Eight straight

Craig Campbell generated four assists in two games over the weekend against Lindsay and Whitby extending his points lead to 49, topping all Dukes. He has 11 points in the seven games since he returned to the Dukes lineup on January 11.

Dukes edge tantalizingly closer to magic number

The Wellington Dukes have won 30 games or more in the regular season for the past 13 years. It is an astonishing record of success that no other team in the Ontario Junior ‘A’ leagues has matched. Or come near.

A month ago it seemed the streak might be at an end. The notion wasn’t even whispered around the rink. The Dukes had had an awful month in December, with little indication the team’s fortunes would turn around anytime soon. The Dukes were focused on hanging onto a playoff berth; they weren’t thinking about the record books.

But in January, with one exception four days into the new year, the Dukes have been perfect— winning eight straight games. This gives the Dukes 25 wins so far this season, with seven yet to be played. Extending the streak for a 14th year in 2013 remains a long shot— but with every win the Dukes rack up, the odds improve dramatically.

With the win on Sunday the Dukes managed to secure a playoff spot for the 24th consecutive season. The franchise has competed in post-season play every year since it was acquired from the Belleville Bobcats for the 1989-90 season, according to team statistician David Brown.

DUKES 5 – LINDSAY 2
The Dukes scored three goals on the power play to stage a dramatic come-from-behind win to defeat the Lindsay Muskies at home on Friday.

The Dukes were down 2-1 early in the second when Jan Kaminsky rushed the net looking to stuff the puck into the short side—but at the last second he pulled and spun around, throwing a bold backhand pass across the crease to Erick Delaurentis, who tapped home the puck to tie the game. The Dukes didn’t look back. Delaurentis would score another, as did Mike Soucier.

Matt Larose squares himself in preparation for a shot on net in action against Lindsay on Friday night.

The prettiest goal of the night was the last one. On the power play Delaurentis charged up his wing, serving to his centre Craig Campbell, who signalled a shot but instead slid the puck across to Parker Wood, who finished the scoring play. Tic. tac, and toe.

As the game got away from the Muskies so did their composure. The penalties began piling up. Particularly the stupid variety— punching a Dukes defenceman from the bench, abuse of officials—among others.

The win put some air between the Dukes and the Muskies—both teams looking to improve their ranking in the Northeast Conference before the playoffs begin.

DUKES 2 – WHITBY 0
Hayden Lavigne got the nod on Sunday as the starting netminder. The 16 year old doesn’t get many starts. He hasn’t played since before Christmas.

On this Sunday, however, he made the most of his opportunity earning a shutout, turning away all 35 shots directed his way.

Craig Campbell set up both Dukes goals—the first by Parker Wood, the second a power play goal by Captain Jan Kaminsky. For Campbell it was a rewarding return to Whitby after a bonecrushing check in early December knocked him out of the lineup for more than month.

Some Whitby players, like Lindsay on Friday night, appeared to slip off the gourd as the game wore on becoming increasingly frustrated trying to beat Lavigne. Officials were compelled to hand out extra penalties to Whitby players for head contact and abuse of official.

It wasn’t the Dukes’ strongest outing, but on this afternoon, they were better than their opponents and Hayden Lavigne was the difference maker.

UP NEXT: NEWMARKET
The Dukes travel to Newmarket on Thursday for the first half of a home-and-home series with the second place North Division team.

Newmarket has been a wildly unpredictable team of late, winning just five of their last 10 games. Late in December they beat the Stouffville Spirit 12-0 one night; the next day they lost to the same team 4-2.

In their last three games, the Hurricanes have lost and won a pair of low-scoring games against Cobourg and Kingston, respectively. Then they played Lindsay in a wild 8-7 overtime win. Midway through the game Newmarket led the game 5-0.

So it’s hard to know what team the Dukes will face on Thursday and then in Wellington on Friday.

In four previous meetings this season the Dukes have won two, the Hurricanes have won a pair.

Though not currently aligned this way,Wellington and Newmarket may well yet face each other in the first round of the playoffs.