The Wellington Dukes and Trenton Golden Hawks will be playing in the first ever “Hasty P’s Cup”, presented by Trent Valley Distributors. The eight game series starts Wednesday November 11 at 2 p.m. and finishes on December 2 at 2 p.m.
By James Tubb
BELLEVILLE – The Trenton Golden Hawks and Wellington Dukes will renew their rivalry once again.
In partnership with the OJHL and YourTV Belleville and presented by Trent Valley Distributors. The two teams will face off in an eight game series called, “The Hasty P’s Cup.”
The tournament will begin on Remembrance Day, Wednesday November 11, and run until December 2. The doors to both arenas will be locked as fans will have to catch the series on YourTV Belleville, HockeyTV or listen along on 99.3 County FM.
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The Golden Hawks and Dukes were gearing up to face off in the second round of the OJHL playoffs in March before the season was ultimately cancelled.
For Golden Hawks head coach Peter Goulet, this series is a chance for the two teams to re-kindle a historic rivalry and get ready for the regular season.
“This is a great rivalry and Wellington has a great team, this will be a great series,” he said.
“Obviously we want to win it all but the series also allows us to get some lines together and see how they work.”
The OJHL has not had a game played since the playoffs were cancelled.
Goulet is coming off of his first season as the Golden Hawks GM/head coach. Trenton finished second in the East Division with 84 points.
“Playing now feels the same as any year but instead of getting ready for an October start we are playing in November,” Goulet said.
One of the COVID-19 regulations the teams must follow in the series is the restriction on body contact. Players are not allowed to make contact with one another on the ice. For Goulet, this restriction has played a part into their preparations for the series but he is not worried for his players.
“There will be a lot of puck battles and we will have to hold onto the puck as much as we can to win. We’ll just play our game and follow the rules,” he said.
— Trenton Golden Hawks (@OJHLGoldenHawks) November 8, 2020
Wellington Dukes head coach Derek Smith shares the same sentiment when it comes to the restriction on body contact throughout the series.
“It will be an adjustment for the players. Our mindset of ‘stick on puck’ will come into play even more. There will be a lot more room for the guys out there,” he said.
Like Goulet, Smith is entering his second season as coach. The former Wellington Duke joined the team in 2017 as an assistant coach before getting the promotion last season. Smith was awarded the OJHL’s coach of the year award in March for taking the team to a 88 point campaign that saw them make the playoffs.
“This series is good for the community in a time like this. Any time we can play in front of them and create some chatter around the hockey team, it’s positive,” Smith said.
The Hasty P’s Cup is named in honour of the Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment. The Hastings Prince Edward Regiment received 31 battle honours in the Second World War and are the most decorated Canadian infantry from WW2.
“With the support of the County of Prince Edward, the city of Quinte West and the Hasting Prince Edward Health Unit, the OJHL is excited to have two great franchises getting our players back on the ice”, said OJHL Commissioner, Marty Savoy in a media release.
Game One will be in Wellington. Puck drops at 2 p.m.
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