Sideways

Dukes face a tough test to begin the new year

The Wellington Dukes stumbled into the new year with a disappointing loss to a lower-ranked team on Friday. It was the Toronto Patriots who set the pace in the Dukes’ return to action in Wellington. The Dukes were game in this high-speed test, but it was an inspired Patriots team doing the driving.

The new year presented the Dukes coach Derek Smith an opportunity to try some new line combinations. Barrett Joynt rejoined Jacob Vreugdenhil, along with Lucas Lapalm. David Campbell paired with Matheson Mason. Corbin Roach with Jaxen Boyer and Jared Langdon.

Nineteen-year-old forward Ryan Cutler joined the team for the first time on Friday. The Keswick native played last season in the NAHL—in Minnesota and Texas.

Nineteen-year-old forward Ryan Cutler joined the team for the first time on Friday. The Keswick native played last season in the NAHL—in Minnesota and Texas.

And so it was that the Dukes found themselves penned in their end in the first period. A clearing attempt failed due to an energetic Toronto forecheck. Shot. Big rebound. The Patriots had the lead.

The Dukes’ David Campbell tied the score on Wellington’s second power play opportunity. Digging the puck out of the corner, Campbell scooted through the crease and deposited the puck through the netminder’s feet.

But it was only by the end of the back-to-back power play opportunities that the Dukes managed to catch up to the Patriots as measured by shots-on-goal. There were spurts—but the Dukes’ intensity was intermittent. The Patriots were hungrier. And their netminder was sharp. Or he looked as much.

That began to shift in the third. The Dukes, sensing this game might slip away, turned up the volume. More shots. Better chances. Yet regulation time ended in a 1-1 draw.

Four on four in overtime looked promising—but the Dukes could not beat the Patriots’ goalie. In the second overtime, a giveaway in the Dukes’ zone proved deadly. Toronto pounced. Jacob Osborne had no chance on the two-on-one.

The Patriots celebrated, knowing they had started the new year the best way possible.

UP NEXT: TORONTO JCS, HALIBURTON AND COBOURG
The Dukes will have to shake off Friday’s loss and holiday lethargy quickly. Tomorrow night, in a rare Thursday game in Wellington, the Dukes welcome the Toronto Junior Canadiens. The Dukes have come up short of the OJHL-leading Junior Canadiens in two previous matchups. Indeed, Toronto hasn’t lost a game since November—not allowing a single goal in their last three games. This match will be a serious test of the Dukes.

On Sunday, the Dukes host the Haliburton County Huskies for an afternoon game (2:30 p.m.) in Wellington. The Huskies sit just behind the Junior Canadiens in second place in the South/East Conference. Haliburton is a defensively focused team, allowing the second fewest (71) goals against any team in the league. Their netminder, Tyler Hodges, leads the league with a save percentage of .950 and a goals-against average of 1.40.

On Monday, the Dukes travel to Cobourg. The Cougars have won four of their last five games, keeping pace with the Dukes for the third spot in the Conference.

Much will be made clear by this time next week.