Day by day

Dukes edge closer to playoff form—but tough opponents remain in the regular season

After a dud against Caledon earlier in the week, the Dukes rebounded on Friday to soundly defeat the North York Rangers. A wobbly start in Minden resulted in a draw against the Haliburton County Huskies on Saturday afternoon. On Family Day Monday, however, the Dukes upset the West Conference leaders in Trenton with Dryden Riley turning away 40 shots. Liam Campbell led the way with a pair of goals, while Aiden Lee continued his hot streak.

While it is too soon to be sizing up playoff opponents, it seems—barring a collapse or a surge by a handful of teams, including the Dukes—that Wellington is likely to finish in sixth spot in the East. As such, the most likely first-round opponents are either the Newmarket Hurricanes or the Pickering Panthers.

There is, however, still much hockey to be played before the playoffs begin.

Wellington 5 – Trenton 2
The Dukes had to battle through the Conference leader but also a blizzard of penalties—including a long two-man disadvantage in the second period. Fending off the powerful Trenton Golden Hawks for two minutes less 11 seconds proved to be the turning point. The Dukes scored shortly thereafter—giving them a 3-1 lead. It would prove to be the winning goal.

The Golden Hawks scored early in the first, but Aiden Lee evened the match just over the midway point of the frame. Lee has been on a tear recently—three goals and seven points in his last five games. Shortly thereafter, Liam Campbell, fresh out of the penalty box, snatched the lead with his 23^rd goal of the season.

Zach Carrier’s goal, coming just after the Dukes had smothered the Trenton long 5-on-3 powerplay, let the air out of the Trenton rink. Early in the third, Campbell tallied again.

Trenton scored a bit later on the powerplay—and so the Golden Hawks pressed for redemption. A bit of a rally. But Dryden Riley and the Dukes team defence closed every avenue of Trenton’s attack. Finally, the Dukes ended the suspense as Zach Mascard scored on the Golden Hawks’ empty net.

It was a happy drive back down the Loyalist Parkway.

Wellington 4 – Haliburton 4
It took a couple of periods before the Dukes found their legs after the long bus ride to Minden. By the end of the second frame, the Huskies had scored four goals against Dryden Riley—two while enjoying a man-advantage.

But early in the third, Aiden Lee scored for the Dukes on the powerplay. Defender Justin Doak scored his first OJHL goal to narrow the Haliburton lead. Cole Ellis scored midway through the period. Now it was interesting. Then, with time draining, Aiden Lee scored his second of the game to tie the game at four goals apiece.

Haliburton had a slight shot advantage in overtime, but Riley presented a wall. The game ended in a draw. It was the fourth time this season a Dukes game ended in a draw—only the Lindsay Muskies had done so more often, with five games ending without a victor.

Wellington 7 – North York 1
After being shown up on Tuesday by a team out of contention for the playoffs—the Dukes weren’t going to let this happen again. Yet it was the Rangers who struck first, after a giveaway in the North York zone. Breakaway. A damp squib slipped 5-hole.

But the mistake was soon rectified. A sharp-angled shot beat the Rangers netminder a moment later. Then Will Mitchell carried the puck into the North York zone, collecting a pack of defenders. His attraction allowed Liam Campbell to slide in the opposite wing undetected. A pass. Campbell was alone. Goal.

Before the period was done, defender Kyle Grasby carried the puck out of his zone, through the neutral zone, into the Rangers’ end. To Cain Tucker. To Zach Mascard, who attempted to jam the puck on a wraparound. No go. But Cooper Woron was in the right spot to hammer home the rebound.

Seconds into the second period, Cole Ellis lobbed the puck from the centre ice line into the Rangers’ net. A weird bounce, and the puck was behind the hapless North York netminder. The Dukes kept coming. Captain Sacha Trudel carried the puck through three zones. His long shot found the back of the net.

Evan Erwin added his 13^th of the season on Friday the 13th. Before this match was over, Lorne Miles scored his first OJHL goal. A joyous celebration ensued.

Caledon 5 – Dukes 1
It was a contested first period, even though Caledon outshot the Dukes 16-1 in the first frame. Royden Smith kept the Dukes even. But in the second, the Admirals scored three goals, two on the powerplay. Zach Carrier also tallied with the man-advantage. But the Dukes were in a hole going into the third. They pressed a bit harder but still managed to give up a pair of goals. And that is how this Tuesday matinee game ended.

Up next: St. Michaels, Toronto, Pickering and Collingwood
The Dukes are ending the season in a hurry. Four games in six nights. All good teams. After this stretch of games, the Dukes will have just one lone game remaining—in Leamington on Feb. 26.

On Thursday, the Dukes head to Bathurst and St. Clair to visit the storied St. Michael’s College Arena. It is bound to be a feisty match. St. Mike’s sits just seven points behind the Dukes and would love to overtake them before the playoffs begin. The Buzzers, however, have just five games with which to narrow the gap. The Dukes have six games before the end of the regular season.

It doesn’t get easier on Friday when the Dukes host the West Conference-leading Toronto Patriots for the only match between these teams this season.

On Sunday, the Dukes head over to Pickering in what could be a preview of the first round of the playoffs. Pickering has taken two of three games against Wellington this season, while a third ended in a 4-4 draw.

Then it’s back on the bus to Collingwood on Tuesday for the Dukes. Another West Conference powerhouse, the Blues currently sit in second place with ambitions for a higher seed.

A tough week of hockey.