Petes trade overager Timms to the Knights
Move catches defenceman by surprise, but former alternate captain says Peterborough was a great place to play in
Matt Timms wasn’t going to fit into the Peterborough Petes’ overage picture so they traded him to the London Knights on Monday.
The Petes are now down to four overage players to fill three spots.
The Petes kicked off their 201819 training camp Monday with fitness testing at Thomas. A. Stewart Secondary School. They announced the trade as players gathered for medicals. Timms was not present.
The Petes moved Timms, who is entering his fifth OHL season, in exchange for a 2019 thirdround draft pick originally belonging to the Owen Sound Attack and London’s 2022 fourthround pick.
Petes coach Rob Wilson informed GM Mike Oke he didn’t see Timms as a fit for his program. Wilson was hired as head coach in May.
“Matt never requested a trade,” Oke said. “This was not Matt’s desire. Matt was fully prepared to come back.
“Rob wants to set a standard and for everyone here to understand what that expectation is. The returning players who have already had the opportunity to meet with Rob, and for those players who are here for the very first time, it will be very clear what his expectations are for each and every player.”
“Mike and I talked,” Wilson said, “and I told him what I want the feeling to be at the start of camp and where I wanted us to be going forward. With five overage players and teams very interested in Matt, to be fair to Matt it was a fit that worked for everybody.”
“We thank Matt for his contributions in Peterborough and wish him all the best in hockey and beyond,” Oke said.
Timms said he was on his way to Peterborough when he found out.
“It was somewhat unexpected,” Timms said.
“It’s hard to be upset going to a team like London. It’s tough I didn’t really get a chance to say goodbye to any of the guys.”
Timms said a fresh start could be good for his career.
“It might be better for Peterborough to move on,” he said.
“I’m excited to get going here in London. It’s a pretty storied franchise. It seems like everyone who goes there finds success.”
Timms said he enjoyed his time with the Petes through the ups and downs.
“Some people may view Peterborough as maybe not the most fun place to play but I can tell you they’re wrong,” Timms said.
“It’s a great place to play. It was nothing but good to me. It’s going to be tough going back.”
Two years ago, Timms led the Petes in scoring with 63 points in 68 games and was a finalist for the OHL’s top defenceman award.
Last season, Timms struggled and had the league’s worst plusminus rating, of -28, when his season was ended prematurely by a shoulder injury. It was a similar injury to one that cut his 2016-17 playoffs short.
The five-foot-nine, 178-pound Waterdown native was the Petes’ second-round draft pick in 2014. He had 33 points in 46 games last season. He scored 18 goals, 108 assists and 126 points in 231 games with the Petes.
This leaves forwards Bobby Dow, Chris Paquette, Adam Timleck and defenceman Austin Osmanski vying for three overage spots. Goalie Dylan Wells is also eligible to return but is expected to turn pro in the Edmonton Oilers organization and is not at Petes camp.
The Petes hit the Memorial Centre ice for scrimmages Tuesday starting at 9:30 a.m. with another session at 5:30 p.m. They are on the ice again Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. followed by their annual Maroon and White Game at 7:05 p.m.
NOTE: See Page C2 for more on the Petes training camp.