It was Next Gen Day at the PMC on Family Day Monday when the Petes welcomed the Sudbury Wolves to town. The Next Gen Game would see six Team Operations positions filled: General Manager, Head Coach, Assistant Coach, PA Announcer, In-Game Host, and Radio Broadcaster by local kids, selected by Five Counties Children’s Centre. Sudbury had lost seven of their last 10 going into the game and Petes were looking to take advantage of that, feeding off their momentum from a 3-0 win in Kingston on Friday night. Michael Simpson was back in net for the Petes after recording his league leading fourth shutout on Friday night.
It was a tough start for the Petes, sending the PK out for three penalties from the ten to five minute mark in the first period. Luckily for the Maroon and White, the PK unit was up to the task, keeping Sudbury off the board early. The Petes would then finish the period with back-to-back powerplays that would help kickstart their offence. In the dying seconds of the first PP, Avery Hayes found Gavin White at the point who fired a beautiful shot past Wolves goalie Nate Krawchuk to make it 1-0 Petes. Michael Simpson continued his great play from Friday night, stopping all 15 shots in the period to backstop the Petes to a 1-0 lead heading into the second.
The second period would see two more goals from the Petes to extend their lead to 3-0. It all started when Jonathan Melee looked off a Sudbury defender and sent a beautiful cross-crease pass to Brian Zanetti, who finished the one-timer for his fourth goal of the season. The Petes would strike again with only 13 seconds left in the period when Jax Dubois won a faceoff back to Chase Stillman who then ripped a shot past Krawchuk to not only make it 3-0, but also win free Popeyes fries for everyone with a game ticket with the last minute goal. The two goals would give Peterborough a comfortable lead heading into the final 20.
The third would be all Michael Simpson. Simpson had save after save to keep Sudbury off the board and record his 2nd straight shutout. J.R. Avon added an empty net goal and the Petes took the game by a score of 4-0.
Michael Simpson led the way for the Petes, stopping 45/45 for his fifth shutout of the season (leads the OHL). With the shutout, Simpson has now stopped 67/67 over his last six periods of play.
Chase Stillman had a goal and an assist, while Gavin White, Brian Zanetti, and J.R. Avon each scored. Avery Hayes, Tommy Purdeller, Jonathan Melee, Jax Dubois, Connor Lockhart, and Tucker Robertson all picked up an assist.
The Petes are back in action for Talk Today night at the PMC on Thursday, when the Windsor Spitfires come to town. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 PM. You can get tickets by clicking here, or by contacting the PMC Grant Thornton Box Office in person or at (705) 743-3561.
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