Better late than never

This past Monday marked one of the NHL’s busiest days that have fans constantly refreshing their social media searching for breaking news, the NHL Trade Deadline. Like most trade deadlines, hockey fans saw many veteran players shift around to new teams, a trend that has been beneficial for the Petes around January 10 for the OHL.

Below is a list of former Petes, who were acquired at the OHL Trade Deadline or joined the maroon and white late in their junior career, but packed a punch nonetheless.

Cory Stillman 

• The Peterborough native was traded to the Petes ahead of the 1992-93 OHL season after playing two seasons with the Windsor Spitfires. The centreman played on a line with Ryan Black and Dale McTavish and was described as being the missing puzzle piece that completed the ‘93 roster and saw the group clinch an OHL Cup and trip to the Memorial Cup. 

Akil Thomas 

• The most notable acquisition at the OHL deadline in recent Petes’ history is that of Akil Thomas during the 2019-20 season. The centreman came to the Petes fresh from his Golden Goal at the 2020 World Junior Championships and collected 40 points across 22 games. Although the 2019-20 OHL season would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thomas made his mark on the Patch and was celebrated by Petes fans. 

Brandon Prophet

• Following a pair of seasons with the Saginaw Spirit, and another two with the Barrie Colts, Prophet finished off his OHL career at the Memorial Centre after the 2016 OHL trade deadline. The Brockville-born defenceman became the 58th Petes captain and is recognized as being one of the best leaders in maroon and white history.

Mark Cupolo

• Cupolo finished his OHL career with the Petes after being traded to Lift Lock City from the Guelph Platers. The left winger put up 8 points across 17 regular season games with the Petes, and helped the 1985 crew take home the Hamilton Spectator Trophy for finishing first overall in the OHL, and ended up in the finals of the J. Ross Robertson Cup. 

Jacob Paquette & Hudson Wilson

• Paquette was acquired by the Petes on September 12, 2019 from the Niagara IceDogs as an OA. The 1999-born blue liner, was selected in 2nd round, 31st overall by the Kingston Frontenacs in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, where he would play for 3.5 seasons. Across 59 regular season games with the Petes, Paquette maintained a +/- of 25. Wilson also came to the Petes as an overage player from the Ottawa 67’s in the fall of the 2019-2020 season and also put up an impressive +/- record of 23 throughout 48 games. The two provided a veteran presence to an incredibly skilled roster of Petes.

Steve Montador

• Montador split his time between the North Bay Centennials and Erie Otters from 1996-99 before joining the Petes in his last OHL season. The 6’0” defenceman finished his final year of junior hockey with a +/- of 24 in the regular season, and put up 56 points across 64 regular season games. Additionally, Montador is attributed to being an excellent leader on the ice and in the Peterborough community. 

Dani Nikandrov

• Nikandrov was acquired by the Petes on November 15, 2015 from the Sarnia Sting. The Markham centreman picked up 20 points in 49 regular season games for the Petes and was celebrated for being a devoted leader on and off the ice while finishing his OHL career in Peterborough

 Todd Walker & Briane Thompson 

• This duo was brought on by the Petes in their OA season in 1994-95. Previous to the maroon and white, Walker played for the Cornwall/New Market Royals across three seasons from 1991-94, and Thompson held the blueline for the Soo Greyhounds for the same amount of time. Although the 1995 Petes did not see a championship, Walker and Thompson each put up nearly a point per game across the regular season and have been attributed with shaping and mentoring the core of the ‘96 roster that would go on to be finalists at the Memorial Cup. 

 

Nikita Korostelev 

• Just days ahead of the 2016 OHL trade deadline, the Petes acquired Nikita Korostelev from the Sarnia Sting. In his first 24 games donning maroon and white Koro recorded 29 points. The Russian forward returned to Peterborough for his final season as an OA in 2017 and put up 75 points in 64.

Rick Morton

• Born and raised in Peterborough, Morton came to the Petes at the OHL trade deadline in 1994. He played 14 regular season games, and 7 games in the playoffs donning maroon. He was recognized for anchoring the d-core in his final OHL games alongside free-agent, Mark Vilneff. 

Brian Hayton & Rob Wilson 

• Hayton finished his OHL career in his hometown of Peterborough. As a defenceman, Hayton tallied 36 points in 43 regular season games in the 1988-89 OHL season. Wilson played his overage year manning the blueline for the Petes after three seasons with the Sudbury Wolves, and tallied 146 penalty minutes. These two Petes alumni are recognized as being steadfast leaders on the highly talented 1989 team that saw an OHL Cup and trip to the national championship. 

Whether it be one shift or four seasons skating for the Petes, each player has contributed to building the legacy on and off the ice for the maroon and white.