GAME 1 PREVIEW: Petes Host Battalion in First Playoff Game Since 2023
The Peterborough Petes return to the OHL playoffs tonight for the first time since being crowned OHL Champions in 2023. It’s been a tough couple years of rebuilding, but this Petes team enters the playoffs motivated and ready to go. In fact, this year’s team finished with 10 more points than 2023’s Championship team. An impressive jump after finishing 20th in the OHL just a year prior. Tonight, Peterborough hosts the North Bay Battalion at the PMC, officially bringing playoff hockey back to the Liftlock city.
The Battalion and Petes have both played some great hockey against each other this season. The Battalion took the season series, with a record of 3-0-1-0, but three out of the four games were decided by one goal, with two of them being decided in OT. In fact, the only game not decided by one goal was a 3-1 win for North Bay with an empty net goal on November 27. Tonight will mark the first time that the Petes and Battalion have faced off in the playoffs since the Eastern Conference Finals in 2023. That series turned out to be one of the best playoff series in recent memory. In game six, the Battalion led with under 10 minutes left in the third and had a chance to knock Peterborough out. After Sam Mayer tied the game, Avery Hayes saved the Petes season, scoring in OT to send it to game seven. In game seven, J.R. Avon’s breakaway goal in the third period proved to be the series winner as the Petes would go on to beat London in six games to secure the J. Ross Robertson Cup.
Tonight, the Petes will turn to Winnipeg Jets prospect Kieron Walton to get the offence going. Walton finished 8th in league scoring this season (88P) and third in goals, hitting 40 markers for the first time in his OHL career. Walton also has 14 games of playoff experience under his belt and will look to be the difference not only tonight, but in the series. As far as playoff experience goes, both James Petrovski and Matthew Soto will be big assets to this Petes team. Both OAs, brought in via trades in the offseason, have a combined 57 OHL playoff games between them. In net, OHL regular season wins leader and Red Tilson nominee Easton Rye will lead from the crease. Rye tied the Petes single season record for wins this season with 38 and is primed and ready for his postseason debut.
When it comes to the Battalion, they’re led by 2006-born centre and Anaheim Ducks third round pick Ethan Procyszyn. Procyszyn has been a force this season, using his size and experience to not only score 31 goals, but also be a physical presence, making other teams aware when he’s on the ice. Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Kaden Pitre has also been great for North Bay since being acquired from the Flint Firebirds. After a slow start to the season in Flint, Pitre was a point a game player after joining up with North Bay. In the crease, North Bay has multiple options. Jack Lisson has been one of the top goaltenders in the OHL this season, taking the starting job after Mike McIvor went down with an injury earlier this season. McIvor has recently returned from his extended absence and is coming off being named the OHL’s Goaltender of the Week.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here, calling (705) 743-3561, or by visiting the Doane Grant Thornton Box Office during office hours. Fans can also catch the game live on YourTV Peterborough, Freq 90.5, and FloHockey.
