Living dangerously

Dukes start the season, keeping fans on the edge of their seats

But for a single period, the Dukes would be golden through three games in this young season. The 2024 version features more mass, and more heft than past seasons. So it may explain the sluggish start in Wellington’s home opener—but once the team got going, the hardnosed, hard-checking Dukes turned a game that threatened to get out of hand into a nailbiter.

DUKES 3 – TORONTO 4
The Toronto Junior Canadiens came out skating hard on Friday night, the Dukes still shaking off the rust. It was the Dukes’ home opener, lots of pomp and country music. But by the end of the first period, the Junior Canadiens had piled up three goals behind Jack Lisson. Wellington, meanwhile, managed just eight shots.

But the Dukes settled down in the second, tightened up defensively and supported their netminder. Then, early in the third, Zachary Carrier found the sweet spot in the Toronto net—that couple of inches between the post and the netminder’s pads. Carrier’s shot from deep in the corner found its way through the wee crevice. The Dukes were on the board. Thirty seconds later, captain Corey Jewitt tried the same shot from the same location. Same result. The Dukes were rolling.

Toronto’s coach, Dave DeMarinis, called a timeout to settle his team. It worked. The Junior Canadiens pulled out their spiral. A couple of minutes later, Jack Lisson blocked a shot awkwardly with his shoulder. The puck bounced unhelpfully onto the shooter’s stick. Toronto goal.

Still, the Dukes pressed. Carrier was once again deep in the corner. He fired the puck into the blue paint. It hit a skate and slid past the netminder.

What had seemed a blowout earlier in the game was suddenly a nailbiter. The Dukes, smelling blood, pressed, but were unable to score the equalizer.

The Dukes dropped their home opener.

DUKES 8 – MARKHAM 1
In the second of only two home games in September, the Dukes annihilated the Royals of Markham. Premeditated regicide.

Colin Smith got the Dukes ahead early on the power play. Rangy Ben Vreugdenhil added his second of the season before the period was done. Markham kept pace in terms of shots on net, but Jack Lisson was turning everything away.

In the second period, Zander Latreille and Riley Noble scored their first goals for the season. Captain Jewitt notched his second. The Royals tallied their lone goal midway through the penalty-filled frame.

Early in the third, Jewitt scored short-handed, set loose by a pass from Ryan Shaap. Carrier and Sacha Trudel finished the scoring in this lopsided game.

Jack Lisson turned away 34 shots for his second win of the season.

UP NEXT: BURLINGTON, OAKVILLE, GOVERNORS’ SHOWCASE
The Dukes head out on an extended road trip over the next week. On Friday, the team travels to Burlington for the Wellington’s sole game against the West Conference’s Cougars this season. Burlington quelled the King Rebellion (formerly the Brantford 99ers) with a 4-3 OT win in their first outing. The Cougars hobbled the Mississauga Chargers 5-2 last week.

The next night, Saturday, the Dukes slide over to the Sixteen Mile rink in Oakville. The Blades have failed to win a game in three starts—a surprising position for a perennial OJHL powerhouse.

On Monday and Wednesday, the Dukes are in Niagara Falls for the Governors’ Showcase tournament— an in-season gathering of all OJHL teams in one venue—for the benefit of college and pro scouts.

Monday’s match against the Leamington Flyers will be a test. The Flyers are unbeaten in four games, shaming the likes of Haliburton and an improved Muskies team. The Flyers are averaging almost six goals per game—while allowing just over one per game.

Wednesday’s match against the Caledon Admirals should pose a more modest hurdle. The Admirals have won just a single game in four starts this season and, over this stretch, allowed nearly seven goals per game.

The Dukes’ next home game isn’t until Sunday, Oct. 6, when they welcome the Collingwood Blues—winners of the OJHL Championship for the past two seasons.