Story by Brock Ormond
Photo: Cory Jewitt and Head Coach/GM Kent Lewis share a handshake following the appointment of the 20-year old forward as captain of the Wellington Dukes for the 2024-25 OJHL season
The Wellington Dukes are set to start their quest for a potential fourth Buckland Cup title this weekend.
Kent Lewis is back as head coach and general manager of the Dukes after leading his new team to 35 wins and a third place finish in the OJHL East Conference in the franchise’s 35th anniversary season.
Coming in partway through the offseason last year, Lewis said he and former GM Todd Diminie made like the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL and took a lot of veteran castoff players that worked out well in a ‘neat, challenging year.’
“We worked with that, and the kids last year did a great job of coming in and really listening and adapting,” he said.
This season, the coach/GM stated the group is erring on the younger side, with a number of 17-year-olds (2007-born) in the lineup.
“The fans will find that when you bring in younger players and good, elite players, there’s going to be some hiccups and that’s what junior hockey is all about.”
“We’re really happy with the mix and the age that we have with our group, and we’re really happy with the young guys we brought in.”
Cory Jewitt, who led the group with 30 goals and 67 points last regular season, and nine points in the postseason, will inherit the captain’s ‘C’ from outgoing defenceman Dimitri Tzaferis.
He told the OJHL that he is extremely honoured to lead the Dukes and dig into his leadership bag to bring another championship back to Prince Edward County
“I was captain in my last minor hockey season so I’m ready for the challenge this year. I want to have a positive dressing room and look forward to trying to reach our high goals,” he stated.
“Cory is just a top-notch kid, so kudos to the parents and the family. They’ve raised a wonderful kid there,” Lewis added.
The coach cited his routine, his ‘lead-by-example style and two-way ability on the ice and his junior experience are all what make him an obvious choice.
“He checks all the boxes, but it’s just not about a captain, it’s about guys around him, and we’re going to surround him with other good lettermen.”
Lewis cited returnees Jewitt, Ryan Schaap, Zander Latreille, and Sacha Trudel as key igniters for the team up front and will be expected to lead the pathway to success for the newer players.
Etobicoke native Colin Smith leads a blueline that features fellow returnee Logan Sitlani, veteran newcomers Riley Noble and Logan Klaiber and young budding stars Cole Ellis, Alex Hendry and Ronen McFarlane.
In net, Jack Lisson returns for a second season and will look to grab the starter’s net and run with it.
Former Toronto Jr. Canadiens U18 AAA netminder Gabe Donohue will push for time in the crease as well.
Lewis said he is especially intrigued to see how Lisson responds to a full season of the starter’s role.
“Jack is a very dedicated, very dialed-in individual and goes about his business. Being out of high school and having a little more time to be around the rink to work out I think is going to pay dividends for him.”
The Dukes are set to take on the Pickering Panthers at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday night in their season opener at Chestnut Hills Recreation Complex.
They will then return to Lehigh Arena for their home opener against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season, the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, on Friday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m.
With files from the OJHL
