Flying high

An overtime loss doesn’t diminish the Dukes’ achievements last week

The Wellington Dukes have served up some thrilling entertainment this season, from an early nail-biter against Aurora in the first week of the season to an electrifying 4-4 draw with Haliburton in mid-October. I’ll include, too, the 2-1 loss to Trenton on October 21—a game in which most of Quinte West filed into the Dukedome. The Dukes have served up breathtaking excitement in 2022.

But rarely have Dukes’ fans experienced a regular season game like Friday night against the Collingwood Blues. The Blues are a big team, especially on the back end. And skilled. And fast. Collingwood came into the game in Wellington having lost just one game in 19 starts and ranked fifth in the nation.

WELLINGTON 3 – COLLINGWOOD 2 OT
It was tough hockey. The Dukes give about 15 pounds on average to the Blues, and have about a two-year age defecit. Collingwood used every bit of their size and experience to tenderize the Wellington players—especially in the early going. Tough, responsible, relentless checking at both ends of the rink.

And so it went for the first half of the period. But it was Lucas LaPalm who scored first, finishing a passing play from Edward Moskowitz. The fans were thrilled, yet the tension remained high. For the Blues weren’t going away. But a hooking call sent the Dukes on the power play. Jacob Vreugdenhil fed David Campbell, who fired into a yawning net. A twogoal lead on the Blues. For a few seconds.

On the ensuing rush, Collingwood beat Ethan Morrow to narrow the Dukes’ lead by a goal. Then both teams settled into a bit of a stalemate. The Dukes were disciplined and tireless. The Blues the same. Line rolled after line. Both teams cleared the zone efficiently and managed the centre of the ice.

Midway through the second, the Dukes were pressing, nearly scoring. But on the transition, the Blues forward got a step on the Dukes’ defender. Around him, on net. Goal. The game was tied. And so it settled into a fierce to-and-fro for another period and a half.

The first overtime period produced no decision. Then in the second overtime period— three on three—Ryan Smith organized the offensive rush, feeding defenceman Mitch Young, still in the Dukes’ end. Young carved a lane up the right wall, and pushed his way to the centre of the ice. Into the blue paint. Elevated the puck. Bar down. Goal.

The Dukes celebrated as though it was the playoffs. And rightfully so. It demonstrated this team is equipped to go head-to-head with the nation’s very best.

YOUNG MOVES UP
It was bittersweet to learn that after Young’s remarkable performance on Friday, the OHL’s Sarnia Sting had plucked him from the Dukes and added him to their roster. Good for the young man, not so good for the Wellington Dukes.

DUKES 4 – TORONTO JCS 5 OT
It was another test on Sunday as the Dukes travelled to Downsview to take on the Conference-leading Junior Canadiens. For the first half of the game, the Dukes met the task—playing to a nil-nil draw in the first and potting a pair of goals—from LaPalm and Moskowitz (the same combination to open the scoring on Friday) and from Vreugdenhil—in the second to take the lead.

But two goals from Toronto in the back half of the second knotted the game at two. Just a moment later, however, Ryan Smith connected with Barrett Joynt to regain the Dukes’ lead. Early in the third LaPalm scored his second of the game to extend the Wellington advantage.

Midway through the second overtime period, the Junior Canadidns scored, completing the comeback.

It was a tough way to end an exhilarating week of Dukes’ hockey. But it whets the appetite for more.

UP NEXT: TRENTON
Just one game on the schedule this week, as the Dukes head to Trenton on Friday night. It seems likely that a large contingent of Wellington fans will make the trip to cheer on their Dukes.

The Dukes have the better winning percentage, but the Golden Hawks have more points, having played four more games than Wellington. Trenton has won five of nine games since they last faced the Dukes in October—feasting on Brantford and Caledon, but playing close to Burlington, Haliburton and Collingwood.

The Dukes will be looking to avenge the 2-1 loss at the hands of the Golden Hawks last month.