June 25, 2026
By Total Sports Quinte
Photo: Ed McPherson / OJHL Images
WELLINGTON, ONT. — One of Prince Edward County’s most treasured sports institutions is entering a new era.
After nearly a decade of ownership, Wellington Dukes Governor and Owner Ken Clement has sold the Ontario Junior Hockey League franchise to local businessman Andrew Gunning, President of Farnsworth Construction and owner of Oak Hills Golf Club.
The Ontario Junior Hockey League Board of Governors approved the transaction, which officially closed June 24.
For Clement, the sale marks the end of a chapter that began in 2017 when he stepped forward to stabilize the organization during a vulnerable period in its history. Over the past nine years, he helped guide the Dukes through some of their most successful seasons while preserving one of Canada’s most respected Junior A hockey programs.
Yet for Clement, the story of the Dukes has never been solely about championships, banners or wins.
“The fondest memories are seeing the young men move through the organization and go on to university, whether in Canada or the United States,” Clement said. “Then, years later, they connect with me on LinkedIn and you see them become successful professionals and contributing members of society. That’s the biggest reward for me.”
While the Dukes enjoyed significant success on the ice during his tenure—including a Buckland Cup championship in 2018, a trip to the Centennial Cup National Championship final and multiple deep playoff runs—Clement says watching players grow as people remains his proudest accomplishment.
“I’ve always believed hockey is about more than hockey,” he said. “It’s about helping young people develop into successful adults. Watching those players move on and build successful lives has been the most meaningful part of this journey.”
That philosophy helped strengthen a franchise already rich in history.
The Wellington Dukes have been a fixture in Prince Edward County for nearly four decades, earning a reputation as one of the premier development programs in Canadian Junior A hockey. The organization has captured multiple Buckland Cup and Dudley Hewitt Cup championships, produced NHL players and draft picks, and established itself as a national leader in advancing players to NCAA and U Sports programs. The Dukes also recently set a Canadian Junior Hockey League record by qualifying for the playoffs in 37 consecutive seasons.
When Clement became involved with the franchise in 2017, the future of the organization was uncertain. He began funding operations and assumed day-to-day leadership before ultimately purchasing the club outright.
Over the years, he invested heavily in the organization, frequently providing personal financial support to ensure the Dukes remained competitive and financially stable.
The decision to sell was not an easy one.
“I didn’t want to sell the team,” Clement said. “If circumstances had been different, I would have been happy to own the Dukes for another 20 years. It’s really a timing thing. With my biotech company on the verge of going public over the next several months, my circumstances will be very different, but it is what it is.”
Like many sports organizations, the Dukes faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Clement’s own business interests also experienced delays during a difficult economic period. Eventually, he realized it was time to find a successor who could continue building on the organization’s success while providing the hands-on local leadership the franchise deserves.
What mattered most, however, was ensuring the team remained in Wellington.
Rather than selling to an ownership group outside the region, Clement structured the transaction to allow local ownership to take over. As part of the agreement, he agreed to finance a significant portion of the purchase price interest-free over the next three years.
“I could have sold the team years ago and it wouldn’t be in Wellington today,” Clement said. “Keeping the Dukes in the County was important to me. That’s why I was willing to structure the deal the way I did.”
That commitment ultimately opened the door for Gunning to acquire the franchise and ensure it remains a true community asset.
For Clement, the decision reflects his belief that the Dukes belong to the community as much as they belong to any owner.
“This franchise means a lot to a lot of people,” he said. “I wanted to find someone who understood that responsibility.”
Gunning believes he has inherited far more than a hockey team.
“Moving forward with the Wellington Dukes, my priority is stabilizing our business operations so we can fully focus on building a winning on-ice product and a premier player development program,” Gunning said.
He added:
“For me, owning the Wellington Dukes is about honouring our team’s proud traditions while investing heavily in the future of our players and our community.”
While Clement reflects proudly on what was accomplished during his ownership, he acknowledges there were challenges along the way.
Despite years of personal investment and sacrifice, he says balancing the demands of an international business while operating a community hockey franchise was never easy.
“There were certainly moments that were disappointing,” Clement said. “When you’ve invested so much time, energy and personal resources into keeping a team successful and keeping it in the community, you hope people understand the commitment behind that. My business often required me to be outside Canada, and while some people didn’t always understand that, building my company was what ultimately allowed me to continue supporting the Dukes.”
Still, he chose to focus on what mattered most.
The players. The coaches. The volunteers. The sponsors. The families.
And the thousands of fans who packed Lehigh Arena through championship runs and unforgettable seasons.
Those relationships, he says, are what he will remember most.
“I wanted to leave the Dukes in good hands,” Clement said. “Andrew has strong roots in the region, he’s a successful businessman, and he understands how important this team is to the community. I believe he’ll be a great steward of the franchise.”
For Gunning, he stated that preserving the culture and tradition that have defined the Dukes for generations will remain the organization’s guiding principle.
“The Dukes have built something special over nearly four decades,” he said. “
For me, owning the Wellington Dukes is about honouring our team’s proud traditions while investing heavily in the future of our players and community.”
With the ownership transition now complete, one thing remains unchanged: the Dukes will continue to call Wellington home.
And thanks in part to the man who spent nine years helping secure the franchise’s future—and who chose to finance a significant portion of its transition to new local ownership—that future appears brighter than ever.
Photo Caption: WELLINGTON, ON – April 22, 2018: The Wellington Dukes celebrate their Buckland Cup championship victory following Game 6 of the Ontario Junior Hockey League Championship Series against the Georgetown Raiders at Lehigh Arena. (Photo by Ed McPherson / OJHL Images)