Peterborough Petes 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part I

[WillardJFredricks]

You guys are in a rebuild year, and your conference has 7 teams all going for it. You are in tough every night. I dont think the London Knights 3 win record is in jeapardy though. Your team is the youngest team in the league when you look at age on the roster, 17.4yr. I think KW is next at 17.9. Issue is right now, you have a 16 yr leading your team in scoring. 3 20yr olds and 2 19yr old forwards with total of 4 goals total. 1 16 yr old and 2 17 yr olds with 6 goals total. Older guys need to step up and start contributing. I guess question is was the championship worth the year of rebuild? Found this on the threads (credit to someone else for posting)

1995-96 London Knights 3-60-3

1996-97 London Knights 13-51-2

1997-98 tie North Bay Centenniels 15-41-6-4

Toronto St. Michaels 15-41-9-1

1998-99 Mississauga Ice Dogs 4-56-3-5

1999-00 Mississauga Ice Dogs 9-56-1-2

2000-01 Mississauga Ice Dogs 3-56-7-2

2001-02 Mississauga Ice Dogs 11-47-6-4

2002-03 Saginaw Spirit 11-45-5-7

2003-04 Belleville Bulls 15-44-8-1

2004-05 Oshawa Generals 15-48-3-2

2005-06 Sarnia Sting 17-46-2-3

2006-07 Erie Otters 15-50-1-2

2007-08 Sudbury Wolves 17-46-2-3

2008-09 Kingston Frontenacs 18-40-6-4

2009-10 Sarnia Sting 17-46-3-2

2010-11 Barrie Colts 15-49-2-2

2011-12 Erie Otters 10-52-3-3

2012-13 Ottawa 67's 16-46-0-6

2013-14 Sarnia Sting 17-44-2-5

2014-15 Sudbury Wolves 12-54-1-1

2015-16 Guelph Storm 13-49-4-2

2016-17 Barrie Colts 17-44-6-1

2017-18 Sudbury Wolves 17-42-9-0

I don't think they'll approach the Knights record. We all knew it would be a rough season, especially the first half. I expected they'd end up in 8th (maybe 7th because the standings tend to get bunched up) and we'd get 2 home playoff games.

I think the issue I'm having right now is not so much the losses but the perplexing play. There isn't much development of the young core happening yet (minus Fitzgerald who will be the best player on the team very soon...if he isn't already). The coaching is an issue. They just repeat the same mistakes over and over and it's tough to have any confidence whatsoever in the coaching staff. But we're stuck with them for a long time.

I'm hoping they can get 5 wins before the Christmas break. Ideally one or two at home because the attendance was down significantly on Thursday and I'd expect it to continue like that because there's no real reason to go a game unless you're a diehard.

I also thought that, despite all the losses in the second half last year, they worked hard and I was optimistic that would continue. There just seems to be a lot of problems with this group (from management decisions on down) that go beyond just losing games, which was expected.

I'm getting a bit of deja vu to the awful years around 2010-2015 where everything was a disaster. I'd just like to see some development and better coaching/management decisions.

 

[HabsPetes119]

Who’s trading away a decent F 6 games into the season?

Maybe not decent for some teams but even if the petes could simply get an ohl level forward who may want out because lack of minutes for like a 10th round pick I'd definitely do it

 

[Section5Petes]

Maybe not decent for some teams but even if the petes could simply get an ohl level forward who may want out because lack of minutes for like a 10th round pick I'd definitely do it

Commitments from Adam Novotný and Gavin Lock would do the trick!

 

[Oggie Ogoltorp]

Fitzgerald is excellent and likely ends up their 1C very soon if he's not already. Cameron will be their 1D. They have a long way to go but they all should get a lot of ice to develop. Young will be a strong 2 way guy eventually and Addy could develop into a nice power forward. Taylor's offensive talent is undeniable. He played on several teams growing up so that should give you an idea of what you re dealing with. Teams will always take a chance on goal scoring talent until they don't. It really could go real well or it could end up real bad. Build around that 7/8 group and in Fitzy's 19 year old year you could have 3 high end OA's if they are all still in the league. Can't see Cameron playing as an OA as I think he ll be in pro's but you never know.

 

[Section5Petes]

I really don’t know what to say

 

[User13452]

I really don’t know what to say

Doesn’t get any easier next week with a back to back against Oshawa I’m not actually sure when the first win will come at this point it could get really ugly

 

[I Loveallsports]

I really don’t know what to say

Quik question. The ways things are currently is it because of winning the cup then a full rebuild? Could things have been done differently? The wolves could have a bleak season next year and this year who knows.

 

[Petes1987]

Quik question. The ways things are currently is it because of winning the cup then a full rebuild? Could things have been done differently? The wolves could have a bleak season next year and this year who knows.

The OHL Championship was worth having to rebuild. I don’t think the Petes have any regrets in going for a run in 2022-2023 and as result won a league title. The team needed this championship, the fans needed it and the community as a whole needed it. The Petes were forced to make more trades with less assets because they were not able to do a full rebuild after their previous run in 2019-2020 because of Covid. They missed out on being able to trade Nick Robertson in 2020-2021 for a high return likely included in the return would have been a 2003 and a 2004 born players and multiple draft picks. That would have been two less players they would have needed to acquire. There were also few other players they would have been able to trade as well. They likely would have been an able to draft a couple more 2005 born players in the first four rounds in the 2021 draft with the extra draft picks they would have received in the trades also they would likely have drafted in top four of the draft and might of been able to draft either Calum Ritchie or Quentin Musty. As a result they would have been able to make a few less trades because of players acquired in the Robertson trade and would have had more draft picks in the cupboard to trade. Going into last season they likely would of had more draft picks available and as a result would not have been forced to go into a full rebuild and with the start they had, maybe used some of those draft picks to make additions.

 

[Newbie Observer]

Quik question. The ways things are currently is it because of winning the cup then a full rebuild? Could things have been done differently? The wolves could have a bleak season next year and this year who knows.

Its tough but yes. Give credit to NB, they made conference championship three years in row but never go thru. However, prior to that they hit bottom years ago and got 1st pick in OHL (Nelson) that started their rebuild to get those three great years. But again they never won it.
IF you look at OHL champions (omit London) majority are made up of 19/20 year olds and elite 18yr olds. You have a window to get it Look at Brampton. Brampton started their plan when they gave up Beck to Petes for Van volsen and Del to Sarnia to get Martone. Seems they had a plan to build around the 06 age group. Seems like they have a plan and a short window to do it, then prob a rebuild. The big question is how many fan bases would give up a couple of rebuild years for one OHL championship? Look at the WHL, some teams trade their entire future for their one shot at going for it. But again, you cant be half in and still no guarantees

 

[Petesfan8]

Its tough but yes. Give credit to NB, they made conference championship three years in row but never go thru. However, prior to that they hit bottom years ago and got 1st pick in OHL (Nelson) that started their rebuild to get those three great years. But again they never won it.
IF you look at OHL champions (omit London) majority are made up of 19/20 year olds and elite 18yr olds. You have a window to get it Look at Brampton. Brampton started their plan when they gave up Beck to Petes for Van volsen and Del to Sarnia to get Martone. Seems they had a plan to build around the 06 age group. Seems like they have a plan and a short window to do it, then prob a rebuild. The big question is how many fan bases would give up a couple of rebuild years for one OHL championship? Look at the WHL, some teams trade their entire future for their one shot at going for it. But again, you cant be half in and still no guarantees

 

[Petesfan8]

Question. Other than Wilson the Petes have two other coaches Verner an Associate and Oke an Assistant. What are the specific duties of Verner and the specific duties of Oke?

 

[Section5Petes]

Question. Other than Wilson the Petes have two other coaches Verner an Associate and Oke an Assistant. What are the specific duties of Verner and the specific duties of Oke?

Andrew Verner is responsible for the forwards and the Penalty Kill and Nate Oke is responsible for the defence and the Power Play

 

[HabsPetes119]

Andrew Verner is responsible for the forwards and the Penalty Kill and Nate Oke is responsible for the defence and the Power Play

I still have a little faith Wilson can get something out of this team with hard work. But I certainly have zero faith in Oke running the powerplay.

 

[Petesfan8]

Andrew Verner is responsible for the forwards and the Penalty Kill and Nate Oke is responsible for the defence and the Power Play

Thanks.

 

[Petes1987]

I still have a little faith Wilson can get something out of this team with hard work. But I certainly have zero faith in Oke running the powerplay.

They need to add a former Pete who played forward to the coaching staff. Is Mark Freer or Cameron Mann available?

 

[User13452]

They need to add a former Pete who played forward to the coaching staff. Is Mark Freer or Cameron Mann available?

Why does it need to be a former Pete?

 

[Section5Petes]

They need to add a former Pete who played forward to the coaching staff. Is Mark Freer or Cameron Mann available?

Or we could just hire the highest qualified person regardless of what junior team they player for. That seems to be the problem that has plagued the Petes in the past is hiring a local option or someone with a past Petes connection instead of making the right decision to actually try to maximize growth, development and success

 

[Petes1987]

Or we could just hire the highest qualified person regardless of what junior team they player for. That seems to be the problem that has plagued the Petes in the past is hiring a local option or someone with a past Petes connection instead of making the right decision to actually try to maximize growth, development and success

The Petes likely don’t have the budget to hire an another full fledge assistant coach I was looking at more of someone that is like a consultant that already lives in town. I think both Mark Freer and Cameron Mann live in Peterborough.

 

[User13452]

The Petes likely don’t have the budget to hire an another full fledge assistant coach I was looking at more of someone that is like a consultant that already lives in town. I think both Mark Freer and Cameron Mann live in Peterborough.

Consultant isn’t gonna do anything

 

[Petes1987]

Consultant isn’t gonna do anything

If you had someone working a couple times a week with the forwards and the power play like Chris Longo did a few years ago it may help the team. They are not going to make a change at this point with their assistant coaches after resigning all of them. I think the current situation is not the fault of the coaches but rests with some players.

 

[Bonnie Lindros]

IMHO the problem is Nathan Oke
Nathan Oke needs to get off the bench maybe even removed from the entire organization
I realize he was part of the 2023 Championship but he was not bench staff
He has zero coaching experience
The players do not respond to his 'coaching'
He spends most of the game turned around looking to see if the fans in the stands are watching him and his over the top shenanigans
I can see the bench from my seats and Nathan Oke is acting like a complete buffoon

 

[WillardJFredricks]

IMHO the problem is Nathan Oke
Nathan Oke needs to get off the bench maybe even removed from the entire organization
I realize he was part of the 2023 Championship but he was not bench staff
He has zero coaching experience
The players do not respond to his 'coaching'
He spends most of the game turned around looking to see if the fans in the stands are watching him and his over the top shenanigans
I can see the bench from my seats and Nathan Oke is acting like a complete buffoon

I haven't noticed him at all. But now I'm curious. I'll have to watch the bench a bit Thursday night.

 

[frontsfan67]

Just saw the standings. Little surprised you haven’t won. Not trying to stir up the pot or troll

What happened though? Taylor, Cameron and the rest of them didn’t take too much of a leap? Goaltending the problem?

 

[User13452]

I haven't noticed him at all. But now I'm curious. I'll have to watch the bench a bit Thursday night.

You haven’t heard him screaming yet? Guy is screaming every game

 

[Zebra]

Ok so y’all have really hit a nerve with me on this subject.

I sit really close to the bench and I have to say I find Oke’s behaviour very inappropriate and borderline bizarre. The screaming is pure hell but the physical spasms and flopping around -it’s almost like he is having a medical seizure.
I have never seen a coach behave in this manner and it is beyond shocking.

His antics are ridiculous and I don’t feel he is setting a good example for our players.
If one of our young lads carried on like that I am sure coaching staff would remedy the situation.

It’s embarrassing.