Back in the hunt

Two wins get the Dukes on track

Cobourg has lost just two games in 15 starts this season. Both losses have been delivered by the Wellington Dukes. Cobourg will host the RBC Cup in May and has assembled a team it believes will take them to the national tournament on merit rather than by default.

And so far the Cougars have seen full value for their investment. They have the best winning percentage in the East Division, second in the OJHL. They have allowed a measly 28 goals—fewest in the league. Netminder Stefano Durante owns the lowest goals against average in the OJHL—a microscopic 1.45. They have a powerful blueline anchored by Roy Brennan and Jesse Baird—who combined, have tallied 33 points in 15 games.

And yet Cobourg has not figured out how to defeat Wellington.

When the Dukes have lost this season— except against Georgetown—they have played from behind, allowing the game to get away from them early.

So it was key that Mitchell Mendonca scored in the first minute of the game in Cobourg on Monday night. Brayden Stortz and Nic Mucci tallying their league leading 40th and 34th point respectively on Mendonca’s goal.

Justin Bean widened Wellington’s lead midway through the first. In the second period, the Dukes became mired in penalties. Rugged defenceman Hunter Gunski was singled out for time in the penalty box for three infractions. Coach Marty Abrams earned his team another penalty at the end of the period for expressing his disagreement with the refereeing corps.

The Dukes began the third a man-short. Moments later, Brayden Stortz, the centre of attention for the increasingly frustrated Cobourg defencemen, was penalized for a high stick.

Connor Ryckman was outstanding. The Dukes netminder turned way 47 shots in the game—36 in the final two periods. Fourteen minutes into the final period, the Cougars finally scored—robbing Ryckman of the shutout.

While the win doesn’t move the Dukes up in the rankings—they remain in fourth place in the East Division—it does move Wellington to within three points of the division- and league-leading Trenton Golden Hawks. The Dukes visit Trenton on Friday.

DUKES 4 – ORANGEVILLE 1
Orangeville proved more of a challenge to the Dukes than a team with just three wins on the season should have done. It was, at times, a sloppy game that frequently looked more like shinny than organized hockey. Orangeville was certainly aided by the return of netminder Ruan Badenhorst from the Barrie Colts of the OHL. He stymied several good scoring chances by the Dukes throughout the game.

Orangeville left the OJHL’s leading scorer, Brayden Stortz, unattended on the power play on Friday. This is what happened.

But as the match wore on without a score, the visiting Flyers found an extra step. Midway through the second period, however, the Dukes made the Flyers pay for a slashing penalty. Mucci and Mendonca moved the puck expertly around the front of the net on the power play. Inexplicably, Stortz was left alone on the other side. A saucer pass. Stortz with an open net. The Dukes had the lead. Wellington began to take the play more consistently to the Fl

In the third, perhaps hoping to spark his team, Badenhorst found himself behind his net, battling the Dukes’ Brent House for the loose puck. Bad move. House won that challenge and slid the puck to Stortz waiting on the doorstep. The Dukes had a two-goal lead.

Orangeville pushed back. The Dukes had lost its sense of urgency. The Wellington defender was late to pick up the winger and then was beaten cleanly in the corner. He would have been wise to see that he still had his wallet and watch. The puck was soon in the crease and behind Ryckman.

When the Dukes’ work ethic lags, Wellington typically turns to Colin Doyle to crank it up again. Seemingly every other shift, the best twoway player on the Wellington roster was sent over the boards to work the puck low—to wear down the Orangeville team. To trap them in their own zone.

Late in the third, Doyle was on the job, skilfully, forcefully moving the puck back and forth deep in the Flyers zone—until the defenders were completely gassed. Then he calmly slid the puck out to Mendonca, who buried it. This is why assists are worth the same as a goal in the points standings.

The Dukes took the win. Not brilliant. But good enough.

UP NEXT: TRENTON AND OAKVILLE
The Dukes will spend the weekend on the road against two very strong teams—the Eastleading Trenton Golden Hawks and the West Division-leading Oakville Blades.

Trenton has been dominant in the early part of the season, but has lost two of its last five games. Stouffville got to the Golden Hawks netminder Chris Janzen for five goals on Saturday before he was replaced in the third period. A week earlier, Janzen gave up six goals in Trenton’s loss to Cobourg.

Oakville, too, has struggled in recent weeks after a strong start. Aside from a 6-0 rout of Orangeville, the Blades have managed to score just seven goals in their past six games—a streak in which they won three and lost three.

LINEUP
Netminder Conner Lamour has been traded to Rayside Balfour of the NOJHL—closer to his home in Sudbury. Nineteen-year-old Wes Werner has been acquired by the Dukes from Blind River. He is a big presence in net at six feet, five inches.

Forward Dean Kiriacou has joined the Dukes from Cumberland in the CCHL. He brings size and physicality to the Duke’s offense. The 20-year-old scored 35 points in 55 games with CCHL’s Kemptville last season.