Big week ahead

With four games in the next eight days the Dukes can make a charge toward first place in the East

PHOTOS: KEVIN SCANLON

The Trenton Golden Hawks got the better of the Wellington Dukes. It took six attempts, but they finally squeezed out a win against Wellington on Friday night. Fully 40 per cent of the Golden Hawks’ losses this season have been at the hands of the Dukes. But not on Friday.

Judging from the size of the crowd in the Lehigh arena it seemed all of Trenton trekked across the bay to Wellington on Friday to watch their Golden Hawks. They were rewarded with a good game.

With the loss on Friday, the Dukes fall seven points behind the first-place Golden Hawks. Of course, the Dukes have five games in hand over Trenton, more than enough to fly past the Hawks. If they win. That must begin this weekend with back to back games against Lindsay.

Ryan Smith (7) created several good chances in Friday’s game against Trenton, but was unable to turn them into goals.

TRENTON 4 – DUKES 1
The Golden Hawks have evolved into a quick, tenacious-checking and opportunistic team. But it was the Dukes that struck first on Friday night. Frank Vitucci, flying down his wing, sniping the top corner, over the netminder’s shoulder to give his team the lead. Not too much later the Dukes were in the penalty box. And they just about escaped the two-minute disadvantage—except it was one of their best penalty killers sitting in the box. A single second before Dawson Ellis skated back onto the ice, Trenton’s Sullivan Sparkes scored to tie the game. The Golden Hawks tallied again before the first period had elapsed taking the lead into the second period.

The next 20 minutes was terrific end-to-end action. Strong defensive play. Great speed. Close checking. Some thrilling scoring chances. The Dukes, in particular, managed to beat Trenton netminder, Anand Oberoi on several chances, but couldn’t get the puck across the line.

Then with six seconds left in the period and Dukes netminder Matt Dunsmoor buried under a stack of players, the puck came loose. A Golden Hawk lifted the puck over the pile and into the net. The Dukes protested. But to no avail.

The Dukes had another strong period in the third, but the Golden Hawks kept up. They stayed close. Not giving Wellington much ice. Still the Dukes came very near to a comeback.

Down a pair of goals, the Dukes pulled Dunsmoor late in the third. But the move was illtimed. The Dukes were still working their way into the offensive zone when Dunsmoor zipped to the bench. Turnover at the blueline. The Trenton player took a couple of strides and ripped a hard shot into the empty net.

On this night, at least, Trenton had something to cheer about in Wellington.

The Dukes played Friday’s game without Ben Evans—out four games after a run-in with a ref in Cobourg last week. The Dukes’ newest player, James White, missed his Wellington debut because he, too, was suspended (one game) for a check so intense that it ejected the Cougars’ helmet, sending it spinning into the air.

White will make his Wellington introduction on Sunday.

UP NEXT: LINDSAY, TORONTO PATRIOTS AND AURORA
This next eight days may tell the story of the Dukes’ ambitions to surpass the Golden Hawks for the top spot in the East Division. Wellington visits Lindsay on Friday night, then welcomes the Muskies to the County on Sunday afternoon (2:30). Then the Dukes will play a couple of make-up games—Toronto Patriots on Tuesday and the Aurora Tigers on Thursday.

The Muskies haven’t won a game since Christmas. They are mired in last place in the East and likely not emerging from this ignominy in the 10 games they have left. Three are against the Dukes. Two this weekend.

Wellington has won all four previous match-ups, with the Muskies mustering a total of just six goals in these games.

It is hard to know how Justin Paul didn’t score on this chance—but credit to the Golden Hawks’ tight checking.

Lindsay returns to Wellington on Sunday. These— along with the Aurora game on Thursday—are games the Dukes ought to win handily. But such games pose a bit of a mental challenge. Wellington must come to the game with the same energy and tenacity as if they were playing in a championship. That is because the Muskies have enough talent and residual pride to exploit a team that takes them for granted. A loss against lower-ranked squad can be a double blow to team confidence— at the wrong time of the year.

A snowstorm pushed Saturday’s game against the Toronto Patriots to Tuesday, January 28. The Patriots are going sideways in 2020—winning just three of their six games in this new year. Make no mistake, however. Toronto remains a dangerous hockey club. They continue to defeat higher ranked teams, yet struggle and give up points to lesser teams. Oddly, too, the Patriots’ record is better when playing away from the Westwood rink in the land of warehouses where the 427 meets the 407.

On Thursday the Dukes welcome Aurora to Wellington in a make-up for a game postponed earlier in the season. Like the Muskies, the Tigers are struggling through a tough season. Aurora hasn’t won a game since early in December. In 2020 the Tigers have scored an average of just a single goal a game.

But like the Muskies, the Tigers have the ability to poison the well. Poorer teams tend to get fired up against top-ranked squads. Find another stride. The Dukes will need to be ready for an Aurora team that is better than its record.