with 90 seconds left as Isaiah George received a pass out in the high slot and was able to snipe it home for a 3-2 London victory.

The Petes will get little rest for their next game as the travel to Brantford to take on the Bulldogs on Friday night.

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Peterborough Petes to Host Alumni Homecoming Weekend for Oct. 20 - 21

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The Peterborough Petes are hosting an Alumni Homecoming Weekend that features a mixer at the Maple Moose Pub, a day of golf at Peterborough Golf & Country Club (PGCC) and a Petes game.

The itinerary is as follows:

  • Friday, Oct.20

    • 7-10 p.m. - Mixer at the Maple Moose Pub

  • Saturday, Oct. 21

    • 9:30 a.m. - Golf Registration at Peterborough Golf & Country Club

    • 10:00 a.m. - Brunch at Peterborough Golf & Country Club

    • 11:00 a.m. - Shotgun start at Peterborough Golf & Country Club

    • 7:05 p.m. - Peterborough Petes vs Oshawa Generals at the PMC

Prior to the game, the 1973-74 Petes are being honoured with a pregame ceremony on the ice. This team was the first Canadian representative in the history of the IIHF World Junior Championships in 1974, taking home a bronze medal.

“We’re really excited to be able to welcome back so many great alumni with this event,” said Morgan Blaind, Petes coordinator of marketing and community engagement. “It’s been a few years since we’ve been able to put on an event like this. That being said, it’s so important for us to see our alumni interact and reconnect with each other. It’s also a great opportunity for us to recognize our amazing history through celebrating the 1973-74 team.”

All Petes alumni and their guests are invited to attend the weekend according to a press release. Golf slots will be allocated to alumni before opening to guests. Interested alumni can contact Blaind via e-mail or by calling 705-743-3681 ext. 221.

The Petes host the London Knights on Thursday at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. This is the return of the 2023 Playoff MVP and former Petes goaltender Michael Simpson. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Peterborough Petes Name General Manager Michael Oke to Vice President of Operations In Five-Year Deal

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Peterborough Petes general manager Michael Oke had been granted extra responsibilities as he signed a five-year deal with the team to become their vice president of operations in addition to his current role announced by the team on Tuesday afternoon.

Oke has been the Petes’ full-time general manager since Feb. 14, 2013. He served as interim general manager for four months prior to being given the permenent position. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“Coming off an OHL Championship, we needed to ensure that we had a plan in place to get back to the Memorial Cup and we believe Mike can help us to achieve that plan,” said Dave Lorentz, Petes president. “The General Manager’s duties are more than just drafts and trades; the administrative part of the job has increased year after year with new policies and issues that arise from the league. Mike has the experience to navigate through these issues as well as working with our coaching staff to draft and find the players needed to make us competitive.”

The contract will run until June 2028 as he takes over the vacant role formerly held by Burton Lee. The latter left the organization in early August to accept a position as director of game operations with the Provincial Women’s Hockey League.

“Although our intent was to look for a replacement to fill the vacant business lead role, over the last four to five weeks we were very pleased to observe the growth in our staff and their initiative to take on a larger role in their departments,” said Lorentz. “Their talent and skill levels allowed the Board to reassess the business structure and reevaluate the posting. In the end, the Board felt that with Mike’s guidance, the Business staff will grow and prosper under this new reorganization.”

“First and foremost, I would like to thank the Peterborough Petes executive board for the trust and commitment that they have shown me,” said Oke. “It’s exciting to formalize an extension with the Petes and I look forward to continuing the work we’ve been doing on the ice and in the community.”

He originally joined the Petes in 2010 as the manager of player personnel in April. Oke was promoted to director of player personnel in July of the same year.

“I would also like to thank (head coach) Rob Wilson, as well as members of our hockey operations staff for the strong relationships we’ve formed over the past number of years,” he said. “We’ve built a strong team in hockey operations with our coaching, medical, training and scouting staff. We've also built an equally strong staff with the business department and I’m looking forward to working closely with that group as well.”

The Petes have promoted Patrick O’Connor as director of player personnel/assistant Coach to assist with some of the general manager duties. Patrick has been with the teams since 2019 as an assistant coach. Along with his duties on the ice, he is now the key contact for players off the ice. Patrick will also assist with the CHL Import Draft, especially with establishing a stronger European scouting presence as a British native.

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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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Hometown PTBO: The Peterborough Minor Hockey Association Giving Back to the Community With a $80,000 Surplus

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This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Walter DiClemente and Chad Cavanagh of the Peterborough Minor Hockey Association about how they are giving back to community organizations with an $80,000 surplus from the Peterborough Petes championship season.

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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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