The Dukes’ Erick Delaurentis tries to cause some commotion in between Golden Hawks goaltender Denny Dubblestyne and Ryan Kinsella. Deslaurentis had two assists in the matchup.

Dukes lose Friday, rebound on Sunday
Story: David Brown  Photos: Ed McPherson

TRENTON 4 – WELLINGTON 3 OT
The Dukes team took to the ice against division rival Trenton Golden Hawks in a battle for playoff seeding. Wellington was just coming off their last game where they gave up six power play goals so it was important for them to reduce their penalty infractions or improve their penalty kill. Less than four minutes into the game, the Dukes were called for too many men and the Hawks pounced with the advantage as Danny Liscio gave the visitors a 1 – 0 lead. Half-way through the period, after a face-off in the Trenton zone, the Dukes worked the puck back to the blue line where Kyle Paat blasted a Bryan Helmer-type shot high on the Hawks goalie stick side to even the game up at one. Andrew Coupland and Erick Delaurentis drew the assists.

The middle frame saw the Dukes kill off a four-minute penalty call and then score when they had the man advantage, as Steven Deeg fired a shot from a bad angle that fooled the goalie and trickled over the goal line for the first lead of he night by the home side. KylePaat and Defensive Player of the Game Chad Thibodeau had the assists.

Once again the Dukes found themselves in penalty trouble in the third period, and once again the visitors jumped on the situation, with a goal by Tyler Mayea to tie the game up at two. Hardest Working Player of the Game Luc Brown gave the Dukes the lead again with an innocent looking shot finding the back of the net, with Delaurentis picking up his second assist of the night. The Hawks kept coming in waves and were rewarded with a goal from Tyler Donaldson to tie the game up and send the teams to sudden- death 10-minute overtime, where the visitors outshot the Dukes 4 to 0 and won it on a goal by Fabrizio Ricci.

Dukes forward Trevor Cope waits for an attempt at a redirect as goaltender Denny Dubblestyne looks on.

Final shots were 44 to 30 for Trenton. Dukes goalie Tyson Teichmann was named First Star of the Game. Wellington has now picked up at least one point in 11 of their past 13 games, but will need to improve if they hope to move up the playoff seeding.

WELLINGTON 4 – NORTH YORK 2
The Dukes travelled to Toronto on Sunday to take on the North York Rangers, and some Wellington fans may have had concerns about the result of this game. First, the visitors were coming in off two losses, the blow-out in Cobourg and the overtime setback by the Trenton Golden Hawks. North York, in second place in the South Division of the OJHL, entered the game on a six-game win streak and the memory of their earlier encounter between the two clubs, when the Rangers scored late in the game to steal the win 3 – 2 in Wellington. It should be noted that Ranger players that evening were awarded first and second Stars of the Game while the Dukes only had one player selected, Third Star Joe McKeown, a name you will be reading a lot more of very soon.

Just before the five minute mark of the opening period, McKeown collected a pass and steamed down the right wing before unleashing a laser shot that beat the Ranger goaltender. That was the only scoring in the frame, but after killing off two penalty calls, the Dukes were called for too many men for the second consecutive game. And for the second consecutive game, the opponents took advantage by scoring a power play goal early in the second period to tie the game up at one. Just two minutes later, Dukes forward Andrew McCann managed to get his stick onto a deflected shot and give the visitors the lead again. It was the first goal in nearly two months for the unlucky McCann. Before the middle frame ended the Rangers would tie the score again, 2 to 2.

In the final period McKeown was given a two minute minor for hooking, but the Dukes penalty killers did a great job, and just as McKeown came out of the box he picked up the puck, raced in and scored his second of the afternoon. Late in the game the Rangers pulled their goalie for an extra attacker, and who should put the contest away with an empty netter but Joe McKeown to complete his hat trick. McKeown was named first star of the game while Dukes goalie Tyson Teichmann was selected as Second Star of the Game facing 26 shots. Chad Thibodeau, Trevor Cope, Mike Robinson, Abbott Girduckis, Austin Broadhurst, Steven Deeg and McCann each had assists.

UP NEXT: BURLINGTON COUGARS
The Burlington Cougars play in the West Division of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and the current franchise has been in place since 1993. During the 2009-10 regular season they had 81 points, which set a team record. Starting with the 2002-03 season they have made the OJHL playoffs 11 consecutive years. One of their alumnus is Ottawa Senator forward Cory Conacher.

The current team has been struggling to make this years playoffs with just nine wins to date, but among them were triumphs over the Kinston Voyageurs and the Trenton Golden Hawks. Number 89 Tyler Lepore leads the team in points while number 61 Viktor Meuller has been a nice pick up from the Milton Ice- Hawks. Josh Morton and Jeremy Currie share the net duties.

GREAT DEAL FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
The Wellington Dukes are pleased to announce that all elementary grade students will be admitted to home games for just $5 when accompanied by an adult. This offer is effective starting this Friday when the Dukes host the Burlington Cougars at 7:30 p.m.

HELMER HONOURED

Left to right: Bryan Helmer, Sr., Joanne Helmer, Cade Helmer, Pam Helmer (back), Rylan Helmer, Bryan Helmer and Tod Lavender.

The Wellington Dukes honoured one of their past greats prior to their game Friday as jersey number 44 was unveiled for Bryan Helmer who played for the team from 1989 to 1993. He then went on to play professional hockey for 20 years before retiring last summer. He is now an assistant coach with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League.