Fishing

Dukes nearing the finish line

Just three games remain in the Dukes’ regular season. The team has all but sewn up a playoff spot. A win in either of its two upcoming games against the Lindsay Muskies this weekend will, in all likelihood, seal the deal. If the playoffs were to start today, the Dukes—in second place in the East Conference—would face the Haliburton County Huskies (7th) in the first round. But much has yet to be sorted before then.

DUKES 2 – ST. MIKE’S 5
It was a tough contest in Toronto as the Dukes faced St. Michael’s on Friday night. The Dukes gained a first-period lead on Brad Barker’s fourth goal of the season. But two quick Buzzers’ goals late in the frame and the game seemed to get away from the Dukes. Another in the second made for a tough hill for the Dukes to climb. But then Nick Dipaolo—newly recruited to D1 Niagara—scored seconds into the third, injecting Wellington back into the game.

But St. Mike’s weathered the push. Another Buzzers’ goal. Then an empty net goal. A couple of pies from Pizza del Arte and the Dukes were headed home with a loss.

DUKES 7 – MARKHAM 4
On Sunday, the Dukes were home to face the Markham Royals. Both the Royals and the Buzzers are within striking distance of the Dukes and would love to supplant Wellington in second place.

Markham has strong weapons offensively and is lethal on the transition, but can be wobbly on defence.

So when Markham’s Jake Barkley served up a one-timer to Ben-Chaim Lalkin on the opposite wing, giving the Royals the early lead, there was no panic on the Dukes’ bench. They just put their heads down and got to work.

Midway through the period, Corey Jewitt was checked at the Royals’ blueline, but managed to slide the puck to Brad Barker through the defender. Barker took the pass facing his own net. Barker spun around and sniped the top corner of the Markham net stunning everyone in the building. Moments later, a nifty tip by Ethan Quick and the Dukes had the lead.

Then, rather bizarrely, the Royals’ defence broke down utterly. Pana Ephraimidis was left alone in front of the net, soon joined by Will Mitchell, each on one side of the goal mouth. Unfettered.

Give and go. Give and go. Mitchell at last buried the goal behind the hapless—and abandoned— netminder.

Ryan Schaap added a power play goal late in the second. The course was set. Corey Jewitt added another power play goal 16 seconds into the third period. 5-1. That should have been that. But the Dukes let up on the accelerator. And the Royals responded. Two quick goals midway through the frame, and suddenly, Markham was back in the game.

But coach Kent Lewis called a time-out. He settled his team down. Reminded them about how they had succeeded through hard work.

Ethan Quick responded with a charge up the ice, Mitchell on his wing. Pass. Back door. Goal.

Each team exchanged goals in the final minute, but this game had been decided at the time-out.

COLLINGWOOD 5 – DUKES 0 It was a futile trip to Collingwood on Family Day. A game made more futile by the utter absence of an offensive punch plus a long string of penalties—three of which resulted in in Collingwood goals. The league-leading Blues quelled the visiting Dukes 5-0.

UP NEXT: LINDSAY (TWICE)
As of today, the Muskies are on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. They are just two points behind the Stouffville Spirit (who recently lost their top netminder and defencemen to other leagues). Should Lindsay go a bit of a heater, the Muskies could leapfrog a few teams and land in the middle of the conference.

Their focus will be on the Dukes this weekend. On Friday night, Lindsay will welcome Wellington to town. The Dukes have defeated the Muskies in the team’s two previous meetings this season. Lindsay has lost four of their last five games.

But this is their season—the fish will be biting.