Petes Lose Shootout Heartbreaker in Windsor

PHOTO: Isabella Ruccolo

 

On Thursday, February 26, the Peterborough Petes began their three game road trip in Windsor, taking on the Windsor Spitfires. Matthew Soto scored in the third period to tie the game, but Windsor would ultimately win in a shootout by a score of 4-3.

 

GAME STORY – BY: Gabriel Rowland Renaud

 

After recently clinching a playoff berth, the Petes would venture southwest to the WCFU Centre for a road game versus the 36-14-7 Windsor Spitfires. This match would mark the first and final time star winger Kieron Walton would face his twin brother, Conor, since being traded to the Petes on January 9th, 2026.

 

The Spitfires sprung out to an early lead in the first frame. Jakub Fibigr blasted a shot from the left point to beat Petes netminder Easton Rye (1st, 8:23). Spitfires 1-0 Petes. Then, just a minute later, New York Rangers top prospect Liam Greentree cut in on a breakaway and made use of his soft hands to score (1st, 9:26). Spitfires 2-0 Petes. Conor Walton would pick up an assist on the play, putting a spark in Kieron to have an impact on the game. After these two early tallies, the game slowed down to a crawl, and the remainder of the first drew on without another goal.

 

As the second period began, the Petes came out ready to get even with the Spitfires. Just five minutes in, Aiden Young would collect the puck from behind the net, and spin around to pass to Kieron Walton. Kieron would take advantage of his reach to drag around the right pad of Joey Costanzo, and make it a one-goal game (2nd, 4:59). Spitfires 2-1 Petes. On a subsequent shift Kieron would play distributor, settling the puck at the right end of the blueline. Kieron dished to the middle, finding Calum Hartnell who ripped it from the top of the slot to tie the game at two (2nd, 4:59). Spitfires 2-2 Petes. The Spitfires needed to find an answer quickly as the tide of the game had begun to shift the way of the Petes. Luckily for the home team, a golden opportunity would appear as the second wound on. As AJ Spellacy rushed in down right wing, Rye would skate to the top of his crease to cut the angle. Spellacy would read this, and make a cross-crease pass to Greentree, who would have all the space in the world to tap it in to retake the lead (2nd, 12:18). Spitfires 3-2 Petes. Windsor would hold onto this lead until the end of the middle frame.

 

The Spitfires held their lead for much of the third period until the 7:42 mark, as Jack Nesbitt took a cross checking penalty, gifting the Petes a power play.  As the puck dropped for an o-zone faceoff, and the Petes established themselves early, setting up an umbrella formation. However, Spellacy would apply pressure at the blueline, forcing a turnover, and creating a shorthanded rush. Rye would make a perfect poke check on Spellacy, and would follow with a simple left pad save on Ethan Garden’s attempt on the rebound. The Petes would recollect, and carry the puck up the ice. However, the home team penalty killers would not relent, as Nathan Villeneuve would sneak the puck toward the neutral zone for Greentree. As the star winger blitzed in, Rye stayed square, reading the play with aplomb, and dropping into the splits for a miraculous save to rob Greentree. After dazzling the crowd with his athleticism, Rye gloved down the puck, drawing a whistle. When play began again, the Petes sent out their second power play unit who quickly capitalized! Matthew Soto would jam the puck home as several Petes crowded the crease (3rd, 9:21). Spitfires 3-3 Petes.

 

There would be no scoring throughout the remainder of the third and overtime. Thus, the game would go to a shootout. Leon Kolarik would go first, drawing Costanza out of position, and shooting for the bottom left corner of the net. However, Costanza would answer, making a floundering blocker save to seal the post. Greentree went next, picking the top right corner, and wristing it past Rye to score. Kieron Walton was selected as the second shooter for the Petes. The lanky winger came in straight on Costanza who denied him with a well-timed poke check. Windsor would mirror the Petes’ approach, sending out their own goliath, Ethan Belchetz, as the second shooter. Rye would stay square, and make a right pad save as Belchetz ran out of real estate. Star import Adam Novotný was selected as the Petes’ third shooter of the evening. Novotný would dangle several times, but ultimately arrive at the same fate as Belchetz as he ran out of real estate, and was forced to shoot into the right pad of Costanza, deciding the game as a loss on the road.

 

Kieron Walton led the way for the Petes, scoring and adding an assist, while Aiden Young picked up two assists. Calum Hartnell and Matthew Soto scored, with Holden Carter and Brennan Faulkner grabbing an assist each. Easton Rye made 32 saves in the loss.

 

Game Recap:

First Period:

 

• Windsor Goal (8:23) – Jakub Fibigr (10), Assists – Anthony Cristoforo (35), Caden Harvey (18)
• Windsor Goal (9:26) – Liam Greentree (28), Assists – Carson Woodall (49), Conor Walton (9)

 

Second Period:

 

• Peterborough Goal (4:59) – Kieron Walton (37), Assist – Aiden Young (27)
• Peterborough Goal (8:47) – Calum Hartnell (2), Assists – Kieron Walton (42), Holden Carter (3)
• Windsor Goal (12:18) – Liam Greentree (29), Assist – AJ Spellacy (13)

 

Third Period:

 

• Peterborough Goal (9:21) – Matthew Soto (18), Assists – Brennan Faulkner (16), Aiden Young (28)

 

Overtime Period:

 

• No Score

 

Shootout:

 

• PBO – Leon Kolarik (No Goal)
• WSR – Liam Greentree (Goal)
• PBO – Kieron Walton (No Goal)
• WSR – Ethan Belchetz (No Goal)
• PBO – Adam Novotný (No Goal)

 

The Petes are back in action on Saturday, February 28, when they travel to Saginaw to take on the Saginaw Spirit. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Dow Event Center. The game will be broadcast live on YourTV Peterborough, Freq 90.5, and FloHockey.