Too much
Dukes bow out of the OJHL playoffs In the end, there was simply too much stacked against the Dukes in 2016. Injuries had depleted every position— from the goaltender, through the defence corps to the forward lines. Some watched from the stands, some played hurt. Still, the Dukes played hard. Stayed close. A bounce this […]
Roller coaster
Dukes look to tie series tonight in Wellington It is a great spectacle. Whatever else happens in this series, fans in both Trenton and Wellington have been treated to some thrilling, heart-pounding hockey over the past week. The Trenton rink has been packed to capacity for two games—the larger Wellington arena very nearly full on Friday […]
Heart pounding action
Dukes take game two in thrill ride in Wellington. Not every seat was taken—but almost. The few gaps left along the railing that surrounds the ice surface were quickly filled in. Ninety minutes before the puck dropped, hundreds of fans were milling about the arena—staking out preferred seating or their place along the rail. […]
Thriller in Trenton
Dukes fall in game one It was a capacity crowd at the Trenton Community Gardens on Wednesday night as the Wellington Dukes and Golden Hawks gave the folks lucky enough to get into the game, everything they could have hoped for—thrilling end to end action, heart-stopping plays and an ending that was in doubt to […]
Bruised but unbroken
Dukes have little time to recharge for Trenton series It was a tough series. Aurora isn’t blessed with an abundance of great playmakers or scorers. The Tigers make up for a lack of skill by playing tough, inyour- face hockey. It is a game of grinding down opponents. A game of attrition. The Dukes’ skilled lineup […]
Fortitude
Dukes take two-game lead in quarterfinal series Patience is a virtue. We know this to be true. But when time is running out, the game is tied and your opponents are outshooting your team by a wide margin, patience can be a frayed and slippery rope to which we cling. Yet, with time running out and […]
Dukes and Tigers
A rivalry renewed The Wellington Dukes emerged with wins in all four meetings against Aurora in the regular season. But the playoffs are a brand new season. All points are erased. The ice is levelled, and the campaign begins anew. Well, except for one important advantage: the Dukes begin the playoffs on home ice. If […]
Home ice
Jockeying for position in anticipation of the playoffs This much is set. The Wellington Dukes will face either the Aurora Tigers or the Markham Royals in the first round of the playoffs beginning next week. Nothing the Dukes do in their last game on Friday against Whitby will change that. However, it remains a critical […]
Playoff bound
Dukes headed to the post-season The Wellington Dukes have played some intense high-speed hockey this season. But not lately. The Dukes have been leaning heavily on their netminder in recent weeks. Whether hobbled with injuries—and they are piling up—or just feeling the strain of a long season—the Dukes have been playing the game at a […]
The cure
Dominant win on Sunday enables Dukes to shake losing streak Lindsay was just the antidote the Wellington Dukes were looking for after three straight losses. Not that the Muskies are a bad team—they aren’t. They are a young team—they will be contenders again. But on Sunday afternoon, the Dukes simply outworked Lindsay. Every play. Every battle. […]