Constructive

The Dukes are adding pieces to an already strong team

It was a building week for the Wellington Dukes. A pair of wins. A pair of defencemen to stiffen the Dukes’ blueline. A constructive week.

DUKES 11 – PATRIOTS 3
The Toronto Patriots put up little opposition on their visit to Wellington on Friday. They made their predicament worse with penalties. Meanwhile, the Dukes’ special teams were running like a well-oiled machine. The Dukes scored four power play goals on nine man-advantage opportunities—three in the first period. By the first intermission, Wellington had mounted a 4-0 lead.

With a renewed sense of purpose, the Patriots came out with energy in the second, tallying in the first 90 seconds. But then four more unanswered Dukes goals, including a shorthanded beauty by Edward Moskowitz.

Give Toronto some credit; the Patriots started strong again in the third, managing to slip a pair past Ethan Morrow in the Dukes’ net. But then Wellington cranked it up again—three more goals. A rout.

It was a night for statistics. Lucas Lapalm scored a hat trick and assisted another. Moskowitz had a pair of goals and a pair of assists. Captain Jacob Vreugdenhil scored a goal and three helpers. Nate Woods scored his first and second OJHL goals in this game. David Campbell set up three goals. Corbin Roach scored once and assisted on another. The Dukes killed all five Patriot power plays.

DUKES 2 – MISSISSAUGA 1
Such is the mystique of the Wellington Dukes—of their record of success—that teams have no trouble getting up for these matchups. The Mississauga Chargers are an underperforming team—have been for a few seasons. They play out of the Port Credit arena before 100 fans each night. Maybe. The Chargers have some talent—but with just two wins in 12 games, they struggle to stay motivated. Not on Saturday night. Not with the Wellington Dukes in town.

There is no better way to feel better about yourselves than if you can knock off the mighty Wellington Dukes. So the Chargers were chomping on the bit on Saturday. They played with energy and a whole lot of determination— peppering Julien Osborne with 50 shots through five periods.

Late in the first, the Chargers grabbed the lead. It would hold until the third when Moskowitz created a turnover and scored to tie the game. Just six minutes from a Chargers’ loss. The first overtime period solved nothing. But with time winding down in the first OT frame, the Chargers were penalized for tripping. Early in the third—four on three—it was David Campbell to Jacob Vreugdenhil, who teed up blueliner Julien Jacob. Goal. The Dukes headed home with the two points. The Chargers went into the Port Credit night with a familiar feeling.

LINE-UP ADDITIONS
The Dukes took steps to shore up their blueline last week, adding 17-year-old Mitch Young. The six-foot-oneinch hails from Elmira. He played 25 games with the Waterloo Siskins of the GOJHL last season. The Sarnia Sting traded for Young’s OHL rights seeing a lot of upside in the righthander.

Wellington also acquired Jack Henry Lages last week, sixfoot, 174-pound defencemen. JH Lages is from McLean, Virginia, just outside Washington D.C. Lages played last season for Westminster Prep, from whence the Dukes found Jacob Osborne.

This season Lages played three games for the New Jersey ’87s of the EHL, scoring a pair of goals.

UP NEXT: HALIBURTON AND ST. MICHAELS
The Dukes will be looking to avenge a 4-2 loss in Minden earlier this month. The Huskies are second in the SouthEast conference, having soundly defeated North York and Brantford. But Wellington will present a real test. At home. Fortified. And ready to march up the standings.

Puck drops at 7:30 on Friday night.

On Sunday, the Dukes welcome St. Mikes for a return visit to Wellington. The Dukes have faced the Buzzers twice so far—losing one and winning another. Like Haliburton, St. Mikes haven’t faced a tough competitor since they were in Wellington last. They will be eager to demonstrate they belong among the elite in the OJHL.