February 16, 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)TRENTON, ONTARIO – FEBRUARY 16: Zachary Carrier #22 of the Wellington Dukes makes the hit on Taeo Artichuk #6 of the Trenton Golden Hawks during the third period at the Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens on February 16, 2026 in Trenton, Ontario. (Photo by Tim Bates / OJHL Images)Â
By Brock Ormond – OJHL
The Wellington Dukes proved themselves to be giant killers in a rivalry matchup at the Duncan McDonald Community Gardens.
In the final installment of the 2025-26 Battle of Quinte season series, the Dukes handed the Trenton Golden Hawks their first loss in exactly a month in a 5-2 decision, snapping Trenton’s 11 game winning streak in the process.
Wearing special jerseys to be auctioned off in support of the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Hawks got the ball rolling with Josh Penney’s eighth in a Trenton jersey 3:32 into the day, beating Dryden Riley, but that was the most control the host team would have in the game.
Isaiah Shantz and Andrew Wycisk picked up the assists.
Wellington fought its way back even, as Aiden Lee, responsible for the game-tying marker in Minden on Saturday to finish a comeback, slipped home his third goal in two games through Hayden Jeffery around the 11-minute mark from Cooper Woron and Cain Tucker.
The visiting Dukes then grabbed the lead with a Liam Campbell marker at the 13:57 juncture, his 23rd of the year from Evan Erwin and ran with it into the intermission.
Toward the end of a hard-fought second period, the Dukes managed to add on with Zack Carrier’s 33rd of the year, assisted by Cole Ellis and Zach Mascard at 16:58.
Wellington’s momentum kept rolling into the third, as Campbell buried his second of the game and 24th of the season a little more than a minute into the period from Lee and Kyle Grasby.
Wycisk ripped home a powerplay goal to cut into the Wellington lead, assisted by Lucas Digiantommaso and Jack Ziliotto at 9:16.
Despite a big push, the Hawks couldn’t break further through thanks to the brilliance of Trenton native Riley.
Mascard put the game on ice with an empty netter from Woron and Tucker for his 15th of the year.
Riley finished with 38 saves on 40 shots in his first return to his hometown rink.
Hayden Jeffery made 26 saves for Trenton in the defeat.
The Dukes earned a point for a third straight game and improved to 25-16-4-5 on the season with 59 points.