That familiar, gap-toothed smile is back in Wellington.

And with it, a connection to the Duke’s glory days — and some much needed hope for their beleaguered fan base.

Former all-star defenceman turned head coach Jacob Panetta was introduced Friday, July 25 at a team question and answer session.

The gathering was to provide answers to the people who most deserve to hear straight talk about their beloved franchise.

And Dukes faithful liked what they heard. The biggest cheer of the night came when Mr. Panetta confirmed the team was returning to its fabled five-star logo and Florida Panthers colour scheme.

The lone star logo went over like a lead balloon with the fan base last season.

“It’s about time!” yelled one of the 50 or so leather-lunged fanatics who attended the session.

A New Show in Town

Returning to the togs that put the Wellington Dukes on the global hockey map in the early 2000s is perhaps drawing from the “small problem“ pile.

There’s still a roster to fill out. A training camp to organize. Mr. Panetta admitted he was going to be late to the party. Most of the top-end talent from the Quinte area looking to make the leap to the OJHL have committed elsewhere.

But this season will be Mr. Panetta’s show. He and newly appointed Director of Business Operations and Community Liaison Chris Miles have permission to operate the club as they see fit. Set budgets. Sell advertising. Repair frayed and severed community connections. Paying stiffed billets.

Unpaid billet families were notified mid-July that outstanding payments are forthcoming. Most, if not all, have been paid in full. The pair are going to host families to ask if they will consider hosting players this year after going unpaid for the last two months of the previous season.

And finally, Ken Clement is club owner in name only. Mr. Miles and Mr. Panetta will seek and secure a local owner to buy the organization and keep it in Wellington. That announcement drew the second biggest cheer of the night.

Money Woes

The club owed and still owes money to several parties. The team recently held a mini camp in Belleville. Summer sessions typically accomplish two things — help identify potential talent and raise some money.

Any profit from the camp went to the Ontario Junior Hockey League. The team still owes Player Development Fees to other Canadian Junior Hockey organizations for trades from previous seasons.

The club was locked out of its dressing room and office facilities by the municipality for ice rental arrears allegedly over $50,000. But an agreement is now in place for 2025-26.

“The County of Prince Edward and the Wellington Dukes have reached an agreement that safeguards the financial interests of the municipality,” County spokesperson Mark Kerr said July 16. “We have every expectation the Dukes organization will satisfy the terms of the agreement so that the hockey club can use the Wellington and District Community Centre throughout the 2025-26 season.”

Around the Rink and the World

As a player, Mr. Panetta suggests a template for junior hockey success. He starred with the Quinte Red Devils, and at 16 signed on as the Picton Pirates’s 16-year-old in 2012-13. In his first year of junior hockey, the puck-moving defender picked up 22 points in 31 Junior C regular season games and was a steady contributor to Picton’s successful 2013 Schmalz Cup triumph.

Graduating to Wellington the following season, Mr. Panetta worer the Wellington crest with pride for three campaigns. Early in his OJHL tenure, he secured a scholarship to attend Colgate University where he played NCAA hockey for the Red Raiders. From the college ranks, he carved out four seasons in the East Coast Hockey League with Jacksonville.

In 2024-25, Mr. Panetta skated in 46 games for a pro team in Denmark, but at the conclusion of the playoffs, he decided to hang up his skates. He was missing home.

But was coaching his former junior club anywhere on the radar?

“Once I was past playing pro, I needed something to stay involved with hockey and this opportunity became available,” Mr. Panetta said. “Much like I was when I came to Wellington as a player, I’m young and eager, willing to learn and start on this pathway.”

A Work in Progress

Mr. Panetta will fill out his staff over the coming weeks. A couple of former Dukes are in the running for an assistant coach position.

As for developing his own style, Mr. Panetta admitted that will be a work in progress. He hopes to draw good bits and pieces from his previous coaches.

“You remember the bad ones more than the good ones. At the pro level, we had a younger guy who had a good connection with us players to coach, but as a team we lacked accountability and he needed to be harder on us as a group.

“(Former Dukes Coach and General Manager) Marty Abrams ran such a successful program here. There were times where he held us accountable and we very much needed that voice in our ear. There’s bits and pieces like that that I’m going to use but I’m also eager to develop my own style.”

he’s had good conversations with Picton Pirates coach Jamie Lane about an affiliation this season. He also wants to re-establish the Quinte Red Devils pipeline for top talent.

The team kicks off training camp on August 21 at the Dukedome.

Wellington opens the 2025-26 regular season on Sunday 7 September when they host the Trenton Golden Hawks for an afternoon game.