GAME PREVIEW: Petes Look to get Back on Track with Win over Wolves at Home
It was a week to forget for the Peterborough Petes as they dropped two of three matchups last weekend against western conference opponents. It all started last Thursday, when Saginaw goaltender Stepan Shurygin stopped 48/49 at the PMC, leading the Spirit to a 4-1 win over Peterborough. The Petes then went into Sarnia on Saturday night, leaving with a 5-2 win. After grinding out two points, Peterborough went to London for an afternoon matchup on Sunday. With four regular defencemen out of the lineup, the Petes just didn’t have it, falling 10-2 to the Knights.
Tonight, Petes forward Kieron Walton will be facing his former team for the first time in his career. Acquired by the Petes at the trade deadline from the Wolves, Walton was originally selected by Sudbury in the second round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, skating in 210 games for the team in parts of four seasons. Genc Ula (traded for Walton) and Liam Ladds both return to the PMC for the first time as members of the Wolves. Ula is expected to be in the lineup, while Ladds remains out due to injury.
Easton Rye will look to bounce back for the Petes tonight after a tough game in London saw him surrender five goals on 16 shots. Rye currently sits second in the OHL in wins (24), minutes (2172), and games played (37). Peterborough forward Braydon McCallum will look to build off of his big weekend as he takes the ice tonight. The Delhi, ON native has four points in his last two games, picking up three assists in Saturday night’s win over Sarnia.
When it comes to the Wolves, all eyes will be on newly acquired forward Jean-Cristoph Lemieux. Lemieux was acquired by Sudbury at the trade deadline in a deal that sent Nathan Villeneuve and Alex Pharand to the Windsor Spitfires. After putting up 18 points in 33 games with Windsor, the 2008-born forward has been on another level, putting up 11 points in his first 8 games with the Wolves. Slovakian imports Adam Nemec and Jan Chovan will also be ones to watch for Sudbury on Thursday. Chovan has 30 points this season, while Nemec has six in his first eight games since joining the Wolves after the World Juniors.
Tickets for the game are sold-out, but the game will be broadcast live on YourTV Peterborough, Freq 90.5., and Flo Hockey.
