Rare opportunity for Petes
Lorentz, Spencer experienced the ups and downs of playoffs in historical Petes comeback in 2014
Steve Lorentz and Matt Spencer have been through ups and downs with the Peterborough Petes and they’re not taking this playoff run for granted.
The fourth-year players enter their first OHL Eastern Conference final with the Petes, the team’s first in 11 years, when they host the MIssissauga st Steelheads in Game 1 at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at the Memorial Centre.
“One thing I’ve tried to stress this year to the younger guys,” Spencer said, “is that this very well may be your one chance in junior hockey to go as far as we have and, hopefully, beyond that. There are so many factors in junior hockey and you’re only there for a few years and the right team isn’t always easy to come by.”
They were part of an historic comeback from a 3-0 deficit against the Kingston Frontenacs as rookies in 2014. They exited the next round to the Oshawa Generals but it built big expectations for the following season. Rather than contending for the top of the league as expected, they barely made the playoffs and were swept again by Oshawa. Last year was their best regular season in a decade and it was another first-round exit.
So they understand how difficult it is to get here.
“Being my last year and having gone through this with Matt Spencer,” Lorentz said, “both of us look back on that first season against Kingston and how all of us stuck together. We think if this is our last year, we might as well go for it and see where it takes us.”
“The hockey we are playing right now is the best of our junior careers,” Spencer said. “We’re putting everything we have into this.”
Spencer said he’s seen changes for the better the past couple of years that has contributed to the success. He cites the additions of Jake Grimes and Kurtis Foster to the coaching staff as examples but there is one major shift he points to.
“It seems like everyone wants to be in Peterborough and to play for a city that wants us to win. Maybe that hasn’t been the feeling of some people the past couple of years. It seems like there has been an attitude shift,” Spencer said.
Lorentz says a lot of it has to do with the types of people who have been brought into the organization the past couple of years.
“We have some good young talent and some great leadership on our hockey club,” Lorentz said. “We have a lot of guys pitching in in their own way. Every person on this team is a piece of the puzzle and when we’re all going together we’re pretty hard to stop.”
“What’s working for us,” Spencer said, “is a strong defensive mentality with a number of veterans returning on defence and young guys being able to step up with big goals. Guys who have been brought in as well who realize this might be the year to do everything we can in order to make it all the way.”
What is going to be key, says Spencer, is how the team deals with adversity as they move forward and things get tougher.
“Although we’ve done pretty well winning eight straight in the playoffs it’s going to get tougher,” he said. “When that bit of adversity first comes around I’m really hoping we can stay tight as a group and continue to play the way we know we’re capable.”
NOTES: Matt Timms started skating on his own Monday, a step forward in his recovery from a shoulder injury. Petes coach Jody Hull said it’s “possible” Timms could return in this series but he’ll need to practice first. He’s been out three weeks .... A fan bus is planned for games in Mississauga on Monday and Wednesday. Sign up in the lobby at home games or call Julia Tanner 705-977-0127 .... Petes spokesman Burton Lee said ticket sales are slower than expected with only 2,400 sold for Game 1 and similar for Game 2 as of Wednesday afternoon. He wants fans to know plenty of good seats are available.