Dukes win

Nic Mucci, Connor Ryckman heroes in game seven

Game seven seemed to getting away from the Dukes. Whitby had been effective in hemming Wellington into their own zone through much of the third period. The game was tied at two goals apiece. It seemed as though one of the Fury chances might elude Connor Ryckman. He had been brilliant on this big ice surface—sliding from post to post and back again in a heartbeat. It couldn’t last. Eventually a bounce of the puck would spell doom for the Dukes.

Then with just over two minutes left in the game the Dukes dumped the puck deep and headed to the bench. Nic Mucci, Brayden Stortz and Mitchell Martan joined the fray. All three lay back as the Whitby defenders gathered up the puck. A lazy pass between the two defencemen on this big ice surface. Too lazy. Nic Mucci uncoiled like a spring. In an instant he had intercepted the puck with nothing but ice between he and the Whitby netminder. Two strides. Shot. Goal. The Dukes fans were on their feet. Jubilation on the ice and across the County.

The Dukes had never beaten the Fury in the regular season but they had come back from a 3-2 deficit to win in game seven.

Wellington had a great start but watched it slip away. Moving the puck well around this football-field sized rink. Putting it deep moving efficiently. Like they meant to. As the first period wound down the puck came back to Justin Bean on the point for the second time on the shift. He released a blast that looked as though it would miss the net wide on the far side. But Mitchell Mendonca was at the doorstep. A tidy redirect and the Dukes had the lead.

Early in the second, and the Dukes were on the powerplay. A similar play. Brody Morris’s point shot looks to go wide when Mitchell Martan redirected it in the goal crease waist high. The Dukes were up two. But now they were in trouble.

With nothing to lose Whitby turned up the intensity about four notches. Aided by a powerplay, the Fury tied the game at two—outshooting the Dukes by a wide margin. It set up a dramatic period three. But, by now, we know how that turned out.

Now the Dukes get set to face the Cobourg Cougars. We will update this story with the schedule when it is released.

Dukes Round 2 Schedule

Cobourg Cougars @ Wellington Dukes
Date: Friday March 17,  7:30 PM
Arena: Wellington and District Community Centre

Wellington Dukes VS Cobourg Cougars
Date: Monday March 20,  7 PM
Arena: Cobourg Community Centre

Wellington Dukes VS Cobourg Cougars
Date: Wednesday, March 22,  7 PM
Arena: Cobourg Community Centre

Cobourg Cougars @  Wellington Dukes
Date: Thursday, March 23, 7:30 PM
Arena: Wellington and District Community Centre

Wellington Dukes VS Cobourg Cougars
Date: Saturday, March 25,  7 PM
Arena: Cobourg Community Centre

Cobourg Cougars @  Wellington Dukes
Date: Sunday, March 26, 7 PM
Arena: Wellington and District Community Centre

Wellington Dukes VS Cobourg Couga
Date: Monday, March 27,  7 PM
Arena: Cobourg Community Centre