Worldly
Dukes factor in a variety of junior hockey action over the past week Judging by the exhibition game against the U.S. squad in Wellington last Friday night, and subsequent loss to the Russians on Monday, it looks to be another tough tournament for Team Canada East in the World Junior A Challenge this year. The tournament […]
Tough luck
Winning streak ends rudely Some losses are deserved—either through lack of effort, discipline or talent. But the Wellington Dukes had plenty at their disposal on Friday night— certainly more than their visiting opponents the Pickering Panthers. Yet, the Dukes dropped a 5-4 decision—their first loss in nine games. To Pickering. Sometimes it is just bad […]
Four lines
Every player is contributing to the Dukes winning streak Make it eight games. The Wellington Dukes have returned to their winning tradition in November—winning eight games in a row. They are doing it with speed, tenacity, and determination. It starts in net and flows through four lines. And that is the difference. For while the Dukes […]
Making things happen
Dukes move into third place on the back of a five-game winning streak Luc Brown and Jacob Panetta are making their college recruiters look like geniuses. Both are having breakout seasons in their final year of junior hockey. Both are headed to NCAA Division I hockey programs next season. Brown with Union College, Panetta with Colgate. […]
Restraint
Dukes regain winning ways Bit by bit, the Wellington Dukes are assembling a winning record. They are doing this by returning to the fundamentals of Dukes’ hockey—speed, tenacity and discipline. It is the same formula that has propelled this hockey team to the national championships twice in a decade and earned the team a […]
Frail conquest
Dukes escape with a victory It was a win. It is always preferable to begin with the positive. And a win is always better than the alternative—particularly when it staunches a three-game losing skid. But Dukes fans will be forgiven for feeling bit uneasy about their team’s 5-3 win over the Whitby Fury on Friday […]
Stuck
Two-game skid grounds Dukes in nowhereland The Dukes fell back last week—back to .500—10 wins, 10 losses in 20 games. It might just be that kind of season. Some good nights, some bad. After all, this is a young team—with both the benefits and challenges that come with youth. Or it might just be some bad […]
Shut out
Young netminder gives Dukes a winning record The Wellington Dukes escaped the gravitational pull of .500 hockey on the weekend, winning just their second game at home. The Dukes soundly handled the Lindsay Muskies in both ends of a home and away series—begun in Lindsay on Friday with 5-1 win and completed on Sunday with a […]
Friendly fire
Former Duke leads Markham to win over Wellington Marco Azzano and Trevor Abbot combined to score the winning goal against the Wellington Dukes on Sunday. Both once wore a Dukes jersey. Now, they are part of the newly reformed Markham junior team, the Royals. Abbot departed the Dukes in the off-season of 2014, headed for Hidalgo, […]
Powerplay pushovers
Dukes own the league’s worst penalty killing record, have yet to win at home Brodie Maracle had barely taken his seat in the penalty box when Cobourg scored. Nevermind that it was a dubious penalty call. The referees, on Sunday night, seemed weirdly selective in a game in which dozens of stick violations might have been […]