Jacob Panetta - Head Coach / GM
Panetta, 29, began his hockey journey with the Quinte Red Devils, where he served as team captain for several seasons. After helping the Picton Pirates win the 2012-2013 Junior C Schmaltz Cup championship, he advanced to the OJHL and suited up with the Dukes from 2013 to 2016, serving as an assistant captain in his final year.
The Belleville resident spent four years from 2016 to 2020 at Colgate University, before going on to suit up in five professional seasons for the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen and a club in Denmark.
Jacob says; “I want to take Wellington and turn it into an elite development team where kids don’t come for one or two years, but they’re here to develop over a two, three-year span, whether that’s for OHL, (USports), or NCAA and take the lead with it that way,” he said. Returning to his roots and embracing the local hockey community again is something that Panetta said he is cherishing. “The County has given me my start to junior hockey and allowed me to earn a scholarship, and I’m really thankful for that.
CAITLIN MCCUAIG - TRAINER - SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Caitlin McCuaig is a registered physiotherapist who got her Masters in Physiotherapy at the University of Toronto. She works at a multidisciplinary clinic in Trenton when not found on the sports fields. Caitlin also has her Sports Diploma which allows her to work closely with many sports teams and is the highest sports physiotherapy designation in Canada. Caitlin is involved with many local and provincial level sports including Rugby, Senior Lacrosse, Skate Canada, Pan AMs and Para Ams to name a few over the past 10 years. She has been involved with hockey for the last 10 years and has also created a mentorship program for Queens physiotherapy students to get involved with minor hockey teams in the Kingston area. Caitlin's goal is to go to the Olympics as a Sports Physiotherapist.
PHIL GROENEVELD - GOALTENDING COACH
Phil grew up in Clarington and was drafted by the Peterborough Petes after a season with the Napanee Raiders. He played the majority of his junior hockey in Kanata and attended Ohio State University before heading to the Central Hockey League where he scored the first goalie goal in league history.
Phil played in Europe for 13 years in the elite league’s (Rouen France, Amsterdam Netherlands, and Bolzano Italy) winning 4 championships and 4 top goalie awards. Phil joined the Netherlands National Team where he played in 7 World Championships for Holland and won a bronze medal and an additional top goalie award in international competition.
Throughout his career, Phil coached goalies from minor hockey up to pro and national team level with an understanding of the physical and mental game and what it takes to make a strong athlete. In recent years Phil worked with local minor hockey organizations to develop local goalie talent and is very happy to join the Duke’s organization, a team with great hockey tradition and share his experience to help the Dukes goalies move on to the next level.
Joey Lavender - Nickname "The Boss" Dressing Room Attendant
Joey has been helping the Dukes for over 20 years. He gets the water bottles ready for the team and does laundry. Joey gets the jerseys and socks ready on game day and collects them again after the games. I really like keeping the players positive and celebrating with them after we win he says. The players and staff are great and I have made many friends over the years. I still talk to lots of them even after they no longer play for the Dukes.
Dr. ADAM REYNOLDS - STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH
Dr. Adam Reynolds is a certified strength and conditioning coach and chiropractor that resides in Picton. He has an interest in performance training and coaching athletes, especially hockey players. He has spent time in this role with the Florida Panthers (NHL) and Rochester Americans (AHL). Adam is excited to be part of the Wellington Dukes!
