The Jacob Panetta 2.0 era in Wellington is off and running.

And for the Dukes (1-0-0, 2 points) and their faithful, there’s buzz and excitement building around the rink. Maybe even to the levels when the former starry blueliner was skating to and from Wellington’s bench, not tending it.

The locals kicked off the 2025-26 Ontario Junior Hockey League season in style Sunday, coming back on the defending champion Trenton Golden Hawks 5-3.

It was Mr. Panetta’s first victory as a hockey coach at any level and came at the expense of Wellington’s arch rival. Over the course of the contest, the Dukes were perfect on special teams and defended a third period lead with heart and determination. With a sizeable, partisan crowd of 760 in attendance and two points on the line, Mr. Panetta pushed all the right buttons and the Dukes made all the right plays to steer this one home.

“Going into the first game, I didn’t realize how much nerves there would be,” the coach told the Gazette. “It was key to get through the first five or six minutes and get into the game and everything flowed from there.”

“It was an incredibly rewarding moment after a hectic summer getting this group on the ice and prepared for the season. It was also great to see the community support back in the Dukedome and cheering on the boys.”

Chaotic Start

It was a bit of a rocky start for the Dukes as the Golden Hawks struck twice in the opening five minutes, flexing their muscle and temporarily telling the Wellington faithful the new boss was going to be the same as the old boss.

But not quite.

Newly minted captain Sacha Trudel came in off the left wing and bulged the twine over the shoulder of Golden Hawks starter Finn Wilson at 4:53 to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Later in the period, the Dukes were able to capitalize on the power play with some familiar faces landing on the score sheet in Wellington’s favour. Sparkplug Kyle Kavc and young point getter Ethan Murray have returned to the Dukes lineup and full credit is due to Mr. Panetta in luring back these players who were testing the waters in other leagues. The pair linked up with Zach Carrier who came back to Wellington in a deal with Cobourg in the off season to get the club’s first man advantage goal at 17:20. Mr. Kavc potted his first off a rebound.

Wellington doubled their lead in the second stanza. Sammy Longo and Evan Erwin showed off the chemistry they created staking for the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s Frankford Huskies last season as Mr. Erwin delivered a perfect pass to Mr. Longo and the Belleville native made no mistake for his first Jr. A tally at 6:28.

Later in the frame, it was another Duke making a successful return to the Dukedome. Fiery forward Zach Mascard is back in home colours after a trade at the 2025 deadline sent him off to Markham.

Mr. Mascard bagged Wellington’s second power play goal of the game at 11:44, tipping a Cole Ellis volley past a stunned Mr. Wilson.

Brown comes up Big

Up 4-2 at the end of two periods, the Dukes were able to bend but stay unbreakable in the third.

OJHL sniper Taeo Artichuk carved the Wellington lead in half 73 seconds into the final frame but Trenton would come no closer.

Jacob Brown filled in for injured Colby Booth Housego Sunday. Mr. Brown was Wellington’s netminder last season but signed on with Napanee this summer and will ply his trade with the Raiders of the PJHL.

Mr. Brown was sensational in the Dukes net, making 34 saves en route to a win.

The Dukes managed another powerplay tally at the midway mark of the third to give Wellington a key insurance goal. Mr. Trudel bookended Wellington’s scoring with his second of the afternoon at 11:36.

The Dukes had a pair of penalties to kill off in the final five minutes of the third but Mr. Brown was a saving grace when called upon.

Special Afternoon

After a lacklustre preseason set of games where Wellington looked wanting on special teams, the penalty kill buttoned up all seven of Trenton’s opportunities.

“In the week leading up to the game, we really worked on our systems. The players know the team that wins the special teams battles almost always wins the game. I was really happy with the commitment level to get in shooting lanes, block shots and pay attention to all those little details that make the difference between winning and losing.”

Wellington has a lengthy gap in their schedule and don’t return to play until September 16 when they are in Niagara Falls to take part in the 2025 Governor’s Showcase event. Wellington duels Georgetown and then follows up facing off against Mississauga.

Mr. Panetta said the club is looking forward to the sojourn to southern Ontario and expects to have a lot of eyes on the hockey club both in terms of scouts and other organizations.

Lavender Legacy

This corner was saddened to learn of the passing of long time equipment manager and dressing room attendant Bob Lavender. Known around the rink as Cobb or Bob-O, Mr. Lavender was a Dukes supporter through and through. He could always be counted on to keep stripe-wearing game callers honest from his perch in the top row of the Dukedome.

But far more than a dedicated fan, Mr. Lavender was a father figure to hundreds of Dukes players that came through the organization. Every day at practice, he would check in with the players, many of them living away from home for the first time in their lives. He would throw a puck at your humble scribe for writing so, but beneath the gruffest of exteriors was a person with heart of gold that could offer a hearty laugh, a quick joke or a tap on the shin pads to put a player’s mind at ease and invoke a smile. Volunteers like Bob Lavender and his son Joey make Wellington less of a place to go play hockey and more of a home you stay connected with after your playing days are completed. As proof of being the common thread that has tied generations of Dukes alumni together, scores of former players shared the club’s social media notice of Bob’s passing.

“His interaction and support of the players left a long lasting impression on many young men who passed through the room. Gone but never forgotten,” the club said in the notice.