Photo Courtesy of Natalie Shaver - OHL Images
Despite the challenges of a very competitive Eastern Conference, the Peterborough Petes continue to make strides in the standings.
Sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings, the Petes are currently nine points out of a playoff spot. However, with an 8-8 record since December 1st, including a 6-2 record at home, the team is trending in the right direction.
Acknowledging that the team has faced it’s fair share of set backs this year, Head Coach Rob Wilson is hopeful for a strong finish to the season.
While the Petes have shown promise in their overall play, one area where they’ve significantly improved is their scoring ability. The team struggled in the early months, but January has already seen a marked improvement, with the Petes scoring 20 goals in less than half a month. This is a stark contrast to November, when they scored just 23 goals across the entire month.
Wilson attributes this offensive surge to a combination of factors, including the implementation of a more structured offensive system, the development of his young players, and the addition of veteran players who bring a wealth of experience.
Another key development for the Petes has been their trade deadline decision-making. The team made a strategic move to add overage forward Brady Stonehouse, who plays with a lot grit and has been a strong performer in the league. With each team only allowed to carry three overage players on their roster, the move to bring in Stonehouse forced the Petes to make the tough decision of releasing Ryder McIntyre.
Wilson explained that while it was tough to part with McIntyre to make room for Stonehouse, it was a necessary step for the team to take.
The move was also in line with Wilson’s commitment to developing his younger players, with Stonehouse expected to bring both skill and leadership to the team. He has already been paired with Colin Fitzgerald, one of the Petes’ most promising young talents, in hopes of providing him with additional support as the team moves forward.
The Petes are back in action tonight when they host the Soo Greyhounds, who are sitting in 8th place in the Western Conference standings. You can listen to that game on Freq 90.5 with coverage beginning just before 7pm
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
