Dukes looking to parlay outstanding season into big playoff run

A tumultuous offseason turned into a positive 56-game OJHL season for the Wellington Dukes – and hopefully a fulfilling Buckland Cup playoff run.

In his first year behind the bench after a couple decades behind BCHL benches, Kent Lewis helped lead his new club to 35 wins and a third-place finish in the East Conference.

35 STRAIGHT YEARS IN THE PLAYOFFS: WELLINGTON DUKES’ HISTORIC RUN THROUGH THE CJHL RECORD BOOKS

The Wellington Dukes will make the Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs this season.

That line could have been written for every season since the Dukes’ junior hockey debut 35 years ago when they merged with the Belleville Bobcats franchise and relocated to Wellington in what was then the Metro Junior Hockey League. That streak sets a Canadian Junior Hockey League record, as confirmed by the league this week.

SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY SPORTS • LOCAL ATHLETES • LARGE EVENTS • RESULTS