With the Stanley Cup chase in full swing, a familiar thread connects fans in Peterborough to nearly every corner of the NHL bracket. Whether it’s a hometown product who grew up in the local minor hockey system, or former OHL’ers who made their mark playing for the Petes, the city’s influence is unmistakable this postseason.
Corey Perry, who grew up in Peterborough and played AAA minor hockey with the Petes, continues to deliver in the big moments. The 39-year-old forward chipped in a goal and an assist in the Edmonton Oilers’ Game 1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, a chaotic 6-5 finish after the Oilers stormed back from a 4-0 deficit. A Stanley Cup champion with Anaheim in 2007, Perry is chasing another ring in what could be his final NHL run.
Across the ice, Akil Thomas didn’t suit up in Game 1 but is part of the Kings’ roster. The 25-year-old, who spent part of the 2019–20 OHL season with the Peterborough Petes, made his NHL debut last April after a few seasons of steady development with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, serving as an alternate captain for them last year.
Jordan Staal, in his 19th NHL season, is once again leading the Carolina Hurricanes into the playoffs. The former Pete (2004 to 2006) is wearing the ‘C’ as Carolina battles New Jersey, guiding a veteran group through a physical first-round series. Staal won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009.
Peterborough minor hockey grad Cody Ceci is patrolling the blue line for the Stars as they take on the Colorado Avalanche. The 31-year-old defenceman played in the Petes’ AAA minor system and also spent a season with the now-defunct Peterborough Stars of the OJHL. He picked up an assist in Dallas’ 4-3 overtime win in Game 2, contributing at both ends of the ice for a team with deep playoff aspirations.
Toronto’s first-round clash with Ottawa includes a pair of ex-Petes suiting up for the Maple Leafs. Nick Robertson, who starred in Peterborough from 2017 to 2020, brings speed and skill to the Leafs’ middle six, while Steven Lorentz, who played four full seasons with the Petes from 2013 to 2017, adds grit and energy to the lineup. Lorentz captured a Stanley Cup just last year with the Florida Panthers.
In Minnesota, Declan Chisholm has yet to dress for the Wild during their playoff series with Vegas but is coming off his first full season in the NHL. The defenceman played in Peterborough from 2016 to 2020 and spent his first four pro seasons bouncing between the AHL and NHL before carving out a regular spot on the Wild’s blue line. He’s joined by veteran Zach Bogosian, a fellow former Pete (2006 to 2008), who adds muscle and experience to Minnesota’s back end. Bogosian won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020.
With familiar names scattered on rosters from coast to coast, fans in Peterborough have no shortage of players to root for as the chase for the Stanley Cup continues.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
