Petes hire three new faces for business office
The first junior lacrosse game in Peterborough this year will also be a Pink in the Rink fundraiser for breast cancer.
Peterborough MinCom Kawartha Lakes Jr. C Lakers kick off their 2017 OJCLL season against arch-rival Clarington Shamrox at 8 p.m. Friday at the Evinrude Centre.
The Lakers were challenged by Wilmot to see which team can raise more money for Pink in the Rink prior to their meeting in Wilmot on May 14. The Lakers are holding a silent auction, draws and collecting donations at the door on opening night.
“It’s a friendly competition with Wilmot,” said Lakers head coach Dave Baker. “Even though we believe we’re going to beat them on the scoreboard, we’re not sure about Pink in the Rink. That might be a battle but it will be a lot of fun.”
Silent auction items include a signed Shawn Evans lacrosse stick, power tools, vouchers to sponsor Brickhouse Gourmet Burger and others.
“The winner will get a trophy,” Baker said.
The other trophy the Lakers are gunning for is the Meredith Cup which they won in 2015 but surrendered to Clarington in 2016.
The Lakers were 12-4 last season and Baker is confident they can be even better while he expects Clarington, who were 15-0-1 in the regular season, might not be quite as
Five prospects selected by the Peterborough Petes in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection will suit up in the annual OHL Gold Cup event in Kitchener from Thursday to Sunday.
The OHL Gold Cup is a key component of the revamped Hockey Canada Program of Excellence. With eight teams and 160 players, strong due to graduation of numerous players.
The Lakers have graduated some keypiecesbutalsohavemanyreturning and Baker is excited about some new additions.
“I expect us to have an entertaining game playing offence and putting the ball in the net,” Baker said.
“We’ll move the ball pretty well. I’ve got a little bit of speed. I think once we get the ball other teams are going to be hard pressed to take it away from us. I think we’ll be solid on D, stay in tight and support each other. I think we’re fast on transition and on offence we’ll relax and move the ball and have some fun.”
Returning this season are Matt Currie, Boyd DiClemente (currently battling mono), Matt Smith, Adam Churchill, Travis Ferguson, Trent Larock, Jensen Walker, Michael Robinson, expected to join them when he returns from Culver Academy, Riley Caldwell, Dan Brown, Colin Brown, Cam Crowley, the future of Canadian hockey is on display during the 20 games of the OHL Gold Cup.
The Petes prospects include Cameron Supryka (Team OMHA Black), a third round pick from the Quinte Red Devils; Daniel Panetta (Team OMHA White) a fourth round pick from Quinte; Jagger O’Toole (Team Alliance) a fifth round pick from the Cambridge Hawks; Andrew Horsley (Team Brody McBain and Thomas Crews.
Gone to graduation are Colton Armstrong, Ryley Martinell, Brett Coons, Cam Crowe, Brandon Wilson, Tom Weber, Josh Hiltz and Andrew Brown. Mitch Ogilvie, Matt Tamlin and goalie Drew Hutchison are expected to stick with the junior A Lakers this season. Johnny Lynch is not expected to play as he’s recovering from a battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, said Baker.
Newcomers include offensive players Cal Davis, back playing lacrosse after taking two years off to concentrate on his OHL hockey career, and Kyle Nelson. The biggest losses are on defence so newcomers include Jayd Killingbeck, Riley Hoover, Matt Adamo, Kael Knott, Cam Crowley and Nathan Allan; all big bodies, says Baker.
“I’m going to be big and strong on the back,” Baker said. “I expect growing pains on the back but not too many.”
With Hutchison and Wilson gone.
The Peterborough Carstar U17 girls soccer team had two wins and one loss at the Trent University Showcase on the weekend.
They opened the tournament with a 2-0 loss to the Ontario Youth Soccer League’s Darlington Energy. The Penske defensive player of the game was Amelia Lackie, The Chemong Family Dental player of the game was Violet Hipkin and the Medical Centre Pharmacy player of the game was Jocelyn Van Allen.
Inthesecondgame,Peterborough beat OYSL’s Ottawa West 1-0. The lone goal was scored by Hipkin OMHA Black) a sixth round choice from the Brampton 45’s and Ryan Richardson (Team HEO) a 10th round selection from the Smiths Falls Bears.
Tournament games kick off on Thursday at 9 a.m. as Team GTHL Blue takes on Team HEO. Petes prospects make their first appearance of the tournament later that day when Team OMHA Black take on Team GTHL Red at 11:15 a.m. Crews will start the season as the starting goalie.
“He’s been with me for three years and last year he had the best goalsagainst-average in the league,” Baker said. “Down the stretch and in the playoffs I went with Drew Hutchison because he helped us win the year before but I have a lot of confidence in Thomas.”
Kelly Roberts and Martinell have joined the coaching staff and will work with the defence replacing Larry Downer. Terry Preston returns as an assistant coach and team manager.
They’ll renew their rivalry with Clarington.
“It will be a good gauge,” Baker said. “It’s a great atmosphere when Clarington comes to town or we go down there. We seem to get up for it and they do, too.”
The Lakers also host Gloucester Griffins at 7 p.m. Saturday before visiting Barrie on Sunday. with a shared shutout effort by the Boyal Mechanical defensive players of the game Aleighsha Comeau and Cydney Cantello. The State Farm offensive player of the game was Sydney Zeller and the Brad Comeau Law Office MVP was given to Brook Bolton.
In their third game of the day Peterborough won 3-0 against OYSL’s Toronto Academy Lynx. Scoring all three goals was the Robert Ruth Well Drilling offensive player of the game Emma Twohey. The Chemong Family Dental defensive player of the game was Myah Crough while the Clearing House MVP was Mackenzie Everson. and Team Alliance takes on Team NOHA at 1:30 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
“Watching guys on my team (Team Alliance) as well as guys on other teams and learning from them can only help my development. I plan to use a tournament like this to elevate my game,” O’Toole stated in a Petes press release.
The Peterborough Petes have hired three new staff for its business operations and redefined the roles of two other business staff, the OHL club announced Wednesday.
Peterborough native Greg Sinclair joins the Petes as manager, of sales and marketing.
Matt D’Agostini has a new title of senior co-ordinator of group ticket sales and service expanding on his former role of co-ordinator for marketing and community events. Tamara Burns has a new title of senior co-ordinator of communication and partner activation after formerly serving as coordinator of marketing and game operations.
Peterborough native Steve Nicholls joins the Petes as co-ordinator of season ticket sales and service. Ryan Bird joins the staff as co-ordinator of game operations and community events.
Sinclair will focus on sponsorship sales and service and will use his localsalesandmarketingexperience from the Publican House Brewery and education from Nipissing and Queen’s universities to bring a new level of sponsorship sales and service to the Petes, according to a Petes press release.
Burns, along with her new role in communications, will assist Sinclair in partner service and retention. She will be the primary point of contact for all media.
Nicholls, who has experience with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment in ticket sales and service, will oversee all season ticket, flex pack and special package sales and service. He will communicate with all ticket package holders on a regular basis.
He joins D’Agostini in the ticket sales department. D’Agostini’s new role as senior co-ordinator of group ticket sales and service will allow him to focus on filling the Peterborough Memorial Centre with minor sports teams, organizations, parties and corporate groups looking for an exciting night out. He will serve as primary point of contact for parties interested in the Leon’s Birthday Box and Skybox.
Bird, a Brampton native and recent graduate of the University of Waterloo’s recreation and sports business program, joins the Petes as co-ordinator of game operations and community events. He will oversee all elements of ingame entertainment and will be the primary point of contact for Petes community initiatives.
Rounding out the business operations department are three staff who will continue in their existing roles. Don Sharp is the director of merchandise, Cathie Webster is office administrator and Burton Lee is executive director of business operations. Petes GM Mike Oke continues to oversee the business operations department. p.m., SPSS vs. CDHS (Donegan Park Cobourg) p.m., NDHS vs. FFSS (Wilson Field Lindsay) p.m., CDHS @ SMSS (Donegan Park) p.m., Junior Varsity Games @ Trent University
p.m., OLA Jr. C Lacrosse, Clarington Shamrox vs. Peterborough MinCom Kawartha Lakes Realty Lakers, Evinrude Centre a.m., SPSS @ TASSS (sr/jr) p.m., HCSS vs. CSS (sr/jr) @ TASSS p.m., CCI @ ASCVI (sr/jr), TASSS @ LCVI (sr/jr); IEW @ FFSS (sr/jr)