From grassroots programs to in-arena recognition, the Belleville Senators continue to play an active role in supporting hockey at the local level throughout the Quinte region.
Whether it’s connecting young players in local minor hockey associations with professional role models, sharing the results of our local junior teams during home games, or contributing time and resources to community initiatives, the Senators remain committed to growing the game across the Bay of Quinte, beyond the ice at CAA Arena.
Throughout the season, Senators players, coaches, and staff regularly engage with local hockey organizations, reinforcing the importance of development, inclusivity, and community connection. These efforts help strengthen the pathway from minor hockey to higher levels of the game, while also ensuring young athletes feel seen and supported.
The Senators are also committed to keeping the tradition of junior hockey in the Bay of Quinte strong, adding Senators and “support local hockey” rink boards around the community, that proudly feature the logos of the Wellington Dukes, Trenton Golden Hawks, Frankford Huskies, and Picton Pirates. The Sens will also welcome those teams to CAA Arena for matchups throughout the season.
“As the Bay of Quinte’s professional hockey team, supporting local hockey is a responsibility we take seriously,” said Belleville Senators Vice President of Business Operations John Mathers. “We’re proud to help create opportunities for young players to develop, feel connected to the game and our club, and to see a pathway forward. The strength of our organization is directly tied to the strength of our hockey community, and we’re committed to continuing that support throughout the season and beyond.”
As the season continues, this page will be updated with the latest examples of how the Belleville Senators are giving back to local hockey — celebrating the programs, players, and partnerships that make the sport thrive in our community.
On December 8, rookies Landon Hookey and Tomas Hamara took part in the Belleville Bearcats First Shift skate at the Mackay Insurance Arena inside the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre. They helped beginner-level players learn some basics and played a game of giant-on-ice tag!
On December 12, Jake Chiasson and Wyatt Bongiovanni joined the U9A Belleville Bearcats for a skate at World Elite Training on Bell Boulevard in Belleville, helping run drills and getting to know the players.
On December 17, Jorian Donovan, Jamieson Rees, and Oskar Pettersson stopped by two Quinte West Minor Hockey practices to help out the coaching staff and share their knowledge. They also played a spirited scrimmage, with the three Senators and a young goalie taking on close to 20 players on the other side, at one point.
Quinte West hockey fans have had lots to cheer for and be proud about with their Trenton Golden Hawks these past few seasons.
The Hawks have made three consecutive Buckland Cup Ontario Junior Hockey League Finals, capping off the last of these with some hardware in 2024-25, claiming the organization’s second league title with a six-game victory over the Milton Menace after winning the East Conference with 92 points.
A strong showing at the Centennial Cup National Junior A Tournament in Calgary ended in heartbreak, with the Hawks falling in a one-goal affair versus the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Melville Millionaires in the semifinals.
This season, fuelled by the memory of that bitter defeat, the Hawks have picked up where they left off, steaming out to a 29-8-0-2 record with 60 points, one behind the Stouffville Spirit for first place in the East as of Jan. 19.
Leading the charge offensively has been their igniter Taeo Artichuk, who has racked up points at a breakneck pace, leading the OJHL with 85 in just 39 games.
His 29 goals has him tied for the league lead, while his 56 helpers tops all playmaksers.
His running mate Jack Ziliotto, picked up in an offseason acquisition, has been counted on for big goals all season, netting 26 in 39 games to go along with 64 points (2nd in OJHL).
Veterans Thomas Kuipers, Isaiah Shantz, Lucas Digiantommaso, Jamie Darlison, Joey Brehmer and Beckett Ewart have complemented the Hawks top guns and 17-year-old Kale Mace has shown well as a top prospect in the OJHL with 20 points.
Head Coach/GM Derek Smith, a former defenceman himself, has prioritized building a strong, veteran blueline all season leading up to the trade deadline, acquiring Quinte Red Devils graduate Duncan Schneider from the Cobourg Cougars, Andrew Wycisk from the OHL’s Niagara Icedogs, Preston Otting from the Leamington Flyers and Casey Bridgewater from the Sarnia Sting to join returnees Candon O’Neill and Matt Hicks on the backend.
Hayden Jeffery has carried the bulk of the goaltending load this season, running out to a 20-5-2-0 record in 27 games.
He is joined by Colton Drillen-Roach, a Buckland Cup and Centennial Cup National champion with the Collingwood Blues in 2024 and Peterborough Petes draft pick Dylan Lee-Stack.
Last Game
4-2 Loss vs Haliburton County Huskies on Friday, Jan. 16 (ended nine-game winning streak)
Goals- Taeo Artichuk (29th), Jamie Darlison (23rd)
Assists- Artichuk (56th), Beckett Ewart (21st), Andrew Wycisk (14th)
Hayden Jeffery made 22 saves on 26 shots
All-Star Representation
Four players, Artichuk, Ziliotto, Wycisk and Jeffery represented Trenton and the East Conference at the OJHL All-Star Game in Milton on Sunday.
Artichuk- 1 G, 1A, Jeffery 15 saves on 17 shots in 9-4 West Conference victory
On the Docket- Tuesday, Jan. 20 vs Aurora Tigers 1 p.m. at Duncan McDonald Community Gardens (School Day Game)
Friday, Jan. 23 vs Pickering Panthers 7:30 p.m. at Duncan McDonald Community Gardens
Saturday, Jan. 24 @ Haliburton County Huskies 4 p.m. at SG Nesbitt Memorial Arena, Minden
To say it’s been a tumultuous last few seasons for the ‘Pride of the County’ would be a massive understatement.
After needing to rebuild the majority of their team prior to the 2023-24 season, the Dukes amassed 66 wins in two regular seasons under former BCHL head coach Kent Lewis and continued the tradition of being a competitive, entertaining group to watch at Lehigh Arena.
The Dukes were ultimately swept in four straight in a Round 1 series versus the Stouffville Spirit.
Lewis’ departure this past offseason necessitated another change behind the bench and owner Ken Clement turned to a pair of familiar local faces to lead the charge.
Former Dukes defenceman of the year Jacob Panetta and all-time franchise single-season goals record-holder Darcy Murphy have taken over as head coach/GM and assistant coach/head scout, respectively.
Those two former Colgate University graduates have built a younger team with solid veteran leadership that has gone through some ups and downs this season, bouncing back from a lengthy winless skid at one point to post a 17-13-3-5 record and 42 points, good for seventh in a usually competitive East Conference.
Sacha Trudel of Montreal, Quebec sports the Captain’s C for the Dukes this season in his third and final campaign in Wellington and he has rewarded his coaching staff’s confidence in him with 42 points in 38 games.
Zack Carrier has come into his own as an offensive weapon for the Dukes, notching a team-leading 46 points while taking on some of the load left by the departure of Ethan Murray midseason to the BCHL.
Joining those two up front has been Zach Mascard (44 points in 36 GP), Landon Marleau (18 goals, 28 points in 25 GP), ex-Quinte Red Devils Evan Erwin (27 points) and Liam Campbell (25 points) and Will Mitchell (23 points in 21 GP since being required from Blackfalds of the BCHL).
The Dukes managed to augment the rest of the offensive roster with the acquisitions of Cain Tucker (son of former NHLer Darcy Tucker) and Aiden Lee at the deadline, with the latter picking up the tying marker late in the third period in Wellington’s recent tie in Pickering.
Returnee Cole Ellis and overager Kyle Grasby have anchored the blueline most of the season, also consisting of agile rearguard Tristan Williams, the tough stay-at-home Carson Albert and the steadily progressing Justin Doak.
Wellington will aim to secure an OJHL playoff spot for the 37th consecutive season, a mark believed to be the longest in Canadian Junior Hockey League history.
4-4 Tie @ Pickering Panthers Friday Jan. 16
Goals- Sacha Trudel, Blake Berthiaume, Landon Marleau, Aiden Lee
Assists- Berthiaume, Trudel, Cain Tucker, Cole Ellis, Sammy Longo, Will Mitchell, Zack Carrier
Trenton native Dryden Riley made 28 saves in his Dukes debut after being acquired at the trade deadline
Carrier and Ellis both represented the East Conference at the recent OJHL All-Star Celebration in Milton.
Both played well despite not posting any points in the game.
On the Docket
Tuesday, Jan. 20 vs St. Michael’s Buzzers 7:30 p.m. at Lehigh Arena
Friday, Jan. 23 vs Markham Royals 7:30 p.m. at Lehigh Arena
Saturday, Jan. 24 @ Stouffville Spirit 7:30 p.m. at Stouffville Arena
Sunday, Jan. 25 vs Caledon Admirals 2:30 p.m. at Lehigh Arena
