U16 AAA Petes move on
The Peterborough Fitzsimmons Garage U16 AAA Petes have clinched a berth in the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament quarterfinals after a 5-4 overtime win over Ottawa Myers Automotive on Tuesday afternoon at Toronto’s Scotiabank Pond.
Matt Souter capped a hat trick with the winner 2:53 into overtime to improve Peterborough’s record to 3-0 after two days at the 20-team tournament. The Petes have clinched first place in their pool with one game remaining.
The top two teams in each of the four pools advance to quarterfinals on Thursday.
Colin Fitzgerald scored with 1:13 left in the third period to force overtime and then set up the winning goal. His tying goal came on a power play 1:31 after Ottawa had taken a 4-3 lead.
After a scoreless first period, the teams exchanged three second-period goals, with Souter tallying twice and Ryland Cunningham once. Caleb Mitchell had two assists for the Petes. Nolan Butter, Kale Mace, Nick Voisey and Declan Ready had one each. Ottawa outshot the Petes 25-19 with Lewis Chatten earning the win in goal.
The Petes kicked off action on Monday with a pair of wins.
They knocked off the Toronto Marlies, 3-1, in their opening game. After Toronto opened the scoring in the first period, the Petes scored three unanswered markers in the second frame. Mace and Ready had a goal and an assist apiece and Cunningham also scored. Graydon Walst, Jacob McMahon, Evan Healey and Fitzgerald added assists. Toronto outshot the Petes 20-19, with Chatten getting the win.
Peterborough then defeated the Niagara North Stars, 4-2.
Fitzgerald had a goal and an assist, while Butter scored the winner on a power play, making it 3-0 early in the second period. Cunningham added an insurance goal after Niagara cut the lead to 3-2. Healey also scored, while Mitchell, Souter, McMahon and Ready chipped in with assists. Peterborough outshot Niagara 22-19 with Morgan Hyndman getting the win in goal.
The Petes will close out pool play Wednesday when they face the London Jr. Knights at 1:30 p.m. Their semifinal opponent and time is to be determined.
The final four teams will play in the semifinals and final at Toronto’s Mattamy Athletic Centre on Saturday.