Petes 60th Season - "The Eric Staal Years"

Photo Credited - Petes Website

When I was growing up as a child in Peterborough I use to love the Petes. Eric Staal is the one player that I'll always remember from my childhood. Eric was drafted in the 2000 OHL Priority Selection Draft in the first round, 13th overall. Staal, a native of Thunder Bay, led his Bantam Thunder Bay Kings to the 2000 OHL Cup Championship. He was a member of the Peterborough Petes from 2000-2003. In the three seasons Staal played for the Petes he scored 209 points in 185 games. The Petes made the playoffs every season Staal was on the team, but lost in the first round every year.

He was named to the 2001 First OHL All-Rookie Team after scoring 49 points in 63 games. During that summer he played in the Under 18 Six Nations Cup tournament for team Canada. He played along side other NHLer's like Marc Andre Fleury, Rick Nash, Kevin Klein and Maxine Talbot at the tournament in Czech Republic. Team Canada won Gold against the Czechs in a 4-3 victory.

In his second season at the age of 16, Eric started the season on fire. Staal was receiving more ice time and it was showing in his productivity. At the end of the opening month of the season he scored 7 points in 2 games against Belleville and Kingston. That's when his name was getting notice around the league. He finished that year with 62 points in 56 games. Staal would save his all star talents for his third season with the Petes. He scored 98 points in 66 games, leading the Petes in scoring. He also led the team with a plus 21 rating.

Jeff Twohey was the General Manager during the time Staal was a Peterborough Pete. Twohey thought highly of Eric during his three Petes seasons. "He got better each year and a model of consistency both on and off the ice." Twohey also felt Eric was able to bring a lot of coverage to the Peterborough area. "He kept the Petes brand in the forefront when he was competing to be the #1 pick in the NHL draft. He kept a small market in the limelight."

Staal was given the Top Prospect Award after his remarkable numbers for his final year before the Draft. Staal was selected 2nd overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He played his first NHL season in 2003-2004, scoring 31 points. In 2006, Eric was apart of the Hurricanes Stanley Cup victory, giving him his only cup to date. In 2007 he won a World Ice Hockey gold medal and Olympic Gold in 2010. He is the 23rd member of the Triple Gold Club. This club is for individuals that have won all three trophies. The IIHF believe that these three trophies are the most important championships in sport. Staal has also been in 4 All Star games in his NHL career. Winning MVP at the 2007-2008 all star game.

Former Petes General Manager Jeff Twohey and now scout for the Arizona Coytoes, is a fan of Staal in the NHL . Jeff says Eric is his favourite player currently in the NHL and loves his "quiet leadership he brings to Carolina."

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