Lefebvre Scores, Adds Assist as Petes Fall to Frontenacs in Home Opener
It was Home Opener night presented by Oldies 96.7 on Thursday, September 26 as the Peterborough Petes hosted the Kingston Frontenacs at the PMC. The Maroon and White would be looking to open up the campaign with a win over the Frontenacs for the second straight season, after a come from behind victory as they raised their 2023 OHL Championship banner last season.
Peterborough native and 2024 third overall pick Colin Fitzgerald led the way for a young group of five rookies who all made their Petes debut. Francis Parish, Genc Ula, Blake Gowan, and Adam Levac all joined the Peterborough native in suiting up for their first OHL game on the night. A veteran Kingston squad, led by OA Cedrick Guindon, came into the PMC looking for a victory to start the year. Acquired in the offseason, Guindon led Kingston in points in the preseason (6 points in 3 games).
It was not the start the Petes were looking for on the scoreboard. Just 43 seconds into the game, Maleek McGowan burst down the wing and beat Petes goalie Zach Bowen short side to give Kingston an early lead. The Frontenacs would continue to put on pressure, and add to their lead on a shorthanded breakaway goal by Ben Pickell later in the period. After one, Kingston led by a score of 2-0.
The Petes came out hot in the second period, getting on the board at the 1:28 mark on a goal by Chase Lefebvre. Blake Gowan would pick up with first OHL point with an assist on the goal. Kingston responded four minutes later on a goal by Ethan Miedema to restore their two-goal lead. Later, in the period, at the 8:40 mark, Caden Taylor ripped home a powerplay goal for his first of the season to once again cut the deficit to one.
Unfortunately, that would be the closest that the Petes would get, with Kingston proving too strong on the night, ultimately winning the game by a score of 7-2.
Chase Lefebvre led the way for the Petes with a goal and an assist. Caden Taylor also scored in the game, while Aiden Young, Nico Addy, and Blake Gowan (first OHL point) each had an assist.
The Petes are back in action on Friday, September 27 when they travel to North Bay to face the Battalion. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at North Bay Memorial Gardens. The game can be seen on YourTV Peterborough and OHL Live, it can also be listened to on Freq 90.5.
