Beyond the Crease: A Season of Excellence, Record-Breaking Support, and Community Heart
The 2025-26 Trenton Golden Hawks season has officially drawn to a close, leaving behind a legacy that will be talked about for years to come. While the final score of the post-season didn’t go our way, the true story of this year was written long before the final buzzer—it was written in the stands of a packed Duncan McDonald Memorial Gardens and in the classrooms and charity events across Quinte West.
A Historic Year on the Ice
From a purely statistical standpoint, the 2025-26 campaign was one for the history books. Finishing as the Eastern Conference Champions, the Golden Hawks produced one of the most dominant regular seasons in the franchise’s last decade. With a staggering record of 45 wins, 9 losses, and 2 overtime losses, the team amassed 92 points, setting a gold standard for consistency and grit.
While the team success was evident in the standings, the individual achievements reached historic heights this season. The 2025-26 campaign saw the Trenton Golden Hawks record books completely rewritten, led by a generational performance from Taeo Artichuk.
Artichuk cemented his legacy as one of the greatest offensive players in franchise history. However, the depth of this veteran group was on full display as multiple Hawks hit “Century Mark” milestones in scoring and games played.
The Artichuk Era: New Franchise Records
TGH All-Time Points Leader: Taeo Artichuk
TGH All-Time Assists Leader: Taeo Artichuk
TGH Single-Season Points Record: Taeo Artichuk
TGH Single-Season Assists Record: Taeo Artichuk
Career Milestone: 200+ OJHL Career Points
The 100-Point Club (Career Milestone) – Hitting 100 points in the OJHL is a mark of elite offensive consistency. This year, five Hawks joined this prestigious club:
Thomas Kuipers
Jamie Darlison
Jack Ziliotto
Beckett Ewart
Lucas Di Giantommaso
The 100-Assist Club (Career Milestone) – Playmaking at its finest. These players reached 100 career assists this season:
Taeo Artichuk
Jack Ziliotto
The Ironmen: 100 OJHL Games Played – Strength, durability, and commitment to the league. We celebrate these six players for reaching 100 career games:
Duncan Schneider
Taeo Artichuk
Jamie Darlison
Beckett Ewart
Lucas Di Giantommaso
Joey Brehmer
The 6th Man: Record-Breaking Fan Support
While the players performed on the ice, the fans performed in the stands. This year, the Golden Hawks saw a record number of season ticket holders, a testament to the deep-rooted passion of Hawks Nation.
“The energy at the Dunc this year was unlike anything we’ve seen in a long time,” noted the team’s management. “Seeing a record number of families and fans committing to season tickets tells us that this team belongs to the community. We can’t thank our season ticket holders enough for their loyalty and for making our home ice the most intimidating environment for visiting teams in the OJHL.”
A Pillar of Quinte West: Community & Charity
The Trenton Golden Hawks brand has always stood for more than just hockey, and 2025-26 saw that commitment reach new heights. Throughout the winter, players and staff were fixtures in the community, moving beyond the rink to make a tangible difference.
From school visits where players spent mornings reading to students and promoting active lifestyles, to participating in local fundraisers, the Hawks took their role as mentors seriously.
One of the brightest of the season’s highlights was the team’s “In-House” fundraising efforts. Most notably, the Golden Hawks’ partnership with the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation (TMHF) saw the community rally together to raise well over $4,000. These funds go directly back into local healthcare, ensuring that the team’s impact is felt by everyone in Quinte West, long after the ice is melted.
Partners in Success
This historic season was made possible through the unwavering support of our corporate sponsors and our partnership with the City of Quinte West. Their investment in the team allows us to provide an elite experience for our players and a premier entertainment value for our fans. Whether it was game-day activations or community outreach programs, our partners were the wind beneath the wings of the Golden Hawks all year long.
Individual Honors: The 2025-26 Awards
At our year-end luncheon, we took a moment to celebrate the individuals who embodied the “HAWKS”:
Most Valuable Player: Taeo Artichuk
Forward of the Year: Jack Ziliotto
Defenseman of the Year: Andrew Wycisk
Rookie of the Year: Kale Mace
Humanitarian of the Year: Thomas Kuipers
The Hunt Never Ends
As we head into the off-season, we do so with our heads held high. We are Eastern Conference Champions. We are community leaders. And most importantly, we are a family.
The 92-point season was a statement. The record-breaking fundraising for the community l was a promise. And the record-breaking fan support is the fuel that will drive us into 2026-27.
