Forging ahead

Dukes split weekend games, slip out of first place

Story and Photos: Kevin Scanlon

Asplit of their weekend games cost the Wellington Dukes the lead in the East Division as they slipped into second place, one point behind Trenton. But the Dukes, with their 10-3 record, have a game in hand and could jump back into first place with a win at home against North York tomorrow.

The team played a strong game at home Friday against Collingwood, but fell short in Sunday’s penalty-filled game in Brantford.

DUKES 7 – COLLINGWOOD 4
For the first half of the opening period in Wellington on Friday night, the visiting Colts seemed to have been lulled to sleep by the long bus ride from Collingwood. The Dukes took full advantage.

Less than three minutes into the game, Dylan Massie made a no-look back pass to Ben Addison whose shot rebounded to Jake Gagnon for an easy goal into the wide-open net.

Jacob Vreugdenhil swipes at the puck in front of Collingwood goalie Nick Donofrio and an audience of Colts players on Friday night.

Two minutes later, the Dukes led 2-0 when Quinn Hanna intercepted a clearing attempt inside the Colts blueline and scored a longdistance unassisted goal.

At one point, the Dukes held a 7-1 advantage in shots. That didn’t last. The Colts’ top line went to work late in the period, with Jacob Campbell scoring from the goalmouth at 17:41. Just 18 seconds later, Campbell fired a shot that was in and out of the net so quickly that the referee in the corner waved it off while the Colts were gathering to celebrate inside the blueline. After the next whistle, the officials huddled at centre ice then reversed the call. The period ended 2-2. By then, Collingwood had taken a 14-10 advantage in shots.

The Dukes took over the game in the second period with a pair of unanswered goals.

Ben Evans deflected a Massie shot for a 3-2 lead before Ben Woodhouse grabbed a loose puck in the corner and drove to the net to fire the puck over Colts goalie Nick Donofrio’s shoulder for a 4-2 lead.

Collingwood looked like they were pondering that long bus ride home again in the third period when the Dukes swarmed the visitors and outshot them 13-6.

Landon McLellan deflected a point shot from Derrick Vos almost halfway through the period to pad the Dukes’ lead. Four and half minutes later, Evans scored his second of the game off a pretty play by Gagnon, who carried the puck in from centre, circled the Collingwood net then fed Evans in front for the tap-in goal. That made it 6- 2.

The Colts tried to make it interesting, scoring a couple of late goals on Matt Keeley, but Daniel Panetta scored into the empty net with 36 seconds left to put the game away. That goal was the result of a beautiful pass from Dawson Ellis, who threaded the needle from his own side of centre to give Panetta the breakaway on the open cage.

Ben Woodhouse roofs a shot past Collingwood goalie Nick Donofrio to give the Dukes a 4-2 lead on Friday night.

Ellis had another strong game at both ends of the ice with his tireless skating and relentless checking.

BRANTFORD 4 – DUKES 2
Sunday’s game in Brantford was a tale of the penalty box as the Dukes took 17 penalties, including four misconducts and two game misconducts. The 99ers were called for 10 infractions.

Fortunately for the Dukes, Brantford only converted one of their seven power plays into a goal.

The game was surprisingly close. After one period, it was tied 1-1 after Jacob Vreugdenhil scored halfway through the frame.

Brantford scored their power play goal halfway through the second with Ryan Smith serving a double minor penalty for spearing. The 99ers grabbed a 3-1 lead early in the third period. At 11:31, Wellington rookie Barrett Joynt scored his first Ontario Junior Hockey League goal to get the Dukes close. But the 99ers popped one into the empty net to end any hope of a comeback.

The Dukes were outshot 47-31 in the game and 22-11 in the third when several spectacular saves by Wellington goalie Matt Dunsmoor kept the 99ers at bay.

UP NEXT: NORTH YORK AND WHITBY
The Dukes play a rare Thursday night home game tomorrow at 7:30 when they host the North York Rangers. North York sits in last place in the South Division.

The Dukes then travel to Whitby on Sunday for a 6:30 game against East Division rivals the Fury, who are in third place.