"Peterborough Has Become My Home" Peterborough Petes Captain Reflects On Four-Year Tenure With Team

As Petes captain Jonathan Melee bids farewell to his team and the city after four years, he reflects on how Peterborough became his home and winning an OHL Championship.

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. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Melee played his final game as a Pete against the Oshawa Generals on Sunday. He committed to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., to play for the Pioneers for the 2025-26 season. Melee says he will bring the leadership and championship mentality he learned in Peterborough to Sacred Heart.

“(It’s) The way I’ll come to the rink every day ready to work, being a friendly guy in the locker room, (being) a leader and just bringing a championship mentality to the dressing room,” he explained.

The Hamilton Bulldogs (now Brantford Bulldogs) originally selected Melee in the second round, 21st overall, of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. He played in 26 games for the Bulldogs before being acquired by the Petes in January of 2022 in a trade involving Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish.

Melee was part of the OHL Championship-winning Petes during the 2022-23 season, where he had nine goals and 18 assists in 58 games. He also tacked on five goals in 13 playoff games during that championship run.

“The guys welcomed me in right away,” said Melee. “That group was special. That championship team, I'll never forget every face in that dressing room, I'll always have that bond and memories to share and reconnect with.”

On Jan. 10 last year, Melee was named the team’s 63rd captain in franchise history. This came after the team had traded away former captain Donovan McCoy to the Sudbury Wolves prior to the trade deadline.

Along with the OHL Championship, Melee also left Peterborough with some extra hardware as the Petes held their annual year-end banquet and awards ceremony at the Venue on Tuesday.

Melee took home three awards, including the Ed Rowe Memorial Award (most goals), the Bill Bennett/CKPT Memorial Award (leading scorer) and the coveted Petes Executive Trophy (most valuable player voted by teammates).

Petes captain Johnathan melee (left) after being presented the Petes Executive Trophy (most valuable player voted by teammates) by George Gillespie, Petes Board of Directors Treasuer. melee was a recipient of the Ed Rowe Memorial Award (most goals) and Bill Bennett/CKPT Memorial Award (leading scorer). pHOTO BY dAVID tUAN bUI.

Last season, he won the Outboard Marine Veterans Award (sportsmanship and ability). During the 2022-23 season, he won the Norm Bryan Award (most improved player).

Melee finishes his Ontario Hockey League tenure with the Petes, scoring 48 goals and 72 assists for 120 points in four seasons. The Rockland native says he will miss Peterborough which he considers his home away from home.

“Peterborough has become my home and I don't even have the words to say how much I love it in Peterborough and how thankful I am I ended up here,” he explained. “I have nothing but thanks for the city, thanks for everybody in the organizations, everyone that's been involved in the past four years. It's a place I call home, a place I'm comfortable (with) and I'm going to miss seeing all these faces every day.”

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Peterborough Petes Awarded First Overall Pick In 2025 OHL Priority Selection

Fortune favoured the Peterborough Petes as they were granted the first overall pick in the 2025 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection during a livestream on Wednesday night.

Barclay Branch, OHL vice president of hockey operations, reveals the Petes winning the first-overall pick over three teams. Screenshot.

The Petes were granted the highest percentage of landing the number one overall pick at 40 per cent due to their record of 18-41-9, resulting in 20th and last place in the league.

The Guelph Storm (19th place), Sarnia Sting (18th place) and Ottawa 67’s (17th place) were in contention to get the first overall pick with 30, 20 and 10 per cent odds, respectively.

Despite being the longest continuously-running OHL franchise (since 1956), this is the first time that the Petes have owned the first overall pick. The Petes won the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 2023 but have been rebuilding since the championship win. Peterborough has won 10 OHL Championships, the second-most in OHL history behind their rival Oshawa Generals with 13.

During the 2023-24 season, they finished 17th in the league with a 20-40-8 record for 48 points. They drafted third overall, taking standout forward Colin Fitzgerald, who was also given the Black’s Family Trophy (rookie of the year) during the team’s annual awards ceremony on Tuesday night.

The following is the first-round draft order for the 2025 OHL Priority Selection:

1. Peterborough Petes

2. Guelph Storm

3. Ottawa 67’s

4. Sarnia Sting

5. Owen Sound Attack

6. North Bay Battalion

7. Soo Greyhounds

8. Flint Firebirds

9. Kingston Frontenacs*

10. Niagara IceDogs

11. Sudbury Wolves

12. Erie Otters

13. Saginaw Spirit

14. Brampton Steelheads

15. Brampton Steelheads*

16. Oshawa Generals

17. Kingston Frontenacs

18. Barrie Colts

19. Soo Greyhounds*

20. Brantford Bulldogs

21. Windsor Spitfires

22. Kitchener Rangers

23. London Knights

*- indicates compensatory pick

The OHL Priority Selection is held on April 11 to 12. The first three rounds are drafted on day one, starting at 7 p.m. Rounds 4 to 15 start on day two at 9 a.m.

The Priority Selection will be produced by YourTV and streamed for free on OHL Live and across the league’s YouTube, X and Facebook accounts.

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Peterborough Petes Head to Offseason After Commemorating Staff and Players At Annual Year-End Ceremony

As the 2024-25 regular season ended for the Peterborough Petes, the organization held its annual year-end awards ceremony at The Venue on Tuesday.

Petes captain Johnathan melee (left) after being presented the Petes Executive Trophy (most valuable player voted by teammates) by George Gillespie, Petes Board of Directors Treasuer. melee was a recipient of the Ed Rowe Memorial Award (most goals) and Bill Bennett/CKPT Memorial Award (leading scorer). pHOTO BY dAVID tUAN bUI.

Rob Wilson, head coach; Dave Lorentz, team president; and captain Johnathan Melee made speeches. They recognized teammates, staff and several others for supporting the organization throughout the season.

After the speeches, the following awards were presented:

• Mark Teevens Memorial Award (most assists) – Braydon McCallum (22 assists)

• Ed Redmond Memorial Trophy (scholastics and hockey) – Carson Cameron

• Outboard Marine Veterans Award (sportsmanship and ability) – Aiden Young

• Black’s Family Trophy (rookie of the year) – Colin Fitzgerald

• Vince and Lottie Garvey Award (off-ice contribution) – Dave Jones

• Molson Cup (most three-star selections voted by media) – Aiden Young

• Donnie Marsh Memorial Trophy (most dedication to team) – Francis Parish

• Ed Rowe Memorial Award (most goals) – Jonathan Melee (21 goals)

• Norm Bryan Award (most improved player) – Brennan Faulkner

• Ushers Trophy (best defenceman) – Carson Cameron

• Bill Bennett/CKPT Memorial Award (leading scorer) – Jonathan Melee (37 points)

• Gary Dalliday Award (community service) – Gavin Bryant

• Petes Executive Trophy (most valuable player voted by teammates) – Jonathan Melee

The Board of Directors and Alumni Association presented gifts to the graduating and overage players:

• Quinton Pagé

• Zach Bowen

• Brennan Faulkner

• Martin Matejicek

• Matthew Jenken

• Brady Stonehouse

• Gavin Bryant

• Jonathan Melee

Oke ended the night with a speech, acknowledging the players, hockey and business staff, billets, parents and fans.

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Peterborough Petes End Season With a Pair of Weekend Losses

In the final two games of the regular season, the Peterborough Petes end it with losses to the Brampton Steelheads and Oshawa Generals on Friday and Sunday respectively.

Photo courtesy of Kalvin Taylor Goodall Media and the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes first visited the CAA Centre to take on the Steelheads but were easily dispatched by a score of 6-1. Peterborough native Porter Martone had the game’s opening goal as his only point. Former Pete Konnor Smith had five points including a hat trick and two assists.

Martin Matejicek scored the lone goal for the Petes with Aiden Young and Brennan Faulkner each picking up an assist.

Peterborough ended their season with a rivalry tilt against the Generals but it was not meant to be for the Petes as Oshawa came out on top, 5-2.

Braydon McCallum had two assists in the game. Petes import defenceman Rio Kaiser scored his first OHL goal. Caden Taylor also scored and Quinton Pagé had an assist. Zach Bowen earned third-star honours stopping 45/49 shots.

After 68 regular-season games, the Petes ended with an 18-41-9 record and 45 points which puts them in last place in the Ontario Hockey League.

The Petes cap off their season with a Year End Awards Banquet on Tuesday.

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Peterborough Petes Fall to Kingston In Final Home Game of the Season

The Peterborough Petes end their last home game of the season with a 6-2 loss to the Kingston Frontenacs at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of Kenenth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

Before the game, the Petes honoured overagers Brady Stonehouse, Gavin Bryant, and captain Jonathan Melee. They were presented with a gift ahead of their last game as a Pete on home ice.

After allowing a goal from Kingston in the first period, the Petes saw them score just over six minutes into the second period, thanks to Maleek McGowan, for a 2-0 game. Peterborough found the scoresheet on a four-on-three powerplay as Melee one-timed a shot from the faceoff dot for a 2-1 score. Just 50 seconds later, the Petes tied things up as Melee tried a cross-ice pass that was deflected. It ended up on the stick of Braydon McCallum who backhanded it in on tight quarters for a 2-2 game. Unfortunately for Peterborough, they allowed two goals with 68 seconds remaining in the period and found themselves down 4-2 at the end of two stanzas.

Peterborough could only muster seven shots in the third period and failed to find the back of the net on any of them as Kingston tacked on two more goals for a final score of 6-2.

The Petes have two more road games to close their regular season but have already been eliminated from playoff contention. They will take on the Brampton Steelheads at the CAA Centre on Friday night. The team travels to the nation’s capital to play their last game of the season against the Oshawa Generals on Sunday night.

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Peterborough Petes Call Up Two Players Ahead of the Team's Final Regular Season Home Game

The Peterborough Petes have called up forward Joseph Cadorin from the Pickering Panthers of the OJHL and defenceman Marcus Sulug from the Burlington Eagles U18s ahead of the team’s final home game.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Both players are expected to be in the lineup against the Kingston Frontenacs on Thursday night.

Cadorin, a native of Kleinburg, Ont. was initially selected by the Petes in the fourth round, 76th overall, in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. This season, he played one game for the Petes, before playing in 39 games for the Pickering Panthers of the OJHL where he scored 16 goals and added 21 assists for 37 points. He also featured in five playoff games for the Panthers, picking up four points. Last season, Cadorin played 52 games for the Petes, scoring once and adding an assist. He will wear number 24 for Peterborough.

“Joe has had a good year with Pickering in the OJHL,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “His coaches spoke very highly of him and his development throughout the season.”

Sulug, a defenceman from Stoney Creek, Ont. was drafted by the Petes in the 10th round, 185th overall, in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection out of the Niagara North Stars program. In 2023-24, he played for the North Stars U16 team, picking up five assists in 33 games and another two in eight playoff games. This season, Sulug featured in 21 games for the Burlington Eagles U18s, picking up six assists. He also made his GOJHL debut this season, playing in one game for the St. Catharines Falcons. Sulug will wear number two for the Petes.

“Marcus has made a positive impression with the Burlington U18s this season,”said Oke. “He is expected to be in the lineup tonight and will get his first opportunity to play in the OHL.”

The Petes play their final home game this Thursday as they host the Frontenacs at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Peterborough Petes Nab One Point In Pair of Weekend Games

The Peterborough Petes took losses in both of their games on Friday and Saturday but managed to get one point in their matchups the the Kingston Frontenacs and Sudbury Wolves.

Photo courtesy of KEnneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

The Peterborough Petes travelled to Kingston for the final time this season to take on the Frontenacs at the Slush Puppie Place on Friday. The Frontenacs pulled away late in the second period, winning the game by a score of 8-2.

Brennan Faulkner had two assists in the game for Peterborough. Captain Jonathan Melee scored his 21st goal of the season, while Adam Levac also scored. Petes prospect Raiden Doxtator made his OHL debut in the game, wearing number 24.

The Petes hosted the Sudbury Wolves at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in front of their 20th sell-out of the season for their St. Patrick’s Day game on Saturday. The Wolves won the game in overtime by a score of 2-1.

Petes goaltender Zach Bowen stopped 39/41 in the loss. Francis Parish scored, while Gavin Bryant picked up an assist.

The Petes play their final home game this Thursday as they host the Frontenacs at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Peterborough Petes Call Up Forward Ahead of Friday's Game Against the Kingston Frontenacs

The Peterborough Petes has called up forward Raiden Doxtator ahead of Friday night’s game in Kingston, announced on Friday morning.

Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes drafted the 2008 London-born forward in the seventh round, 125th overall, in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. He was selected from the London Jr. Knights program. He scored 10 goals and added 27 assists for 37 points in 30 games for their U16 team in 2023-24. This season, Doxtator played 56 games for BioSteel Sports Academy 16U, scoring 36 goals and adding 45 assists for 81 points. He also played in five games for BioSteel Sports Academy’s 18U team, scoring four goals and adding four assists for eight points. 

“Raiden was noticeable in training camp as a 16-year-old and has had a productive season at BioSteel Sports Academy,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “We’ve had a chance to watch his progress over the year and he has made a positive impression.”

Doxtator is expected to make his OHL debut, wearing number 25 for Friday’s game against the Frontenacs.

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Peterborough Petes Allow Four-Goal Flurry From Brampton Steelheads In Second Period For 6-3 Loss

The Peterborough Petes could not catch up to the Brampton Steelheads after allowing four goals in the second period to fall 6-3 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Wednesday night.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

The scoring started from a Peterborough native but not from the Petes. Steelheads Porter Martone got the puck out in front on a wide-open net and buried it home for a 1-0 lead as the period’s only score.

Brampton scored the following two goals just 6:06 into the period for a 3-0 lead. Peterborough finally got on the board as they had an odd-man rush. Francis Parish took the shot but was saved by the pad. Gavin Bryant pounced on the rebound and scored the Petes’s first goal. Unfortunately for Peterborough, a pair of Aidan Lane goals hit the board and the Petes found themselves in a 5-1 deficit after two periods.

Parish got his second point of the night as he was the only Pete on the rush and snapped it at the high slot to make it 5-3. Brampton scored just six minutes later to restore their four-goal lead. Quinton Pagé squeezed out one more goal for Peterborough in the final two minutes in regulation but it was too little, too late and the Petes fell 6-3 to the Steelheads.

The Petes travel to Kingston to take on the Frontenacs this Friday at 7 p.m. at Slush Puppie Place.

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Peterborough Petes Call Up Defenseman Ahead of Wednesday's Game Against the Brampton Steelheads

The Peterborough Petes has called up defenceman Luis Sturgeon for Wednesday’s game against the Brampton Steelheads.

Photo courtesy of Emily Simonetta and the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes originally drafted the London native in the 11th round, 205th overall, of the 2024 OHL Draft. He was selected out of the Lambton Jr. Sting program, where he put up 11 points in 30 games for their U16 team in 2023-24. This season, Sturgeon played in 26 games for the Peterborough Petes U18s, scoring three goals and adding 13 assists for 16 points. He also picked up an assist in 10 playoff games for the U18 Petes.

“Luis is a big, strong defenceman who had a solid season with the U18 Petes,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “We were able to track his development a lot this season as he was able to work out and practice with the OHL team regularly. This is another good example of how our relationship with the U18 Petes provides players with a development model and pathway to the OHL.”

Luis joins a long list of U18 Petes who received the opportunity to play in the OHL for Peterborough. This list includes Michael Simpson, Quinton Pagé, Brody Partridge, Easton Rye, Masen Johnston, Thanasi Marentette, Sam McCue, Dylan Woulds, Josh Kavanagh and Cole Patey. Sturgeon will wear number 20 for the Petes. 

Puck Drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The Petes will be wearing their Real Canadian Superstore contest-winning jersey design.

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