About Us
Learn the story behind Wells Brothers — from growing up on a farm in Paris, Ontario, to professional hockey careers and a shared passion for handcrafted woodworking.
From The Ice to The Workshop
Brothers Jay and Bill Wells grew up on a farm in Paris, Ontario, where hard work, hands-on projects, and woodworking were part of everyday life. Those early experiences helped shape the values that would guide both their professional hockey careers and the craftsmanship they practice today.
Jay discovered his love for building at a young age. At just nine years old, he made his first hockey stick out of plywood. It broke on the first shot, but it sparked a lifelong interest in creating and building things by hand. Jay has always enjoyed studying how things are built. If he saw a piece of furniture or design he liked, he would go home and figure out how to build it himself
That same determination helped carry Jay to an 18-year NHL career. Known as a tough stay-at-home defenceman nicknamed “The Hammer”, he played for six NHL teams including the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and Tampa Bay Lightning. In 1994, Jay helped the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup, ending a 54-year championship drought.
Bill also built a strong hockey career, beginning with the Preston Raiders (OHA Jr. B) before moving on to the Toronto Marlboros (OHA Jr. A), where he won the 1975 Memorial Cup. He later played with the Cornwall Royals, was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1976, and went on to compete in senior and international hockey.
After his playing career, Bill spent many years in coaching and player development, working with programs such as Ayr Minor Hockey and the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs AAA. He later coached the Mount Bridges Bulldogs, leading the team to an Ontario Championship in 2000, and helped run the Wells Brothers Summer Hockey Schools alongside both Jay and their older brother Don Wells.
Craftsmanship Today...
Today, Jay and Bill work together designing and building handcrafted furniture and custom pieces. Using quality materials and traditional woodworking techniques, each piece is thoughtfully made to combine durability, function, and timeless design — furniture built to last for generations.
photo credit: ayrnews.ca