Avon the Hometown Hero as Petes Advance to OHL Final
After a thrilling overtime win at the PMC just 24 hours before to force a game seven, the Petes traveled to North Bay to wrap up the Eastern Conference Final series with the North Bay Battalion. The winner of the game would take home the Bobby Orr Trophy as the Eastern Conference Champions. With a win in game seven, the Petes would advance to the OHL Final for the first time since 2006, setting up a rematch with the London Knights.
The first period was a battle from the drop of the puck. With both teams looking to be the first to break the deadlock. Unfortunately for the Petes, it would be the Battalion who would strike first in their home arena. Halfway through the frame, Josh Bloom jumped on a rebound to give the hometown team the lead. The game would stay 1-0 heading into the first intermission, with Peterborough leading 14-8 in shots.
The second period is where the Petes would really come alive. Just a minute into the middle frame, Owen Beck ripped a shot past Dom DiVincentiis to tie the game up at 1-1. That goal really got the Maroon and White going as just five minutes later, they would take the lead. On what looked like a nothing play, Brennan Othmann cut to the boards and fired a shot past DiVincentiis at an impossible angle to extend the Petes lead to 2-1.
DO NOT give 78 that much room pic.twitter.com/LRGZRyUl83
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) May 9, 2023
North Bay wouldn’t go away that easy. At the 12 minute mark, Liam Arnsby tipped a puck past Michael Simpson to tie the game once again. The goal would set up another wild third period, for the second night in a row, the third period would begin tied at 2-2.
In the third period, it would be Peterborough native J.R. Avon who would be the hero for the Petes. Just under six minutes into the final 20, Avon broke away from the D and pulled a beautiful move on the breakaway to give the Petes the lead and set up a nerve racking final 14 minutes for Petes fans.
WHEELS FROM THE KING OF SELWYN 👑 pic.twitter.com/vitgq7kHji
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) May 9, 2023
Shot block after shot block and save after save by Simpson proved too much for the Battalion and the Petes won the game 3-2, winning the Bobby Orr Trophy as Eastern Conference Champions and advancing to the OHL Final for the first time since 2006.
On to the Final pic.twitter.com/AGK1dYZiH2
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) May 9, 2023
Brian Zanetti led the way for the Petes with two assists on the night. Owen Beck, Brennan Othmann, and J.R. Avon all scored, while Konnor Smith, Donovan McCoy, Tucker Robertson and Sam Mayer added an assist. Michael Simpson stopped 22/24 for his 12th win of the playoffs.
Peterborough will take on the London Knights for the J. Ross Robertson Cup in a rematch of the 2006 OHL Final. The Petes swept that series 4-0, winning their ninth OHL Championship.
The Petes are back in action on Thursday, May 11 in London for game one of their OHL Final best of seven series against the London Knights. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Fans can catch the game on OHL Live, TSN, or Freq 90.5.
