The Peterborough Petes have bolstered their roster by signing defenceman Thanasi Marentette to an Ontario Hockey League Scholarship and Development Agreement.
Marentette, a 6’0″ defenceman from Windsor, was selected by the Petes in the 10th round, 196th overall, in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. Last season, he played in 31 games with the Peterborough Petes U18s, tallying four goals and 12 assists for 16 points. He also contributed one goal and four assists in 10 playoff games. Before joining the U18s, Marentette had a strong season with the Toronto Nationals U16s, where he registered 13 points in 32 games and added three points in five games during the 2023 OHL Cup.
Petes General Manager and Vice President of Operations Michael Oke expressed confidence in Marentette’s abilities and potential. “Thanasi is a big, strong defenceman who is solid in his own end,” Oke said. “We had a chance to watch him a lot last season as he developed with the Petes U18s, working out and practicing with the OHL team regularly. This is another good example of how our relationship with the U18 Petes provides players with a development model and pathway to the OHL.”
Marentette, born in 2007, shared his excitement about joining the OHL team. “It feels amazing,” he said. “Being with the U18s last season gave me a great opportunity to learn about what it takes to be an OHL player. I can’t wait to get started.”