Five Counties clients – and brother and sister – Bryor and Brielle are looking forward to the Next Gen Game with the Peterborough Petes on Feb. 16. The duo and their family will be on the ice prior to the start of the game for the ceremonial puck drop, one of many Five Counties families taking part in the game
The puck drop at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Family Day will mean a little more than just the start of another hockey game.
When the Peterborough Petes host their annual Next Gen Game next month, the spotlight will be on kids, families and community, with Five Counties Children’s Centre front and centre for a matinee matchup designed to celebrate and support children’s treatment services across the region.
Siblings Bryor and Brielle, joined by their family, will drop the ceremonial puck ahead of the Petes’ Next Gen home game on February 16. The game, part of an annual partnership between the Petes and Five Counties, sees Peterborough face the Kitchener Rangers in a 2 pm start at the Memorial Centre.
According to Five Counties CEO Scott Pepin, there is no better day to bring the partnership to life than Family Day, as the event has become a highlight for both the organization and the hockey club.
The Next Gen Game brings together Five Counties kids, families, staff, volunteers and supporters for an afternoon of hockey, while raising funds for treatment services at the Centre. What makes the game unique is that several Five Counties kids will take part in behind-the-scenes roles with the Petes, including being involved in the opening puck drop.
Bryor and Brielle have both received treatment at Five Counties from a young age. Bryor says being part of the Petes game is something he is looking forward to, while their parents say the care their children receive continues to help them grow, thrive and build confidence.
Pepin says the Family Day game is about more than hockey, offering families a chance to come together while supporting a vital cause.
This year, several Five Counties kids will step into roles normally reserved for team staff, taking on duties such as coach, scout, general manager and PA announcer. Each child will also sign a one-day contract with the Petes, giving them a hands-on experience both on and off the ice.
Pepin adds that those behind-the-scenes opportunities are a big part of what makes the Next Gen Game special for the kids involved.
Tickets for the game are $15 and are available through Five Counties and the Memorial Centre box office. Proceeds support the Building Abilities for Life Campaign, which helps ensure kids receive the treatment and support they need when they need it.
Fans attending the game can also take part in a full slate of Family Day activities. A free family skate runs from 11 am to 12:45 pm for Five Counties ticket holders, with arena doors reopening at 1 pm for pre-game festivities. Activities include face painting by donation, a giant LEGO setup, a silent auction, Next Gen toques for sale, a Chuck-a-Pep during the second intermission, and donation buckets circulating throughout the game.
Last year’s Next Gen Game raised more than $17,000 for Five Counties, which provides speech, physio and occupational therapy, along with other rehabilitation services, to children and youth across Peterborough City and County, Northumberland County, the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County.
With another full building expected on Family Day, organizers say the 2026 Next Gen Game is shaping up to be another afternoon where hockey helps make a lasting difference for local kids and families.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
