NEWS

 

Ontario Junior Hockey League resident reporter Ron Valentine is profiling the 2021-22 team captains of The OJ. (Photo by Ed McPherson / OJHL Images)

BY RON VALENTINE

The Wellington Dukes have named veteran forward EMMET PIERCE as their captain for the 2021-22 campaign. 

Emmet comes from the Quinte Red Devils organization and spent his first season and a half with the GOJHL's Jr. B Strathroy Rockets where he scored 29 goals before moving up to the OHL’s Flint Firebirds. Emmet was drafted in the fourth round of the OHL's Priority Selection by the London Knights in 2017.

"Playing in Strathroy gave me my first opportunity in Junior hockey,” noted the well-spoken right-winger. "I learned the ropes there. One of my best friends was the team captain and as a whole everything went well for me.” 

“Then at the trading deadline, as a 17-year old, I went to Flint. The team did not have a good reputation in many circles but the organization had ... turned everything around for the better. In Flint I was treated, as were all the players, like pros.”

Pierce earned 31 points (14G/17A) during 79 games in the OHL, all with Flint.

“The club had too many overagers at the end of my second year so I jumped at the chance to play for the Dukes. I was born in Napanee but my family recently moved to Shannonville and I wanted them to be able to come and see me play ... and that was an important part of my decision to join Wellington."

Then COVID-19 came to town.

“It was tough for us all not being able to play because of the pandemic but I kept busy as I got a job as a butcher working five days a week and I was also able to skate a bit and help out some young players."

On to this year.

"We have six players in their final season in the OJHL so the experience is definitely there but we also have a lot of new talented skaters as well. The club looks already very well balanced; two strong goalies, a solid D core and forwards who can put the puck in the net."

'I have three assistant captains: Jacob Vruegdenhil, Mason Reeves and defenceman Cole McGuire. Jacob is a goal scorer and a complete player as well, Mason loves to use his weight and that creates all kinds of space on the ice for us and Cole does his job on the blueline and he has offensive flair, too. They are the assistants but this is really a team of leaders so I'm going to get tons of help as the season moves along. We are set in goal with veteran Matt Dunsmoor and the very capable Ethan Morrow."

"When I'm on the ice I usually have the pass-first mentality. As a playmaker I like to feed guys the puck but I do have a decent shot as well and like playing in powerplay and penalty-killing situations."

Pierce has a goal and three assists for the 3-2-0-1 Dukes. They are home to arch-rival Trenton tonight.

"Next season for me, hopefully, I will be playing hockey in U SPORTS and this year my role is to help the Dukes go all the way. We are given all the tools by our head coach, Derek Smith, 'Smitty' to us, and he's always there for us."

The coach gets the last word

We are looking forward to the season with Emmet as captain of the Wellington Dukes. He brings a ton of experience on and off the ice which will be very valuable to our organization, but even more importantly he is a great role model for the players on our hockey club and the people in our community."

Winning  a national championship with the Dukes would be a fitting end to Emmet's junior career. The club made it to the Canadian title tournament in 2003, 2011 and 2018 but were not able to come home with the laurels. This year?

Follow Ron Valentine on Twitter @ronandlynda