Petes Overwhelm the IceDogs on Pink in The Rink; Clinch Playoffs
From Jax Dubois winning the game’s opening faceoff to the final horn, the Peterborough Petes overwhelmed the Niagara IceDogs en route to a 5-1 victory at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Saturday night. Defenceman Konnor Smith and forwards J.R. Avon, Emmett Sproule, Quinton Pagé, and Tucker Robertson put their names on the scoresheet. With a victory, the Petes punched their ticket to the 2022 OHL Playoffs.
The Petes struck first. Smith blasted a slap shot past Niagara goaltender Joseph Costanzo from the blue line at 3:50 of the opening period. He immediately shot the puck after Sam Alfano rolled it up the boards from the far corner. Jonathan Melee recorded the secondary assist.
Blink and you'll miss @ksmitty91's blast from the point 🚨#GoPetesGo | @SUBWAY pic.twitter.com/9qWNEL4awT
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) April 9, 2022
Niagara’s Brice Cooke tapped in a wiry puck that ricocheted off a Peterborough stick in the shooting lane of Dakota Betts‘ attempt. Rookie Juan Copeland also assisted on the play.
Avon would reply before the first period concluded. While killing off a penalty, Avon saw an opportunity to speed into the Niagara zone with only one IceDog in his path. He wheeled around him, cutting wide and beating Costanza to push Peterborough ahead 2-1 with 3:11 to go in the period.
.@Avonjr_1010's cleared for take-off 🛫#GoPetesGo | #BringItToBroad pic.twitter.com/vAGcyfiQ7U
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) April 10, 2022
The Maroon and White held a 14-8 shot advantage after 20 minutes.
Continuing where they left off, the Petes attacked the Niagara net to start the middle period. A nearly converted lacrosse style goal attempt by Joe Carroll was followed up by an actual goal by 6th round 2021 OHL Priority Selection Quinton Pagé at 3:31.
🚨 PAGÉ 🚨
Quinton picks up the loose puck, cuts in front, and buries the puck to give us a two-goal lead!#GoPetesGo | @SUBWAY pic.twitter.com/zp8Z8dsDMm
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) April 10, 2022
Sproule hit the 80-point mark by extending the Petes’ lead to 4-1 late in the second frame. Dubois wristed the rubber above Costanzo’s shoulder off the post, but the rebound landed on Sproule’s stick and Sproule had an empty net to shoot in. The goal was his 27th of the season.
LEAD EXTENDED 😤@Emmett9393 converts on the rebound and picks up his 80th point of the season!🚨#GoPetesGo pic.twitter.com/7dNeXQykcX
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) April 10, 2022
The Petes would not let up on the pressure in the final 20 minutes. After wiping a penalty and creating quality scoring chances, the Petes only allowed a total of 3 shots in the entire period. Robertson tallied his 38th goal this season assisted by Avon late in the frame, making the score 5-1.
We almost forgot to post Tucker’s shorty! Phew ????#GoPetesGo pic.twitter.com/cABmLiJN2q
— X – Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) April 10, 2022
This year’s rendition of Pink in the Rink saw a dominant display of Peterborough hockey through 60 minutes as Michael Simpson turned aside 20 shots to help the Petes clinch their birth to the 2022 post-season.
The Petes host the Barrie Colts at 2:00 pm tomorrow afternoon.
