1978-79

Bob Attwell’s goal 2:38 into overtime against Brandon Wheat Kings gave the Petes their first and only Memorial Cup championship.

Remembering how his team wasn’t focused for the final the year before, coach Gary Green took his players to a secluded mountain resort outside Montreal the night before the final.

“Not a lot needed to be said,” recalled Green. “On the bus you could have heard a pin drop.”

It wasn’t easy for the Petes. They trailed Niagara Falls 3-1 in the league final before rallying to win.

The Petes were 2-2 in the round-robin with Trois-Rivieres Draveurs, back for a second straight year, and Brandon who established CHL records for most points 129, least losses at five and the longest unbeaten streak of 29 games. All three teams finished 2-2 and Trois-Rivieres was eliminated on goals for and against differential. All five Petes games were decided by one goal.

Dick Todd still remembers the winning moment.

“It was like we’d finally fulfilled the goal of getting there,” Todd said. “Gary Green had set that goal for the team from the previous year. We were one game short and next year we were going to make sure we weren’t.”

“I remember the final goal going in and Brad McCrimmon, who had played almost the entire game for Brandon, lying just devastated on the ice,” said Todd.

For Attwell, it’s a moment he’ll never forget.

“I remember pretty clearly it was Larry Murphy who shot from the point,” said Attwell. “I was in the slot and the goalie was out of position after making the save and I put it in. After that I remember a lot of guys jumping on my back and a lot of cheering.”

The Petes got a heroes welcome upon their return to Peterborough with a parade down George Street.