Ontario Junior Hockey League resident writer Ron Valentine is profiling the 2024-25 team captains across The OJ.
BY RON VALENTINE
Clinton native Cory Jewitt is the captain of the OJHL’s Wellington Dukes for the 2024-25 campaign.
Cory, who turned 20 on Sept. 1, became a Duke last season and put up 30 goals and 67 points during the 56-game schedule, good for second place on the squad. He had seven more points in five playoff contests. No. 18 had six game-winning goals and was tied for third in the OJHL with 15 goals on the power play. He had two four-point and five three-point games and was on fire in his last 15 games posting 25 points.
He graduated from the Huron Perth Lakers minor hockey organization and joined the GOJHL’s Listowel Cyclones for their 2021-22 campaign where he amassed 65 points. Last season, he was selected to play for OJHL Team Oates in the Eastern Canada Cup. In the 2020 OHL U16 draft Cory was selected by the Peterborough Petes.
In 2023-24 the Dukes finished third in the highly competitive East with 35 wins and 73 points before bowing out of the playoffs in the first round to the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in five games. They won the first game 5-2 with Cory getting a goal and three assists.
Head coach Kent Lewis, also in his second season with the team, says selecting Cory was easy: “Cory sets a great example on and off the ice for our group, which makes him a logical choice to be captain of the Dukes. To help Cory we have many quality kids on this team that also have great leadership qualities.”
Cory looks back on last season: “We started out with one returning player so we didn’t really know what to expect but as the season progressed we were able to grow together as a team and we had a good year though the playoff loss was tough to take. Mr. Lewis brought in players who had lots of skill, he’s always ready to help and teach us.”
“I’m extremely honoured to lead the team this season and our goal is nothing less than becoming a championship team. I was captain in my last minor hockey season so I’m ready for the challenge this year. I want to have a positive dressing room and look forward to trying to reach our high goals.”
“We have a lot of players who are coming back with the experience of last season under their belts and they are ready to make an impact, just one example is (17-year-old) Zach Carrier, look for him to have a big year.”
Cory is heading for a high-scoring season, his last at the junior level: “Scoring is nice but I really want to be known as a 200-foot, a player who is ready for all situations. It’s great playing for the and now being captain of the Dukes, our fans are there for us each and every game and that really makes a difference.”
Like many of the league’s top players, Cory is eyeing a scholarship in the NCAA or U SPORTS and with another outstanding season on tap it is very much in the cards for the Dukes’ new ‘C’.
The Dukes open their OJHL season in Pickering Sunday night.
Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda
