After getting nowhere with the Ontario Junior Hockey League regarding a series of trades made by resigning Head Coach and General Manager Derek Smith — he traded key players across the country, including to rivals the Trenton Golden Hawks hours before resigning — the Wellington Dukes have filed a request for the league to investigate potential tampering charges.

Sources indicate the Dukes have retained legal counsel and submitted evidence. That includes copies of text messages and emails that indicate something may have been afoot prior to Mr. Smith’s resignation.  Just hours before, Smith made a number of trades with teams throughout the Canadian Junior Hockey League including six-player deal with the Trenton Golden Hawks that’s been scrutinized by many Jr. A hockey watchers.

The request came a day after  OJHL Commissioner Marty Savoy told the Gazette the league had investigated the various trades involving the Wellington Dukes and Mr. Smith and found there were no regulations that were violated in those deals.

Mr. Savoy did stress, however, that, moving forward, the league will review its regulations regarding the trading of team personnel and the timing of such transactions.