Jack Duff Joins Toledo Walleye for 2026‑27 Season
The Toledo Walleye announced this week that defenseman Jack Duff has signed a contract to wear the team’s colors for the upcoming 2026‑27 NHL season, marking the first full professional chapter of a career that has already spanned five years of Canadian university hockey.
Born in Kingston, Ontario, Duff grew up skating on the frozen ponds of eastern Canada before starring for the Queen’s University Golden Gaels, where over 111 games he recorded 34 points — nine goals and 25 assists — and accumulated 107 penalty minutes, a testament to his physical style and willingness to block shots.
Prior to his collegiate tenure, Duff spent four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Erie Otters, contributing 49 points — nine goals and 40 assists — in 194 appearances and earning the honor of captaining the club during the 2019‑20 campaign, a role that highlighted his leadership qualities.
Last spring, Duff made a brief but promising appearance for the Walleye, logging a +3 rating across three games and catching the eye of coaching staff, who view his defensive reliability and willingness to engage physically as assets for a blue‑line that seeks depth and experience.
The organization’s management praised the addition, noting that Duff’s blend of size, grit and hockey sense aligns with the team’s vision of building a competitive roster capable of contending for a championship in the near future.