Overtime

Dukes pull out a pair of wins on the final shot

The Dukes were down 4-2 to the St. Michael’s Buzzers with just under three minutes left in the game on Sunday in Toronto. Wellington had been getting chances, but trailed by a couple of goals when the decision was made to pull netminder Noah Davis for an extra attacker. Twenty-two seconds later, Tyler Tsoukalas scored, narrowing the deficit to a single goal. Just two minutes remaining in the game. Davis returned to the net until the Dukes were in possession in the Buzzers’ end. Ten seconds later, Jared Mc- Neil scored from Zander Latreille and Ryan Schaap—tying the game.

Then, in overtime, Riley Noble hit Ben Vreugdenhil with a pass. Redirect. Goal? The improbable became reality. The Dukes had come all the way back from 4- 2—with three unanswered goals to win the game.

In doing so, Wellington leapfrogged over Stouffville and St. Mikes to sit in fourth spot in the East Conference as measured by winning percentage. The Dukes trail both teams in points, but have played fewer games than either—two and three games fewer, respectively.

Vreugdenhil’s game-winning goal—his third of the season—coupled with his opening-period marker, ranks him the Dukes’ leading scorer and points-getter.

DUKES 5-STOUFFVILLE 4 – 2OT
If Sunday’s game was a bit of a roller coaster, the trolley tracks were being laid in Friday’s home game against Stouffville.

By the end of the second period, the Dukes had opened up a 3-1 lead over the visiting Spirit—including a pair of spectacular goals from Zach Carrier and a rifle shot from Ryan Schaap. The game seemed in hand.

But in the third, the Spirit gathered itself. Three unanswered Stouffville goals—including a power play goal and a short-handed goal— turned the game on its head.

With just under two minutes remaining in the game, Dukes’ netminder Jack Lisson skated to the bench for a sixth forward. It took a couple of runs, but Wellington got organized in the Stouffville zone. Carrier found Jared McNeil in the blue paint. Tap in. The game was tied.

The first overtime period failed to break the tie. The second OT frame seemed to be headed the same way. That is until Captain Cory Jewitt snuck upon the Stouffville defenceman at the Spirit blueline. Jewitt surprised the Spirit player, snatching the puck away. Alone on a break. Hard low shot beat the Stouffville netminder.

The Dukes won in overtime.

UP NEXT: TRENTON AND AURORA
On Friday, the Dukes head across the Carrying Place bridge to take on the Trenton Golden Hawks for the first of four matches this season. For Dukes fans, the Golden Hawks still carry the aroma from some foul dealings two off-seasons ago. Trenton was, until recently, however, leading the East Conference in points. But a three-game skid has allowed the Haliburton blue-eyed dogs to take over top spot.

Only Corbin Roach, Brady Spry and Trevor McDowell remain on the Golden Hawks roster from the Dukes’ cohort that abandoned Wellington in 2023 along with their coach and GM. Roach remains a strong playmaker, McDowell remains a stay-at-home and dependable defenceman, while Spry has taken over the Golden Hawk’s net, earning a 2.57 GAA over 12 games.

Trenton has lost three of its last five games.

On Saturday, the Dukes visit Aurora to take on the Tigers. Aurora is struggling to find scoring production this season and has managed to win just four games in 14 starts. The Tigers have lost five of their last five. They haven’t helped their cause—spotting opposing teams an average of four goals a game.