From ashes
Wellington Dukes swing from near death to playoffs The Wellington Dukes were in trouble. Last summer the team was broken—the coach and general manager, the assistant coaches and even the trainer had bugged out for Trenton. Four Dukes players followed them. Those remaining were cast into the wind. Rumours had been circulating all summer long. […]
35 years
Unparalleled consistency of success For the 35th consecutive season, the Wellington Dukes are headed to the playoffs. The team clinched a postseason berth on the weekend, defeating the Lindsay Muskies twice. With just one game remaining in the regular season, the Dukes are perched in second spot in the East Conference. But a lot can […]
Fishing
Dukes nearing the finish line Just three games remain in the Dukes’ regular season. The team has all but sewn up a playoff spot. A win in either of its two upcoming games against the Lindsay Muskies this weekend will, in all likelihood, seal the deal. If the playoffs were to start today, the Dukes—in […]
Proving a point
Dukes push Golden Hawks to the limit It is gut-check time for the Wellington Dukes—and they passed the first test with flying colours. In a double-overtime loss to the Trenton Golden Hawks on Friday night, the second-place Dukes pushed the first-place Hawks to the limit in a game that could have gone either way. Earning […]
Crunch-crunch time
Dukes rounding out season With only seven games left in the season, it’s crunch-crunch time for the Wellington Dukes as they battle to hold onto second-place in the Eastern Division of the OJHL and also prepare for the opening round of the playoffs in March. Four of their upcoming games are against lesser teams in […]
Tightening
Just ten games remain for the Dukes in the regular season In a league without Trenton, Collingwood and perhaps another couple of teams, the Dukes would be kings. Yet, in Wellington, some fans fret about whether the hometown team will make the playoffs. With just ten games remaining in the regular schedule, the Dukes are […]
Tougher
Playing for keeps The Wellington Dukes keep getting better. Week by week. The team is perfect through four games in 2024—they’ve won nine of their last 11 games. And with key additions—Ryan Schaap, Nick Brady, Josh Rumolo and Brad Barker—the Dukes have become tougher and grittier to play against. The Cobourg Cougars will surely attest […]
Happy new year
Dukes are off to a winning start to 2024 The Wellington Dukes are perfect in 2024. It is just two games. Against lesser teams. But still. It is an excellent start to a new year—and the run to the playoffs. Based on the Dukes’ current seasonlong winning percentage, the team is poised to finish fourth […]
Thriller
Dukes made a statement on Sunday It was the most intense and exhilarating game Wellington has witnessed in years. The Trenton Golden Hawks—now propelled by four former Dukes players, coached by former Wellington bench bosses, and guided by wise men who once roamed the top rail of the Dukedome—had returned to Wellington. Something happened over […]
Gripping
Every game an adventure The 2023 Dukes are crafting an exciting season. While past teams may have dominated lesser opponents and regularly resided in the vicinity of first place in their division and sometimes conference, the current edition of Dukes is hovering around the middle of the pack—neither winning nor losing on a consistent basis. […]