Petes pick Fitzgerald third overall
Six-foot-two centre led U16 Peterborough squad in scoring this season with 39 goals and 25 assists in 35 OMHA regular-season games
Undeterred by his commitment to the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers on Wednesday, the Peterborough Petes selected hometown boy Colin Fitzgerald third overall in Friday night’s Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
Petes general manager and vicepresident of operations Mike Oke said they felt strongly Fitzgerald was the best player available when their pick came up and, like Mason McTavish in 2019, didn’t want to settle for a lesser player. They convinced McTavish to come to Peterborough and hope to convince Fitzgerald they are the best option for his development.
“We felt the best player for our team and where we are at right now is Colin Fitzgerald,” said Oke.
“He ticks off a lot of the boxes we look for. He has good size, good skill, plays centre, skates well, has a very good shot and quick release, is dangerous in the offensive zone and with his size is somebody who can be tough to play against defensively down low in the D-zone,” said Oke.
Oke spoke with Colin and his father, Rob Fitzgerald, who played in the OHL, after they selected him.
“Colin appreciated the fact we had selected him. He will need a bit of time to digest what just happened. We said we certainly know players today have different options and we respect that. At an appropriate time in the next little bit, we’ll sit down with Colin and his family to talk about why we feel the Peterborough Petes are a great option for Colin as a player, as a student and as a person,” said Oke.
The Fitzgeralds didn’t immediately return Examiner messages seeking comment.
Oke said they seemed receptive to
We felt the best player for our team and where we are at right now is Colin Fitzgerald. He ticks off a lot of the boxes we look for.
MIKE OKE PETERBOROUGH PETES GENERAL MANAGER
meeting with the team. He’s confident the club’s recent track record of a 2023 OHL championship and the roster of young players they are assembling will be attractive.
“We have a great program here. We have a great coaching staff led by Rob Wilson and all the coaches. We have a great support staff of people who are available to the players. We have a great routine. I think when you look at what we’ve been able to do in regards to player development, not only on the ice but off the ice, we’ve helped a number of players achieve their goals,” Oke said.
The six-foot-two, 178-pound right-handed centreman was tied for the scoring lead at the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament, finishing with 13 points — eight goals and five assists in six games — to lead the Peterborough Fitzsimmons Garage U16 AAA Petes to the semifinals.
The selection came after the Windsor Spitfires took Oakville Rangers winger Ethan Belchetz first overall and the Sarnia Sting chose Vaughan Kings centre Alessandro Di Iorio at No. 2.
Fitzgerald led the Petes in scoring this season with 39 goals and 25 assists in 35 OMHA regular-season games. His stock rose as much as any player in the second half of the season.
Only two Peterborough minor hockey grads have been selected higher in the OHL draft than Fitzgerald — Steve Larmer in 1978 and Steve Peters in 1977, both of whom were picked second overall by the Niagara Falls Flyers.
With their second pick at 32nd overall, the Petes selected Blake Gowan, the Barrie Jr. Colts’ sixfoot, 177-pound, left-shot defenceman.
A Kingston native, Gowan had five goals and 33 assists with 75 penalty minutes in 48 regular-season and playoff games.
“Blake is really tough to play against and uses both his size and strength. At times, he can play with a bit of a mean streak. He’s a typical, big, strong, solid defenceman who can effectively move the puck up the ice and get it into the offensive end and let the offensive players take care of business,” said Oke.