Local Pedorthist Publishes New Book Highlighting Peterborough Petes 67-Year History With 101 Short Stories

Local pedorthist Nick Caravaggio Jr. recalls the Peterborough Petes 67-year history in a new book he published called ‘Petes 101: The Unofficial History of the Peterborough Petes.’

Nick Caravaggio Jr. is a Canadian Certified Pedorthist at the Caravaggio Orthotic Clinic. He took over the business from his late father, Nick Caravaggio Sr., a founding member of orthotic therapy in Canada. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The 300-page book contains 101 short chapters throughout the team’s 67-year tenure including the recent 2022-23 OHL Championship title.

“I've always wanted to write a book. It's been on my bucket list for a long time and I've just been a big sports fan my entire life,” explained Caravaggio. “There's a lot of books out there about the Canadiens, the Leafs and whatnot that are similar to this book and I thought it would be cool to try for the Petes.”

The book pays homage to his late father and Petes fan, Nick Caravaggio Sr. Before the father’s passing, Caravaggio Sr. was able to read most of the book. He took Caravaggio Jr. — when he was six at the time— to his first Petes game on Nov. 3, 1990. To commemorate the occasion, Caravaggio Sr. bought his son a puck that bears the book's cover.

The late father ran the Caravaggio Orthotic Clinic and could not spend much time with his son. The Petes game became the foundation for the close bond between both Nicks and they made a concerted to attend games more frequently to spend more time together.

“He's the main reason why we have such a good relationship with the Petes because he took me to my first game,” explained Caravaggio Jr. “We had such a good connection and it just strengthened our whole bond. I have to thank the Petes because they're the reason why my dad and I had such a good relationship.”

The book contains interviews with Petes’ players, coaches, staff and more throughout the team’s 67-year span. Interviews for the book included Don Barrie, Pat Casey, Scotty Bowman, Terry Doyle and several others.

He credits former Petes general manager Jeff Twohey with getting him closer to the world of junior hockey than he ever imagined according to the book. He also mentions local author, journalist, and former editor Ed Arnold for being his mentor and helping him write the book. Caravaggio Jr. only had a few people to talk to for the book but the aforementioned helped establish more connections for interviews.

“It just kind of snowballed,” explained Caravaggio Jr. “This whole community, they're so tight. They're such nice people and very welcoming to me. I'm not a hockey guy, I never played at a high level so they're very welcoming to accept me and actually talk to me.”

The book is available on Amazon, the Petes store (at the Peterborough Memorial Centre) and Caravaggio Orthotic Clinic for $25. Caravaggio Jr. is signing book copies before the Petes game at the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame and Museum at 6 p.m. this Thursday.

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Peterborough Petes Struggle to Find the Back of the Net in 2-1 Loss to Ottawa 67's

The Petes did not end the weekend as they wanted by taking a 2-1 loss despite 40 shots on net to the Ottawa 67’s at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Sunday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Ottawa opened the scoring halfway through the first as Caden Kelly entered the zone on a rush. Peterborough had four men back but the 67’s sniped it through Petes goaltender Zach Bowen for a 1-0 lead. The Petes led 17-12 in shots for the period.

Peterborough found the scoreboard just after 11 into the second period as they had a three-on-one opportunity. The Petes cycled the puck perfectly and Quinton Pagé got to cap off the goal to tie things up at 1. Ottawa restored their lead just five minutes later as they had an outnumbered attack in the Petes defensive zone. Cooper Foster was able to beat Bowen via five-hole for the 2-1 lead. Ottawa had 10 shots to Peterborough’s 8 in that stanza.

The final frame saw the Petes pepper 67’s goalie Max Donoso with 15 shots to Ottawa’s six but could not get one past the goal line and the 67’s hung on for a 2-1 win.

The Petes will try to get back in the winning column this Thursday as they host the Kingston Frontenacs for their annual Christmas Game. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Over 1,800 Donations at Annual Teddy Bear Toss; Petes Lose to Bulldogs, 4-2

The Petes collected 1,800 donations from their annual Teddy Bear Toss game and fell to the Brantford Bulldogs 4-2 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes got an early power play and Peterborough did not have to wait long to get the teddy bears thrown onto the ice.

Captain Donovon McCoy got a juicy rebound from Chase Lefebvre and sunk it home on a wide-open net for a 1-0 lead just 2:06 into the game. The goal stood as the period’s only score.

The teddy bears collected went towards the Move 99.7 and Pure Country 105 Christmas Toy Drive, in support of the Salvation Army’s Annual Christmas Appeal. 

The Bulldogs got rolling in the second as former Pete Nick Lardis came on the rush on an outnumbered attack. He sniped it past Liam Sztuska and tied it at 1-1. Brantford continued to succeed with long shots as Cedricson Okitundu from outside the faceoff circle also got one past Sztuska late in the period for a 2-1 lead.

Peterborough struck early in the third to tie things up as the team’s newest Pete, Ryder McIntyre, pounced on a rebound and scored on a wide-open net for a 2-2 tie.

With less than two minutes winding down in regulation, Cole Brown scored at the point to give Brantford a late 3-2 lead. They tacked on an empty-netter and left Peterborough with a win.

The Petes will try to snap their losing streak as they head to the nation’s capital to take on the Ottawa 67’s on Saturday.

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Over 100 Special Olympics Athletes All Smiles At Basketball Championship Qualifier

Over 100 smiling athletes were shooting hoops at the Special Olympics Ontario Basketball School Championships Qualifier at St. Peter’s Secondary School on Thursday.

Grade 9 St. Peter Catholic Secondary School student Alden Francis, 14, is one of over 100 students and 30 teams participating in the Special Olympics Basketball Basketball Championship Qualifier. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

There were 30 teams from seven schools (Norwood District High School, TASSS, Crestwood, Adam Scott, Kenner Collegiate, Holy Cross and St. Peter’s Secondary School) were competing to qualify for the School Provincial Championships held on June 10-12 in Chatham-Kent.

This year’s event had more than last year’s which had 75 athletes. The increase in attendance is a positive sign that sports are growing for Special Olympics athletes according to Ernie Ellement, tournament co-organizer.

“It's great to see the community is jumping on board,” he said. “It's a growing, wonderful sport and we're going to keep it going. Everybody's getting baskets, everybody's been getting smiles and that's what it's all about.”

The athletes were cheered on for every basket made by faculty, spectator students, family and cheerleaders.

St. Peter’s grade 9 student Alden Francis loves the feeling he gets when he scores a basket as it’s not just for himself but benefits his teammates.

“I feel happy and I feel good for my team,” said Francis. “I like teamwork, I love the sport and staying active.”

The athletes displayed tons of sportsmanship toward opposing teams by complimenting their play and giving handshakes after each game.

“They're amazing kids. We all get together as educators and we support our kids and schools every day, day in, day out,” explained Ellement. “We want to make sure that they have the best possible experience when they go to high school or when they participate in the community. We want create opportunities for all of our kids with intellectual disabilities to get together and participate in all these sports, support one another and come away with something.”

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Peterborough Petes Aim For $1 Million Goal of Overall Funds Raised For Cancer With 15th Annual Pink In the Rink Campaign

The Peterborough Petes aim to hit a milestone of $1 million raised overall for its 15th annual Pink in the Rink game, announced at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Wednesday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The game is being held on Feb. 3 against the Niagara IceDogs.

The team has raised $954,136 over the past 14 years. The team’s fundraising goal is $50,000 to cross the $1 million mark in Pink in the Rink’s history. 

The proceeds will benefit the Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope program this year. It aids those with cancer to get rides to their treatments from volunteer drivers. For those who need to travel independently, it aids in travel costs for safe and reliable transportation.

“The Peterborough Petes players and coaches are extremely excited to participate in the Pink in the Rink campaign this year as ambassadors and help get closer to the one million dollar fundraising mark,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “Wheels of Hope is a fantastic program and we are very pleased to support this great cause.”

This year, all Petes players and coaches will act as ambassadors for the campaign. Family, friends, and fans can donate on behalf of a particular player or coach by going online and choosing their name from the dropdown menu on the CCS fundraising website. 

“Our Pink in the Rink game is always one of our biggest and most popular games of the year and I think it’s a huge honour and opportunity for the players and the team to be leading the initiative of raising money and awareness for this cause,” said Donovan McCoy, Petes captain.

Official game-worn jerseys will include the names of fans and community members featured in the custom jersey design. Fans can purchase names for just $20 each to be placed on the jersey by contacting the Petes Office at (705) 743-3681 ext. 201, by email or online.

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Peterborough Petes Forward Owen Beck Named to Team Canada Selection Camp for 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship

Peterborough Petes forward Owen Beck has been named to Team Canada’s Selection Camp for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, announced by Hockey Canada on Tuesday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen Photography and the Peterborough Petes.

The second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens was the only player named to camp who was a part of Canada’s 2023 Gold Medal-winning team. He was a late addition to the roster and appeared in three games in the tournament, picking up one assist. The Port Hope forward won an OHL Championship with the Petes after joining the team at the trade deadline last season.

“We’re excited for Owen,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “He played very well for us last season and throughout our Championship run. He’s had a good start to the season this year with the Petes and we’re happy to see that get acknowledged by Hockey Canada.”

Beck was originally selected by the Mississauga Steelheads, 29th overall in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. He has played in 151 OHL games in his three-year career, scoring 60 goals and adding 82 assists for 142 points. In October last year, he was signed by the Montreal Canadiens to a three-year entry-level deal, making his NHL debut for the Canadiens on Jan. 28 against the Ottawa Senators.

The selection camp will take place at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville and will include practices and a pair of games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars on Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. and Dec. 13 at noon.

The Petes welcome the Brantford Bulldogs for Thursday's annual Teddy Bear Toss game. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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Fleming Phoenix Roundup: Dec. 4

The Fleming Phoenix cricket team were close to capturing a championship but lost in the finals to the Centennial Colts on Thursday.

The Fleming Phoenix logo was unveiled for the college on Sept. 8, replacing the Fleming Knight. After a community naming contest, Fleming has revealed the mascot’s name to be ‘Blaze.’ Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

The Fleming Phoenix men’s cricket team participated in the Ontario Collegiate Recreation Extramural Fall Cricket tournament at Conestoga College.

They won three of their four matches to get to the finals but fell to the Centennial Colts. Helin Minesh Patel led the team with 76 runs and Aryan Panwar with six wickets.  

The Colts kept hounding Fleming as they defeated the Phoenix men’s basketball team 123-63 at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre (PSWC) on Friday.

The top scorers for the Phoenix included Miyake Ugbogbo with 26 points and Marcus Parnell and Tristan Paguirigan with seven points each.

The basketball team gets a long break and resumes the season on Jan. 10 when they welcome the Durham Lords at the PSWC. 

Neither of the Phoenix volleyball teams was able to finish the year with a win as they were defeated by the home team Colts on Saturday.

The men’s team lost 3-1. The Phoenix lost the first two sets 25-20 and 26-24, won the third set 25-22 but lost the fourth set 25-22. 

The women’s team lost all three sets to the Colts, 25-20, 25-14, and 25-19. 

The Phoenix volleyball teams are off until Jan. 13, when they welcome the Georgian Grizzlies to the PSWC. 

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Petes Suffer Pair of Weekend Losses to North Bay and Niagara; Peterborough On Three Game Losing Streak

The Peterborough Petes took a pair of losses against the visiting North Bay Batallion and the Niagara IceDogs on the road to fall to a three-game losing streak over the weekend.

Photcourtesy of Kenneth Andersen Photography and the Peterborough Petes.

Newly-acquired Peterborough Pete Ryder McIntyre made his team debut after a trade with the Oshawa Generals for a draft pick on Friday.

The Petes did not have the start they wanted against North Bay on Saturday night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. After the first period, they found themselves in a five-goal deficit, down 6-1.

Peterborough tried to fight back as they overcame a similar situation against the Oshawa Generals on Nov. 19 but could not get lighting to strike twice. They eventually lost the game with a final of 7-3. Samuel Meyer scored two goals while Owen Beck got one for the Petes.

The Petes travelled to St. Catherine’s at the Meridian Centre to take on the Niagara IceDogs on Sunday afternoon.

No scoring was made until Jax Dubois got Peterborough on the board with less than two minutes left in the second period.

The Petes could not hold the IceDogs down in the third as the home team scored just over three minutes in and under five minutes left to defeat Peterborough, 2-1.

The Petes will try to snap their losing streak on Thursday as they welcome the Brantford Bulldogs for their annual Teddy Bear Toss game. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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Peterborough Petes Acquire Ryder McIntyre From Oshawa Generals For a Sixth-Round Pick

The Peterborough Petes have acquired forward Ryder McIntyre from the Oshawa Generals in exchange for Peterborough’s sixth-round pick in the 2027 OHL Priority Selection announced on Friday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Ian Goodall and the Peterborough Petes.

The 6’3” 218 lbs. forward was selected in the third round, 51st overall, by the Sarnia Sting in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. He played 63 games with the Sting before being acquired by the Generals in October last year. The 2004-born Stouffville, ON native appeared in 133 OHL games over his three-year career, scoring 13 times and adding 17 assists for 30 points. He was an Ajax Pickering Raiders product and was named as a part of the Generals leadership group this season, serving as an alternate captain.

“We’re very excited to add Ryder to our lineup,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “Ryder is a veteran forward whose leadership and experience is going to be very beneficial for us. We look forward to having him join up with the team and can’t wait to see him on the ice.”  

The Petes start their weekend back-to-back on Saturday against the North Bay Battalion where McIntyre is making his debut according to Rob Wilson, Petes head coach. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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Peterborough Petes Outgunned By Visiting Flint Firebirds in 4-1 Loss

The Peterborough Petes were outshot all night by the Flint Firebirds resulting in a 4-1 loss to the visiting Flint Firebirds at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

Flint drew first blood quickly 67 seconds in as Liam Sztuska saved a point shot but Coulson Pitre hacked away at the rebound and scored for a 1-0 lead. It was the only goal of the period but the Firebirds outshot the Petes 17-11.

The visitors struck quickly again a minute into the second period. Matthew Jenken took a point shot but was deflected right into Simon Slavicek’s stick for a wide-open net and would not miss for a 2-0 lead. Just under 10 minutes later, Gavin Hayes took a shot and hit the crossbar. Unfortunately for Peterborough, it bounced into Zacharie Giroux’s stick and he struck home for a 3-0 Flint lead.

With just over five minutes left in the frame, Owen Beck did a toe drag around a defender just past the blue line and sniped one in to break the shutout for a 3-1 score. The Petes were outshot 16-9 in the period.

The Petes were able to even the shot count in the third period with 10 apiece but the stanza’s only goal went to Giroux on the power play as an empty netter and the Petes lost 4-1.

Peterborough gets a day rest before playing back-to-back games on the weekend as they’ll host the North Bay Battalion on Saturday and play the Niagara IceDogs on the road on Sunday.

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