What’s good in Peterborough? Petes’ overagers bid heartfelt goodbye to OHL careers

As the final buzzer sounded on March 23rd, at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, the Peterborough Petes’ 2024-25 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) season came to an end with a 5-2 loss to the Generals. For three players, Brady Stonehouse, Gavin Bryant, and Jonathan Melee, the game marked the close of their junior hockey careers. These overage players, each with a unique journey to and through Peterborough, left behind legacies of resilience, leadership, and a deep connection to the maroon and white.

The Petes’ season had its challenges, finishing with an 18-41-4-5 record and landing in last place for only the third time in the franchise’s 69-year history. Yet, amidst the struggles, the stories of Stonehouse, Bryant, and Melee shine as testaments to the grit and heart that define junior hockey in Canada. With their OHL days now behind them, they look ahead to new chapters while reflecting on the moments that shaped them in Peterborough.

Brady Stonehouse: A Late Arrival with Lasting Impact

Brady Stonehouse joined the Petes midseason, acquired from the Ottawa 67’s at the 2025 trade deadline. The 20-year-old forward, who had been sidelined by a shoulder injury over the summer, faced a slow start but found his stride in Peterborough. Despite his short tenure, he made his mark, contributing energy and tenacity to a team in transition. Now, with a pro hockey opportunity awaiting him, Stonehouse is ready to take the next step.

Reflecting on his whirlwind stint with the Petes, Stonehouse says the experience was worth every moment.

For Stonehouse, the move from an East Division rival to the Petes was a chance to rediscover his game, and he’s leaving with memories he’ll carry into his pro career as he embarks on a new journey the Bakersfield Condors, the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers.

Gavin Bryant: A Steady Presence in a Season of Change

Gavin Bryant arrived in Peterborough before the 2024-25 season, traded from the Niagara IceDogs where he’d once worn the captain’s “C.” The rugged forward brought experience and stability to a young Petes roster navigating a rebuild. Over the course of the season, Bryant became a reliable figure, both on the ice and in the locker room, helping guide a team laden with 16- and 17-year-olds through a tough campaign. As he prepares to join the Pioneers at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut this fall, Bryant looks back on his time in Peterborough with gratitude.

After a full season in the Petes’ jersey, Bryant says the city and its fans left a lasting impression.

For Bryant, the season wasn’t about personal stats but about being part of something bigger — a team and a town that rallied behind its players, even in defeat.

Jonathan Melee: A Captain’s Legacy

For Jonathan Melee, the end of the 2024-25 season closed a four-year chapter with the Petes that included the ultimate high: hoisting the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 2023 as part of the OHL championship team. Serving as captain for the past two seasons, Melee gave everything to the franchise — literally.

After spending most of his junior career with the Petes, Melee says Peterborough is a place he now considers home and the community’s embrace is what he’ll miss most. When reminiscing about his OHL career, Melee says there’s one moment that easily sticks out above the rest.

As he moves on to start his NCAA journey at Sacred Heart, along with Bryant, Melee leaves behind a locker room he believes is poised for growth, confident that the next generation of Petes will carry the torch he lit.

Looking Ahead

The Petes’ season may have ended in the basement, but there’s hope on the horizon. On Wednesday, the team won the OHL Draft Lottery, earning the first overall pick in the 2025 Priority Selection—the first time in franchise history they’ll select at the top spot. For Stonehouse, Bryant, and Melee, their departures coincide with a turning point for the club they’ve called home.

As they bid farewell to the OHL, these three overagers embody the spirit of Canadian junior hockey: hard work, camaraderie, and a quiet pride in the journey. Whether it’s Stonehouse stepping onto pro ice, or Bryant and Melee hitting the books and the rink at school, their time with the Petes has prepared them for what’s next. In Peterborough, they’ll always be remembered as players who gave their all and left the ice a little better than they found it.

(Written by: Scott Arnold)