February 12, 2026
Photo: Michael Zuyev #5 of the North York Rangers and Liam Campbell #18 of the Wellington Dukes at the face-off during the second period on December 9, 2025 in North York, Ontario. (Photo by Oliver Ulster / OJHL Images)
By Neil Klassen – OJHL Fans
Tonight, the Wellington Dukes host the North York Rangers in a matchup that, historically, has been about as subtle as a tuba solo in a library.
Let’s start with the head-to-head numbers, which are… something. Over the last five seasons, Wellington has treated North York like a piñata filled with sadness: 14-1-0-0. Fourteen. To. One. That’s not a rivalry. That’s a documentary about one team’s emotional journey through adversity.
But wait—this season? Things are weird. Things are spicy. Things are… dare I say… competitive. The Rangers actually hold a win. A real one. On the record. They even beat Wellington 5–4 back in October, which feels like it happened during the Bronze Age but still counts.
Of course, Wellington responded by winning the next two meetings, including a 6–0 game in December that North York would prefer we never mention again. So naturally, we’re mentioning it again.
RECENT FORM: CHAOS ON BOTH SIDES
North York’s last game was a 9–1 loss to Leamington, which is the hockey equivalent of being hit by a bus, then the bus backing up to check what it hit, then running you over again. Before that, they dropped a 5–4 heartbreaker to Georgetown, but hey—they did beat St. Mike’s 8–3, so the vibes are unpredictable at best.
Wellington, meanwhile, is on a two-game skid of their own, including a 5–1 loss to Caledon. Yes, Caledon. The team that scores like they’re rationing goals for winter. The Dukes are 6–3 in their last 10, but the last week has been… let’s call it “character building.”
THE MATCHUP: STATS THAT MAKE YOU SAY ‘HMM’
Here’s the tale of the tape:
North York Rangers
– Record: 5-37-5-0 (this is not a typo)
– Goals For: 120
– Goals Against: 253 (also not a typo)
– Power Play: 12.94%
– Penalty Kill: 68.23%
– Road Record: 1-19-4-0 (they pack their bags but not their wins)
Wellington Dukes
– Record: 23-16-5-0
– Goals For: 184
– Goals Against: 170
– Power Play: 29.52% (this is not a power play, this is a lifestyle)
– Penalty Kill: 77.25%
– Home Record: 13-8-2-0
Wellington’s home power play is operating at 39.51%. That’s not a stat, that’s a cry for help from opposing penalty killers.
North York’s penalty kill on the road is 63.74%. That’s… also a cry for help.
If the Rangers take penalties tonight, the scoreboard operator should probably stretch beforehand.
WHAT TO EXPECT TONIGHT
Expect Wellington to push the pace early. Expect North York to counter with youthful chaos, random bursts of brilliance, and the occasional “how did that go in” moment. Expect special teams to matter. Expect the Dukes’ power play to be the most dangerous thing in the building not attached to a Zamboni.
And expect because this is the OJHL a game that makes absolutely no sense compared to the stats.