It's about DEDICATION, TRADITION, DEVELOPMENT, it's about YOU!
Open Borders
With the implementation of Open Borders and Freedom of
Movement starting the 2025/2026 hockey season, any player U10 and above is free
to play wherever they want within the Ontario Hockey Federation’s jurisdiction.
Please review the following information to see what the Jr. Petes have to
offer. 
Decades of Excellence
Peterborough and Peterborough County, including
Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation, have a rich and deep hockey
history with their strong minor hockey systems, from house league to the
Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Peterborough Petes.
Higher-skilled minor hockey players playing on Minor
Petes AAA teams have proudly worn the Petes jersey while travelling and playing
within the OMHA AAA league and tournaments across Ontario and the United
States.
Our coaches are designed to cultivate player growth,
enhance skills and drive success for all our players. Our staff has a wide
variety of skills and specializations that are pivotal to our players’
development. Since 1968, 224 minor Petes players have been drafted into the
OHL, with 23 in the past two seasons.
Player Development
Vice President of Hockey Operations Kurtis Foster
believes a winning culture is built on strong principles, high standards, and a
commitment to player development. Foster has extensive experience in
professional hockey as a player and coach across all levels. He ensures that
players receive the tools and mentorship needed to excel from all the staff on
and off the ice. Kurtis works with a skills development team consisting of
former pro players who provide sessions to all teams prior to the start of the
season. Our teams are provided with Pixellot Cameras and software to capture
games and practices. All of our teams have access to our video room at the
Healthy Planet Arena.
Sports Performance Coach
Mike Temple of Temple Coaching Solutions is pivotal in
helping young hockey players elevate their development on and off the ice as
needed. By focusing on mental resilience, confidence-building and stress
management, he equips athletes with the psychological tools to perform at their
best in high-pressure situations. His expertise ensures that athletes enhance
their physical skills and develop the mental toughness required for long-term
success in hockey and beyond.
Power Skating
Our Jr. AAA Petes teams utilize Ashlea Jones of Ashlea
Jones Athletes, who also serve as the technical skating coach for the OHL’s
Peterborough Petes. Jones has competed at nearly the highest levels of skating
competitions and is a five-time Olympic qualifier in figure skating. With over
17 years of experience in training, Jones helps train and mentor anyone who
goes through her program to succeed in all aspects of skating.
Goaltending Coach
Andrew Verner is the current Goaltending Consultant
for the Jr. AAA Petes. He has had a 17-year professional career that included
time in the AHL, the Canadian National Team and 14 seasons in Europe. He
currently serves as the goaltender coach for the Petes. The former Pete played
with the team from 1989 to 1992. He transitioned into coaching, first serving
as Assistant Coach from August 2014 before stepping in as Interim Head Coach
from January to April 2018. In June 2018, he was officially named Associate
Coach. Andrew has served as a Goaltending Consultant for Hockey Canada,
contributing to the success of the U17 team (2014) and the 2015 Memorial of
Ivan Hlinka Cup champions. He has also worked with the Austrian National Team
and OHL/OHF U16 programs, further solidifying his reputation as a leader in
goaltender development.
Coach Selection
The Jr. AAA Petes have a rigorous coach selection
process that ensures the highest standards of leadership and development for
our athletes. Our top priority is to recruit, develop, and retain coaches who
possess a deep understanding of the game, are dedicated to youth hockey and are
committed to fostering each player’s full potential. We strongly emphasize
recruiting non-parent coaches at the AAA level, particularly from U13 and
above. These coaches are committed to building cohesive teams that strive for excellence,
both on and off the ice.
U16 and U18 Programs
The U16 and U18 Jr. AAA Petes have established
themselves as premier development programs, consistently preparing players for
success at the next level.
Over the past two seasons, our U16 programs have been
amongst the top teams in Ontario. During the 2022/2023 season, the 2007 age
group were OMHA Champions. During the 2023/2024 season, the 2008 age group were
OMHA finalists. Both teams had strong showings at the OHL Cup tournament and
had a combined 23 players drafted by OHL teams.
We have a designated dressing room at the Healthy
Planet Arena with a coach’s room and video facilities for our U16 teams. Check out the room
The U18 program is strongly and uniquely affiliated
with the OHL’s Peterborough Petes. It markets them as a strong, viable option
for OHL draft picks to continue their development in preparation for a
potential career in the OHL. The Petes supply the Jr. Petes with practice
jerseys and use of their team video facilities. The team has a designated
dressing room within the Memorial Centre.
OHL Petes Endorsement
Statement From: Michael Oke - General Manager – OHL Peterborough Petes
The Peterborough Petes are extremely proud of our partnership with the Peterborough Minor AAA Petes and the Peterborough Minor Hockey Council (PMHC). A clear example of this strong partnership is demonstrated through the OHL Petes support of Petes AAA U18 hockey club. We utilize the Petes AAA U18 program as our primary affiliate for drafted players. Since the inception of this partnership in 2019, we have had many players play with the Petes U18 hockey club before making the jump to play full time with the Petes in the Ontario Hockey League
Top-Rate Facilities
Peterborough is well-known as a hockey city that
values and supports the development of its players and teams, especially with
Jr. AAA Petes. The city is home to four arenas within a 10-minute drive radius,
offering convenience and accessibility for all hockey enthusiasts.
The Healthy Planet Arena, Kinsmen Civic Centre, the
newly built Miskin Law Community Complex and the Peterborough Memorial Centre
collectively provide quality recreational and competitive hockey facilities.
Maintaining Affordable Hockey
The Jr. AAA Petes offers one of the most affordable
registration costs for minor hockey in Ontario, which gives excellent value to
families seeking high-level hockey development.
This past season, registration was $2,700 plus team
fees. However, the organization provides a unique opportunity for families to
significantly offset costs by securing sponsorships, which can cover up to 80%
of a player’s fees.