Lehigh Arena - Wellington Dukes
- Dave Cottenie
- 16 hours ago
- 5 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
Lehigh Arena @ Wellington & District Community Centre
111 Belleville St
Wellington, ON K0K 1G0
Year Opened: 2010
Capacity: 1,225
The Dukes of Prince Edward County
One of the hidden gems of Ontario is Prince Edward County. The quiet area on the shores of Lake Ontario, just south of Belleville, offers a number of small communities and provincial parks. One of the villages of Prince Edward County is Wellington, home of the Dukes of the Junior A level Ontario Junior Hockey League. Wellington offers a population of nearly 2,000 of the 25,000 residents of Prince Edward County and is one of the smallest centres in the league.
The Dukes, named after Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of Wellington, a British Military leader, were established originally as a Junior C team. In 1989, the Dukes merged with the Belleville Bobcats and advanced to the Junior B level. Just two years later, the team moved up to Junior A, in what would be currently known as the OJHL. In their tenure, they have been one of the most successful franchises, earning the Buckland Cup as OJHL champions three times.
Home for the Dukes is Lehigh Arena, located in the Wellington & District Community Centre. Built in 2010, it is a community hub featuring an NHL-sized ice surface and a community hall. Lehigh Arena was originally named Essroc Arena after the cement company; however, it was renamed in 2019 after the Lehigh Cement Group purchased Essroc.
Food & Beverage 4
Lehigh Arena has one of the top concession spreads in the entire OJHL powered by Rico’s Food and Restaurant. A wide variety of options are available, including burgers, hot dogs, chicken, sausage, pogos, nachos, fries, poutine, onion rings, mac and cheese, pasta, fish, quesadillas, and pizza. Other snack items like popcorn, candy, and pretzels are also available. Beverages include coffee, tea, hot chocolate, energy drinks, and soda. There is also a full-service Blueline Club in the Taskforce Lounge at the east end of the arena that serves alcoholic beverages.
Atmosphere 4
Lehigh Arena is an attractive, modern-looking facility from the outside with light brick and large windows at the entrance. Fans are greeted by a temporary ticket table upon entry and pass into the main lobby, which has a warm viewing area that acts as the east end glass. The ice surface is east-west oriented with seating on both the north and south sides. A pair of centre ice logos is best viewed from the east or west ends.
The seating consists of eight rows of plastic arena seats, which begin at an elevated first row. Standing room with drink rails is available behind the seating area. A running track encircles the ice surface behind the standing room. A simple, hockey score clock hangs above centre ice, and protective netting runs from blueline to blueline with the centre ice area open. The benches at Lehigh Arena are across from each other, which is not normally found in modern arenas.
Inside the arena, there are some interesting items to keep a fan's attention for those who enjoy exploring. The Prince Edward County Sports Hall of Fame is found behind the Taskforce Lounge. At the opposite end of the arena are the championship banners earned by the Dukes, including the 2003, 2011, and 2018 Buckland Cups.
They are flanked by a number of Division and Conference Championship banners. Minor hockey banners hang on the south wall along with displays showing the history of the Duke of Wellington and the Village of Wellington. The north side features several trophy cases displaying artifacts from various levels of hockey, including the Dukes, and a mini-stick arena is in the upper southwest corner, to keep the younger, more rambunctious fans safe and engaged. Wellington’s favourite hockey son, former professional hockey player and AHL Hall of Fame member, Bryan Helmer, has his number 44 retired and hanging in the southeast corner.
The gameday atmosphere at a Dukes game is not unlike the others in the league. Promotions include a 50/50 draw and chuck a puck. Wellington’s mascot, Duke, can be found roaming the stands and interacting with fans.
Neighbourhood 3
Lehigh Arena is located at the northeast end of Wellington, in Prince Edward County. Although a small community, Wellington has a surprising number of bars and restaurants available. Fans should head south to Main Street, where some options are found, including Drake Devonshire, Rock ‘n Rogers Pizzeria, Pounder’s Waterfront Pub & Patio, The Lakeside, and Midtown Brewing. The Dukes are really the only game in town; however, the neighbouring town of Picton has the Junior C, Picton Pirates.
The Trenton Golden Hawks of the OJHL are not far, as are the AHL’s Belleville Senators. As for other tourist options, fans should consider the Wellington Heritage Museum, Wellington Beach, or one of the wineries in Prince Edward County. For those staying in the area, there are a few independent inns in Wellington, including The Lakeside and Drake Devonshire. For those wanting a larger, chain hotel, heading north to Belleville is the best idea.
Fans 4
The Wellington Dukes enjoy some of the strongest support in the OJHL. At the time of writing, early in the 2025-26 season, the Dukes were averaging 390 fans per game, which ranked them 6th in the OJHL at the time. The game that was reviewed welcomed nearly 350 fans. The previous season, the Dukes ranked 4th in the OJHL, averaging nearly 530 fans per game. This puts them just under the top echelon of teams in the league. Fans in Wellington are knowledgeable and supportive and generally pretty reserved, not unlike most other Ontario fans.
Access 3
Lehigh Arena is located at the northeast end of Wellington, in Prince Edward County. It is found on Belleville Street, which leads south to the lakeshore and Main Street. It is 36 km south of Highway 401, the main artery of Ontario. Belleville Street is also Prince Edward County Road 2 and is the main entry from the north.
Traffic will not be an issue, and the drive will be pleasant; however, it is a two-lane highway once off of Highway 401, and possibly not a terrific drive during the winter through rural areas. There is plenty of free parking on site. Unfortunately, there is no public transit available. Getting around Lehigh Arena is not an issue, and the washroom facilities are adequate for the venue.
Return on Investment 5
The Wellington Dukes offer a terrific return on investment for fans. Tickets for adults are $17 and can be purchased online or at the door. Seating is General Admission. There are discounts available for seniors, students, and children. Parking is free, and concession prices are good. The OJHL offers a solid hockey product, and the Dukes are almost always a competitive team. This all adds up to a terrific value for the sporting dollar.
Extras 2
An extra mark for Wellington’s rivalry with the Trenton Golden Hawks, which produces the best crowds at Lehigh Arena each season.
An extra mark for the Wellington & District Community Centre as a community hub.
Final Thoughts
Heading to Prince Edward County is a great plan, especially in the autumn. While in Prince Edward County, taking in a Wellington Dukes game at Lehigh Arena is a fantastic idea and will leave fans satisfied in one of the most picturesque areas of Ontario.
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