Petes Bring Playoffs Back to the PMC
The Peterborough Petes return to the OHL Playoffs after a long two-year gap caused by COVID-19 pandemic. This crew looks different from the last time the Maroon and White competed for the J. Robertson Cup as does their opponents, the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Bulldogs come as the number one seed in the Easter Conference with a OHL best 107 points. If the Petes proved anything this season, it was that they never give up and are always a threat.
The Petes have thrived when down a man. Amassing 771 PIMs – only three more than Hamilton – the Lift Lock lads post the league most 19 short-handed goals. The last teams to accomplish such a feat were the Sarnia Sting (22), Soo Greyhounds (20), and London Knights (19) during the 2018-19 campaign. The Kitchener Rangers, who held the best power play percentage that season similar to this season’s Hamilton squad (2nd best), were swept in the first round by eventual OHL champions Guelph Storm and blanked on every power play opportunity.
There is a lot to like about this Petes hockey team.
Peterborough carries a wealth of playoff experience in veteran leader Joe Carroll. Carroll – as a rookie on the 2017-2018 Soo Greyhounds team consisting of future NHLers Barrrett Hayton, Morgan Frost, and Rasmus Sandin – appeared in 24 playoff games reaching the OHL Finals. Carroll returned to the OHL playoffs the following season, but the Greyhounds won one playoff series.
Tucker Robertson enters the playoffs on a tear. He has four-game goal streak and 13 points in his last 10 games (7G, 6A, 13P). On the back end, Michael Simpson has anchored the surging Petes. Simpson recorded a 4-0-0-1 stat line with a 2.16 goals-against average, .928 save percentage, and one shutout. He was named the OHL Goaltender of the Month for April. He is the first Petes netminder to earn OHL Goaltender of the Month honours since Hunter Jones in October 2019.
Emmett Sproule has been a surprise superstar since being acquired from the Erie Otters in exchange for a sixth round OHL Priority Selection pick in the offseason. Sproule posted his best numbers of his OHL career with 30 goals and 56 assists for 86 points across 65 games. He set this season’s top point streak in the OHL with 33 points through 21 games from Oct. 7, 2021 to Dec. 8, 2021.
The Maroon and White are beaming with excitement as the return to playoff hockey has been gone too long from the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Don’t miss out your chance to see it live next week. Game Three is on Wednesday, Apr. 27 with puck drop at 7:00 p.m. Game Four is on Thursday, Apr. 28 with puck drop at 7:00 p.m Tickets are as low as $12 and can be purchased online or at the Grant Thornton Box Office at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
