No easy outs
For Wellington, determined play is job one Complacency is clearly the enemy when it comes to this year’s Wellington Dukes. Complacency and a steady stream of players to the club’s injured reserve list. But one battle at a time. Need evidence that deficiency in spite of results won’t be tolerated? You could hear the impetus in Wellington Dukes Coach and General Manager Jacob Panetta’s voice after his club’s 6-4 win over the visiting Pickering Panthers Friday night. Backing up, the Dukes (8-4-2) earned a split at the 2026 Governors’ Showcase in Niagara Falls against a pair of tough Western Conference […]
Wanting More
Despite inconsistency, Wellington moves up Eastern Conference ladder On the whole, Wellington Dukes Head Coach and General Manager Jacob Panetta was satisfied with his team’s result this past weekend. The Dukes (6-2-2) took three of a possible four points, shading the visiting St. Mike’s Buzzers Friday night in a shootout before earning a point in a regulation tie Sunday against the host Markham Royals. Not a bad bit of work considering the Buzzers are neck-and-neck with Wellington in the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Eastern Conference standings while the Royals are trying to run away and hide with the regular season […]
Svelte success
Being skinny on the back end no problem for Dukes STORY: JASON PARKS Injuries and absences have been part of the story of the Wellington Dukes (5-1- 1) early on in the 2026-27 Ontario Junior Hockey League season. Thankfully, maladies and paperwork lags haven’t become THE story for the locals. With gumption, chewing gum, spit-andpolish, some bailer wire and a little help from their friends, the Dukes picked up a pair of wins last week, quelling the Menace in Milton on Tuesday before outlasting the visiting North York Rangers on Friday. The wins were produced with a lineup far from […]
Back on track
Wellington surviving bites from the injury bug—for now STORY: JASON PARKS Last week the Wellington Dukes stumbled, carefully regained their footing and then started striding strongly along their path towards the top of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s East Conference. The Dukes (3-1-1) suffered their first set back of the season Wednesday. Despite shooting out to an early 3-1 lead, Wellington surrendered a pair of goals in the third as the host Mississauga Chargers toppled the visiting Dukes 6-4. On Friday, any redemption would need to come against the pesky Newmarket Hurricanes. Wellington was a much more game club inside […]
Strong from the jump
Dukes dominate in pair of early season wins STORY: JASON PARKS Ayear ago and under the tutelage of rookie Head Coach and General Manager Jacob Panetta, the Wellington Dukes got the 2025-26 Ontario Junior Hockey League campaign off to a rip-roaring start. Wellington won four straight and six of seven in September. This was in spite of a tumultuous offseason where rink rumours were rife the village might not even have a Junior A team to cheer for when the snow started to fly off the shores of Lake Ontario. Panetta’s late summer posting to bench boss and concerns over […]
They’re back
Some wrinkles to iron out as a new season gets rolling Exhibition games in August tend to be woolly affairs. Young athletes are scrambling to make an impression amid a team of mostly strangers. Passes tend to stray wildly off track and too often arrive at waist level rather than on the ice. Preseason is a moment to showcase individual skills rather than team dynamics. The Wellington Dukes dropped both games against the Cobourg Cougars—newly relocated from Haliburton (last year’s Cougars moved to Downsview and were renamed Toronto Warriors). The new Cobourg Cougars feature many returning players, while the Dukes […]
Staying put
Deal struck to sell team to Bay of Quinte businessman The owner of the Wellington Dukes, Ken Clement, has reached a binding agreement to sell the hockey team. If completed, expected before the end of this month, the sale will mark the end of the most tumultuous era in the team’s 37 seasons in Wellington. An, as yet, unnamed ‘Bay of Quinte businessman’ has entered into a Letter of Intent with Clement to acquire control of the Dukes’ franchise. “This step represents meaningful progress toward securing the long-term stability of the Dukes and maintaining Junior A hockey in the community,” […]
Out
Dukes fight to the finish, but Pickering moves on It’s over. The season slipped away too soon. The Dukes were swept in four games by the Pickering Panthers, who will now proceed to the second round of the OJHL playoffs. It seems only a short while ago the Dukes were assembling for season 37. Now it is over. The season started with clouds hanging over the Wellington franchise. It finishes the season with the same dark shadow. The players will disperse quickly. The rink will be given over to minor hockey, pick-up hockey, and figure skating. Yet, questions about the […]
When the going gets tough
Dukes drop first two games in hard-fought playoff series The Dukes are in tough after a pair of games against Pickering. The Panthers are just a wee bit faster, a bit older and a bit more responsible in their own zone. Yet, the Dukes are right there. In the first two games of the best-of-seven series, Wellington had plenty of chances to alter the outcome of each. The Dukes were badly outshot in each game—but Dryden Riley was brilliant in Wellington’s net, turning away 43 shots in game one, and 47 more on Sunday. Every engine was turning on Sunday […]
Playoffs begin
Dukes get ready to take on the Pickering Panthers So it begins. For the 37th year—since the team was formed—the Dukes are headed to the post-season. It has been noted in this column several times already that the prospect of doing so in 2026 wasn’t strong last year. It is a gift to Wellington fans. A gift from the players and team managers. They endured much noise and much doubt. Yet, they persevered. And so, here we go again. Last week We shall skim through the past week of games. The Dukes’ playoff ticket had already been stamped a week […]