Golden Hawks prepared for rivalry matchup on AHL ice tomorrow

The Trenton Golden Hawks will look to get back in the win column Friday when they take on the Wellington Dukes at CIBC Place in Belleville.

The latest meeting in the Battle of Highway 33 is part of the Belleville Senators Hockey Weekend in Quinte.

Trenton enters the game with an 8-11-2 record. A 3-2 loss to the Lindsay Muskies on Tuesday afternoon ended their season-best four game winning streak.

Recently acquired goaltender Eli Zucker has made six consecutive starts since joining the Golden Hawks in late October, recording four wins and a pair of shutouts during that stretch.

The Golden Hawks are averaging just under four goals a game this season as Kaiden Harmon leads the club with 27 points, followed by alternate captains Beckett Ewart and Ethan Brassard.

Ryan Chamberlain and Evan Norris each have eight goals, while Pacey Adduono has scored three times in as many games after starting the season with the Peterborough Petes.

Niko Krmpotic and Ben Radley continue to play heavy minutes on defence. Nathan McHattie and Matthew Hicks are regulars, with Michael Domina, Christian Sedgewick, Hunter Spicher and Peter Overzat.

The neutral-site matchup at CIBC Place renews a storied Quinte hockey tradition, with the two local junior A clubs going head-to-head at the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre’s centrepiece rink, and the G-Hawks are ready to rise to the challenge.

“It’s an amazing rivalry that goes back a generation,” said Golden Hawks Director of Business Operations Tracey Legault-Davis. “The Dukes versus Hawks, it doesn’t matter who’s where in the standings, it doesn’t matter what’s going on, everyone comes for that game. Players come motivated, both sides to give it their all.”

Fundraising efforts that night, and throughout the Senators’ Hockey Weekend in Quinte, will benefit the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation. A cause that is always top of mind for Legault-Davis.

“We’re really happy we spoke with the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation, and we’re really excited for them to do some fundraising. Anytime we can support them.”

Tickets for the game are now on sale via Ticketmaster.