A new era begins

Dukes introduce many new faces on and off the ice

There are just ten days until the opening of the Dukes’ training camp, just two weeks until the Kingston Voyageurs arrive in Wellington for the first exhibition game. And so it begins again. Well, not quite.

While on the surface the firing up of the ice plant at the Wellington and District Community Centre marks the beginning of a new campaign by one of the winningest teams in junior hockey, inside this franchise it is a brand-new organization.

Colin Doyle has been named captain of the 2017-18 Wellington Dukes.

Marty Abrams, the coach and general manager for the past decade has moved on, taking his talents across the Bay of Quinte to Trenton. In his place, a mix of new and familiar faces have taken the reins of this storied franchise.

Randy Uens, entrepreneur, businessman and former pro hockey player, has been named vice-president of hockey operations. Scott McCrory has been named the new Dukes coach. In 1987, McCrory led the Oshawa Generals with 150 total points in the regular season to a Memorial Cup final. McCrory was drafted by the Washington Capitals, but played most of his professional career in the AHL and in Europe. In more recent years he has guided the Whitby Fury.

Ryan Woodward has been named general manager and associate coach, overseeing the day-to-day business of the Wellington Dukes. Kyle Hawkins-Schultz returns as assistant coach. Ryan Kitchen is coming over from Whitby as assistant coach.

Uens told a large gathering of the Dukes faithful last week that he was attracted by the historic hockey tradition of success in Wellington.

“There is a passion for hockey in this community,” said Uens, acknowledging the task ahead of him. “Expectations start high and stay high.”

He added that the Dukes will be looking to host the national championship—the RBC Cup—in 2020.

The team announced last week several new signings to help fill out a depleted roster.

These include 18-year-old netminder Justin Vertesi, as well as five new defenders including 19-year-old Alec Tiley and two 18-year olds, Brett Thorne and Nick Durajlia.

“Justin is a big goalie who moves very well and is extremely competitive,” said Woodward. “He has a great disposition in net and gives the players in front of him confidence knowing if they make a mistake he can bail them out.