Cranbrook Bucks 20-year-old forward Matthew Duarte has left the team to return to his hometown Hamilton Kilty B’s of the Junior B Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Duarte appeared in 19 games with the Bucks this season, collecting a pair of assists.

He is returning to a team with which he tallied 21 goals and 38 assists for 59 points through 46 games last season.

Duarte added another three goals and nine helpers for 12 points in 17 playoff games last spring as the Kilty B’s made a run to the GOJHL conference finals.

In addition to today’s trade, the Cranbrook Bucks revealed that forward Matthew Duarte is returning to the GOJHL’s Hamilton Kilty B’s after 19 BCHL games.

Duarte heads back to a place where he scored 59 points (21G, 38A) in 46 games last season.

📸: Martin Ross—Cranbrook Bucks pic.twitter.com/3Zsxj4f3Vo

— Chris Keck (@CK885) December 3, 2022

Duarte also spent the 2020-21 season with Hamilton, but didn’t play games due to the season being cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He got his first taste of action with the Kilty B’s in 2018-19 when he contributed two goals and an assist in seven GOJHL games, while primarily playing U18 AAA with the Brantford 99ers that season.

The Bucks revealed the news of Duarte’s departure in a news release announcing an unrelated recent trade.

Best of luck to Duarte in his future from the Cranbrook Bucks, Bucks Network, and everyone in Cranbrook.