Peterborough Petes

TPT Petes

The team was sponsored by Toronto-Peterborough Transport (TPT) from 1956 to 1966. Scotty Bowman was brought in to coach by the Montreal Canadiens organization from the Ottawa-Hull Canadiens junior team, and led the team to a second-place finish in 1959. Peterborough defeated the Barrie Flyers, Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters and Toronto St. Michael's Majors in the playoffs to win their first OHA championship. Bowman and the TPT Petes went on to reach the Memorial Cup for the first time that year but fell to the Winnipeg Braves. The TPT Petes claimed their first Hamilton Spectator Trophy during the 1965-66 season, but were eliminated from the playoffs.^{[citation needed]}

Roger Neilson era (1966–1976)

The team became known as the Peterborough Petes Hockey Club in 1966–67, which was also the beginning of Roger Neilson's tenure as coach. The Petes wore the TPT logo on their sweaters until 1974–75, when their colours were changed to maroon and white and a new "Petes" logo was adopted.^{[citation needed]}

Neilson led his team to seven consecutive winning seasons from 1968 to 1975, also finishing first overall in 1970–71, winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 1972, and were runners-up in 1973 and 1974. In the 1972 Memorial Cup, the Petes lost a close 2–1 game in the finals to the Cornwall Royals.^{[citation needed]}

Neilson left behind a winning legacy in Peterborough and set the standard for coaches to come. Neilson was the first coach to use videotape analysis as a teaching method, leading to the nickname "Captain Video," and also the first to use microphone headsets to communicate with his assistant coaches.^{[citation needed]}

Neilson also pushed the envelope causing several rules to be rewritten. During one Petes game, his team was up one goal, but was down two men in a five on three situation for the last minute of the game. Realizing that more penalties could not be called under the existing rules, Neilson put too many men on the ice every ten seconds. The referees stopped the play and a faceoff was held relieving pressure on the defence. After this display the rule was changed so that a call for too many men on the ice in a 5 on 3 situation now leads to a penalty shot.^{[citation needed]}

Neilson also discovered that if he put a defenceman in net instead of a goalie during a penalty shot, the defenceman could rush the attacker and greatly reduce the chances of a goal. Today the rule states that a team must use a goalie in net for a penalty shot, and that the goalie may not leave the crease until the attacking player touches the puck.^{[citation needed]}

Neilson was promoted for the 1976–77 season, coaching the Dallas Black Hawks in the former Central Hockey League.^{[citation needed]}

Three seasons, three titles

The Peterborough Petes won three consecutive OHL championships in 1978, 1979 and 1980. Gary Green coached the first two championships followed up by Mike Keenan in 1980. The Petes won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy two consecutive times in 1979 and 1980. Peterborough's success also continued into the Memorial Cup, reaching the championship game all three years, and winning the national junior title in 1979.^{[citation needed]}

Many future NHL stars played for Petes in these three years. Those of note are: Keith Acton, Bob Atwell, Keith Crowder, Ken Ellacott, Doug Evans, Dave Fenyves, Tom Fergus, Larry Floyd, Mark Kirton, Rick LaFerriere, Steve Larmer, Larry Murphy, Mark Reeds, Stuart Smith, Steve Smith, Bill Gardner, Tim Trimper and Jim Wiemer.^{[citation needed]}

Dick Todd era (1982–1993)

Dick Todd started with the Petes as a trainer in the 1970s and was with the team through their three Memorial Cups. As a coach he led the team to two more Memorial Cup tournaments—in 1989 in Saskatoon, and in 1993 in Sault Ste. Marie. During Todd's time as coach, the Petes won six division titles and had the best overall winning percentage in the OHL. Todd was awarded the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL Coach of the Year in 1987–88.^{[citation needed]}

Memorial Cup 1996

The Peterborough Petes celebrated their 40th anniversary in 1996. The Petes won the J. Ross Robertson Cup defeating the Guelph Storm in the finals, then and also played at home while hosting the Memorial Cup tournament in 1996. The club achieved a 100% sellout each tournament game, and lost in the final that year to the Granby Prédateurs.^{[citation needed]}

50th anniversary

Todd returned as head coach of the Petes in 2004. Todd's second season back behind the Petes bench, was the 50th anniversary of the Peterborough Petes founding. They are the oldest continuously operating franchise in the Ontario Hockey League (the rival Oshawa Generals date to 1937 but were inactive from 1953 to 1962).^{[citation needed]}

The Petes celebrated their 50th anniversary in grand style, winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup on May 11, 2006, in a four-game sweep of the London Knights. Peterborough travelled to Moncton, New Brunswick, to play in the 2006 Memorial Cup, losing the third place tiebreaker game to the Vancouver Giants. Todd retired for good a few weeks after the Petes returned from Moncton.^[1]

60th anniversary

The 2015–16 season marked the 60th in franchise history.^[2]

Rob Wilson era (2018–present)

Under Rob Wilson, the franchise has made three playoff appearances. In 2023, the franchise won its tenth OHL championship and first since 2006, defeating the London Knights, earning its tenth trip to the Memorial Cup.^[3]

Award winners

CHL Player of the Year

• 1989–90 – Mike Ricci

CHL Defenceman of the Year

• 1992–93 – Chris Pronger

CHL Top Draft Prospect Award

• 2005–06 – Jordan Staal

CHL Rookie of the Year

• 2009–10 – Matt Puempel

CHL Sportsman of the Year

• 2019-20 – Nick Robertson

George Parsons Trophy Most Sportsmanlike at the Memorial Cup

• 1978 – Mark Kirton
• 1979 – Chris Halyk
• 1993 – Jason Dawe
• 1994 – Jeff Smith
• 1996 – Mike Williams

Hap Emms Memorial Trophy Outstanding Goaltender at the Memorial Cup

• 1978 – Ken Ellacott
• 1980 – Rick LaFerriere

Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy Memorial Cup MVP

• 1996 – Cameron Mann

Red Tilson Trophy Most Outstanding Player

• 1959–60 – Wayne Connelly
• 1964–65 – Andre Lacroix
• 1965–66 – Andre Lacroix
• 1966–67 – Mickey Redmond
• 1989–90 – Mike Ricci

Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy Scoring Champion

• 1965–66 – Andre Lacroix

Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy Top scoring right winger

• 1995–96 – Cameron Mann

Max Kaminsky Trophy Most Outstanding Defenceman

• 1969–70 – Ron Plumb
• 1973–74 – Jim Turkiewicz
• 1978–79 – Greg Theberge
• 1979–80 – Larry Murphy
• 1985–86 – Terry Carkner
• 1992–93 – Chris Pronger

Wayne Gretzky 99 Award OHL Playoffs MVP

• 2005–06 – Daniel Ryder
• 2022-23 - Michael Simpson

Emms Family Award Rookie of the Year

• 1989–90 – Chris Longo
• 2009–10 – Matt Puempel

Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy Overage Player of the Year

• 1996–97 – Zac Bierk

OHL Goaltender of the Year

• 1996–97 – Zac Bierk

Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest Team GAA

• 1958–59 – Jacques Caron
• 1962–63 – Chuck Goddard
• 1969–70 – John Garrett
• 1970–71 – John Garrett
• 1974–75 – Greg Millen
• 1979–80 – Rick LaFerriere & Terry Wright
• 1985–86 – Kay Whitmore & Ron Tugnutt
• 1987–88 – John Tanner & Todd Bojcun
• 1988–89 – John Tanner & Todd Bojcun
• 1992–93 – Chad Lang & Ryan Douglas

F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy Best Rookie GAA

• 1977–78 – Ken Ellacott
• 1981–82 – Shawn Kilroy
• 1984–85 – Ron Tugnutt
• 1987–88 – Todd Bojcun

Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy Humanitarian of the Year

• 1993–94 – Brent Tully
• 1996–97 – Mike Martone
• 2004–05 – Jeff MacDougald
• 2010–11 – Jack Walchessen
• 2011–12 – Andrew D'Agostini

William Hanley Trophy Most Sportsmanlike Player

• 1965–66 – Andre Lacroix
• 1966–67 – Mickey Redmond
• 1974–75 – Doug Jarvis
• 1984–85 – Scott Tottle
• 1989–90 – Mike Ricci
• 2009–10 – Ryan Spooner
• 2019-20 – Nicholas Robertson

Bobby Smith Trophy Scholastic Player of the Year

• 1983–84 – Scott Tottle

Ivan Tennant Memorial Award Top Academic High School Player

• 2010–11 – Andrew D'Agostini

NHL alumni

The Petes have graduated the most players to the NHL of all current OHL teams with a total of 252.^{[citation needed]}