Wellington’s Liam Campbell potted a pair of goals in a 6-4 loss to Trenton Friday. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)
The Wellington Dukes head into the hills of Collingwood on Thursday night looking for their first win of 2026.
The Dukes battled hard in Trenton on Friday night, closing to within a goal with under five minutes to play before dropping a 6-4 decision to the rival Golden Hawks.
On Sunday, Wellington was once again full value for their effort but a pair of Markham Royals goals in a 2:21 span in the third period erased a 2-0 lead.
Wellington lost the contest in overtime but picked up a point for their troubles.
After peeling off five wins in a row to close out 2025, the Dukes (17-13-5) are now winless in three and have to contend with OJHL superpowers Collingwood and Pickering this weekend in a pair of road games. Wellington finishes their string of visiting opposing Ontario Junior Hockey League rinks on Monday when they travel to Cobourg. The Dukes are finally home for the first time in 2026 when they welcome St. Mike’s Tuesday night.
After a busy deadline where Coach and General Manager Jacob Panetta added a host of fresh new faces to the line, the rubber will decidedly hit the road this weekend for the road weary Dukes.
On Friday, the hosts led early and while Wellington remained within shouting distance, the Dukes could never seem to get the score back to even.
Down 2-0, Brad Wilson took a Zach Mascard pass in the high slot at 5:31 and blasted home his first OJHL goal in his first Jr. A game. Mr. Wilson, 20, is a call up from the Amherstview Jets of the Provincial Junior Hockey League.
But Wellington would give that goal back just over three minutes later as Josh Penny potted his second of the frame.
Lucas Digiantommaso scored at the halfway point of the period and Wellington trailed 4-1.
Wellington speedster Liam Campbell, denied by Trenton’s Hayden Jeffery in the first period on a penalty shot, got the easiest tap-in of his career at 12:10 of the second. Mr. Jeffery’s attempt at a quick up pass bounced off Trenton leg and landed on Mr. Campbell’s stick with a vacated net in the shooter’s sights and Wellington sliced the lead in half as the teams headed to the dressing room for the second intermission.
Wellington would trail 5-2 in the third. Mr. Digiantommaso bagged his second of the game at 5:28. Down by three, the Dukes made a game of it.
With Wellington on the power play, Sacha Trudel slipped the puck between the legs of Mr. Jeffery at 10:42 to make it 5-3. Mr. Wilson, who was in Amherstview’s line up and set up the Jets 4-3 comeback overtime win in Picton a night prior, added a helper on the play.
With just under five minutes left, the visitors edged closer. Mr. Campbell picked up a bouncing puck in the neutral zone to create a breakaway. Going with a deke move, the Elginburg, ON native flipped a backhander over Mr. Jeffery at 15:54.
Wellington lifted Royden Smith for the extra attacker with about 80 seconds left and managed a couple of decent chances that were turned aside by Mr. Jeffery.
Trenton’s Joey Brehmer fired a puck from his half of centre along the ice with 28 seconds left to seal the win for Trenton.
After a scoreless first period, Wellington broke the ice with a shorthanded goal early in the second.
Newcomer Cain Tucker found Will Mitchell on a 2-on-1 rush and the Kingstonian roofed the puck over Noah Caballero’s shoulder at 4:45 of the second period.
Wellington doubled down in the third. Landon Marleau pounced on a loose puck in the crease and lifted a backhanded effort top bunk to extend the lead to 2-0.
But the roof quickly caved in on the visitors following Mr. Marleau’s 17th of the season.
Markham sliced the deficit in half on the power play just 1:18 later as Chance Adams figured out Wellington starter Royden Smith to put the hosts on the score sheet.
The Royals drew even when former Duke Maxime Morin set up Bruce Bowen in the slot at 6:23.
The game moved to overtime where Mr. Smith saved Wellington’s bacon with a sprawling desperation save in the closing moments of the 4-on-4 period.
The teams were reduced to playing 3-on-3 for the second overtime period where the Royals prevailed.
Somehow, Will Mitchell was unable to tap home the game winner with Mr. Caballero fending for a loose puck on the Royals goal line. Late in the session, Markham was provided a 2-on-0 break and Andrew Brees was able to breeze in alone on Mr. Smith, beating the netminder low glove side for the game winner.
Prior to Saturday’s January 10 Hockey Canada movement deadline, the Dukes were busy and made a number of deals.
The club added Mr. Tucker from North York. Previously the captain of the Rangers, Mr. Tucker is the son of former NHLer Darcy Tucker. Wellington now boasts the offspring of three NHLers. The other two are Patrick Marleau (Son Landon) and Dan Berthiaume (Son Blake).
Wellington also dealt Vince Albanesse and Noah Smith to Georgetown for forward Aiden Lee. The team also added winger Cooper Woron from Oakville and goaltender Dryden Riley from Timmins for Player Development Fees.
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