By Kyle Watson/OHL
The Peterborough Memorial Centre is one of the OHL’s longest-standing arenas. Since 1956, the PMC has been the home of the Petes; it has also hosted a Memorial Cup, three Mann Cups, and performances from the likes of Louis Armstrong, Elton John, Willie Nelson, and Jerry Seinfeld.
The arena is located on Lansdowne Street, which runs through downtown Peterborough, just east of the mouth of the Otonabee River. If you drive four minutes in the other direction, you’ll find the Healthy Planet Arena: home of the Peterborough Petes Minor Hockey Association.
It was there where Jon-Randall Avon learned to play the game of hockey. From the first time he put on skates at age two, to the day he was selected 11th overall by his hometown Petes in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Avon played his home games at what was then called the Evinrude Centre.
The @NHLFlyers prospect gets it done! 🤯
J.R. Avon scores his second of the night to give the @PetesOHLhockey the victory against the Hounds in an overtime thriller 📽️ pic.twitter.com/wC6pnI74Re
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 15, 2022
Now a fourth-year veteran in the OHL, Avon has played a lot of games within two kilometers. For the first time in his life, he is preparing to move away from home. After turning an amateur tryout into an entry-level contract last fall with the Philadelphia Flyers, a change of scenery could be imminent for the centreman.
Although he hasn’t gotten to enjoy the experience of moving to a new city in his career, Avon says he has appreciated getting to play in front of a hometown crowd.
“After every game, I get to go home to my family, which is nice,” said the 19-year-old.
It doesn’t hurt to stay at home when your stepfather is a Stanley Cup champion.
Steve Larmer won the Calder Trophy two years after being selected in the sixth round of the 1980 NHL Draft. He played 13 seasons, amassing 441 goals and 1012 points in 1004 games. The speedy winger spent his first 11 years with the Chicago Blackhawks – attending two All-Star games – before being traded to the New York Rangers and winning the Cup in his first season in the big apple. He would retire at the end of the following campaign as one of the NHL’s all-time Draft steals.
Larmer began his hockey career just like his stepson, J.R.: in Peterborough. He played his 15-year-old season for the Petes in what was then the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League before being drafted by the Niagara Falls Flyers the next season, a team with which he would score 331 points in just 194 games.
Every year when discussing possible Hockey Hall of Fame nominations, one name is consistently tossed out by fans and sports media alike asking how he has yet to be honoured amongst the list of greats: Steve Larmer.
READ 🗞 >> https://t.co/wIGyWnGtpa pic.twitter.com/l3pjI2Ak89
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) January 20, 2021
“It’s nice to have a role model,” said Avon. “To have someone always in your corner, giving you advice.”
“It’s a super big honour to have a step-dad who played in the NHL.”
J.R., like Steve, is an exceptional skater and highly skilled forward and is carving his own path to a professional career. In his fourth season with the Petes, he has already scored seven goals and 12 assists just 13 games. Before the season began, he attended Philadelphia Flyers training camp: this time as a member of the organization.
“There wasn’t as much stress [as before the first camp] but obviously, I’m still working hard to improve,” said Avon.
“My step-dad always says the second contract is the hardest to sign,” he said with a smile.
One of the areas Avon is working to improve on is being a vocal presence in the dressing room. Considering he missed out on his sophomore season, the 19-year-old is having to learn to be a leader after losing out on a calendar year of hockey. However, he says he is adjusting quickly.
“It’s nice to be someone that somebody looks up to,” said Avon. “I’m starting to embrace the role as a leader now.”
The Flyers prospect says part of his responsibilities include helping the younger guys navigate the city.
“A lot of guys don’t really know the streets around here, so I help them out,” he said with a laugh.
The best piece of advice he says he can give, though, is for them to savour their time in the OHL.
“You come into the league as a rookie and guys are telling you, ‘take each day one day at a time,’ said Avon. “Now I know what they mean.”
It wasn’t long ago when the centreman was part of a class of promising rookies in a championship-contending Petes team. In the 2019-20 season, a 16-year-old Avon, alongside Mason McTavish, Tucker Robertson, and Artem Guryev learned from the likes of Nick Robertson, Akil Thomas, and Semyon Der-Arguchintsev. Before the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Petes were second only to the Ottawa 67’s in the Eastern Conference standings.
Avon says he and his teammates’ desire to win a championship has been a constant since then. Each day they arrive at the rink, it’s almost palpable: the coaches, players, and staff all want to win.
“I think it’s in the whole organization,” said Avon.
“We [the players] are trying to win for ourselves and everyone around us.”
Avon and the Petes look for their 10th win of the season tonight against the defending champion Hamilton Bulldogs. Puck drop is set for 7:05 PM ET
