Despite Patrick Roy’s best wishes, a decision has been made and Lightning 2011 seventh round draft pick Matthew Peca will attend Quinnipiac University this fall. Peca, a gritty scorer from the Junior A Pembroke Lumber Kings in Ontario, has been through a soap opera of sorts this offseason.
Peca was originally drafted by Windsor of the OHL in 2009 but he chose to stay eligible for NCAA play by remaining with Pembroke last year. Peca also had to pay his own way to the Lightning’s prospect camp this summer to avoid any college eligibility questions.
According to a canoe.ca story, OHL Ottawa wanted Peca’s rights, but so did Quebec of the QMJHL. Since the Ontario-born Peca could only join another league if he cleared waivers, Patrick Roy and the Remparts struck a deal where Ottawa would ignore him if his rights were waived in exchange for Quebec playing a preseason game in both Windsor and Ottawa.
