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.
Darcy Murphy, MBA
Associate Coach / Director of Scouting
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.
JEFF WHITTAKER - VIDEO COACH
Jeff has been with the Dukes organization for over Four years now and his main role is camera operator for FloHockey. Jeff also does some scouting at the minor hockey level on the side. Jeff is a great asset to the team!
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.
