GAME PREVIEW: Petes Look for Second Win at Home Against First Place Bulldogs
It was a memorable night on Thursday at the Peterborough Memorial Centre as the Petes hosted the Windsor Spitfires. Not because of the score, as Windsor took the game 6-3, but because of the 1580 donations of Teddy Bears and winter attire that flooded the ice after James Petrovski scored early in the third period. The number beat last year’s total and were all donated to the Pete 99.7 and KX105 Toy Drive, in support of the Salvation Army’s Annual Christmas Appeal.
Tonight, the Petes host the OHL and CHL’s number one team as the Brantford Bulldogs come to the PMC. The Petes will be looking to get back into the win column, after falling in three straight games (two of those against CHL top 10 teams). Peterborough is 1-2 against the Bulldogs this season, falling twice on the road, before beating them 4-3 in overtime at home in November. A win tonight on home ice will be a big statement, as it would be the Petes second win against a CHL Top 10 opponent in five games
Peterborough will still be without import forwards Leon Kolarik (Austria – D1A) and Adam Novotný (Czechia) who are away with their national teams for the World Junior Championships. They will be hoping to have Grayden Strohack back, who missed Thursday’s tilt with illness. Petes rookie forward Gerry DiCunzolo is taking advantage of the Petes recent absences. DiCunzolo is currently on a three game point streak (1G, 2A), the first of his young career.
With yesterday’s news that OHL leading goal scorer Marek Vanacker was added to Canada World Junior Camp, the Bulldogs come into today’s game missing a total of seven players to international duty. Adam Benak, Adam Jiricek, and Vladimir Dravecky join Adam Novotný at Czechia camp, while OHL leading point scorer Jake O’Brien, newly acquired Jett Luchanko, Ben Danford, and Vanacker are all at Canada camp. The Bulldogs will lean heavily on NHL draft eligible forward Caleb Malhotra (39P) and Cooper Dennis (34P) to lead their shorthanded squad into Peterborough.
Limited tickets for tonight’s game are still available by clicking here, calling (705) 743-3561, or by visiting the Grant Thornton Box Office during business hours. The game will also be broadcast live on YourTV Peterborough, Freq 90.5., and Flo Hockey.
