It’s now or never for Rollo to crack Petes lineup
Tyler Rollo was an intriguing pick-up by the Peterborough Petes in the Cameron Lizotte trade last season.
The former Barrie Colts draft pick recorded 24 goals and 61 points in 43 games for the OJHL’s Oakville Blades last season and a point-per-game for Canada East at the World Junior A Hockey Challenge. He added 13 points in 12 playoff games for Oakville.
Those numbers impressed the Petes enough to acquire him and dress him for three games late last season. With the graduation of top scorers like Hunter Garlent, Eric Cornel and Greg Betzold, the Petes are looking for players capable of putting up some points. Rollo hopes to prove he can do just that.
Through two training camp scrimmages Rollo has two assists and has exhibited good speed and tenacity on the puck. The Burlington native felt he never got much of a chance in Barrie and is hoping to change that in Peterborough.
“My hopes and expectations are to make the squad,” Rollo said, following Thursday morning’s scrimmage. “That’s the big thing. Not making Barrie the past two years drives me to want this even more. It’s now or never.”
Rollo, 19, a five-foot-10, 155-pound left wing, was acquired in January and felt an obligation to Oakville to finish a commitment he made to play there last season.
“My manager in Oakville wanted me to stay and to contribute towards the playoffs. We were trying to make a run for it,” he said. “Obviously, I wanted to come here rather than play down there.”
He welcomed the trade believing he didn’t factor in Barrie’s plans.
“It was a relief coming here to a great organization. I knew a few guys on the team already so it was good to see them here and I’ve heard a lot of good things,” Rollo said.
He believes his performance at the World Junior A Challenge helped him open some eyes.
“That was probably the gamechanger right there. Going up to that level,” he said.
Rollo got enough of a taste in three OHL games last year to know this is where he wants to be.
“I know they’ve lost a lot of talented guys who put up a lot of numbers. I really worked this summer on my skill more than anything and we’ll see if it works out,” he said.
Petes head coach Jody Hull said Rollo has some intriguing versatility.
“He’s a guy who can play every situation whether it’s five-onfive, power play, penalty kill,” Hull said. “He’s a guy who can be effective in your top six and he’s also a guy who can be effective in your bottom six. He’s pretty versatile.”
The question will be how much of the offence he showed in junior A can he translate to the OHL.
“With the few games he played for us he got a bit of a taste and I don’t think he looked out of place,” Hull said. “You look at a guy like Logan DeNoble who had pretty good numbers the year before in Lindsay who came in last year and was able to put up 20 goals. The opportunity is there it’s just a matter of taking advantage of it.”
So far, he’s satisfied with what he’s seen from Rollo.
“He competes hard and is always hungry on loose pucks. He’s shown smarts for the game knowing where pucks are going to go next and knowing where he is positionally on the ice. Those are all things you look at.
“You can tell he’s a bit of a seasoned player already.”
Petes camp continues Friday with the Maroon and White final scrimmage at 6 p.m. at the Memorial Centre.
NOTE: Petes made some training camp cuts Thursday -- see Petes Pieces on Page D2.