On a roll

Dukes find a groove in November

With the win against Lindsay on Sunday, the Dukes have now cobbled together a tidy little win streak. In doing so, Wellington has crept to a point back of Haliburton County for second place in the East Division.

DUKES 4 – TORONTO PATRIOTS 2
It started with a rebound win in Cobourg a week Monday. On Friday, the Dukes hosted the Toronto Patriots in Wellington. It was a fast, tight-checking game. The Patriots were disciplined in the neutral zone forcing the Dukes to dump and chase. Good chances at both ends.

It wasn’t until the second period that Dukes forward Will Mitchell speeding down the left wing gained a step around the defenceman. Mitchell was between the faceoff dot and the red line when he rifled a shot—near side, top corner. The puck rattled between the post and the Patriot netminder’s shoulder before landing in the net.

Mason Reeves brings a physical edge his game—not characteristic of Dukes teams of past seasons. Always tough and enthusiastic, Wellington has traditionally cultivated speed and agility as a means to neutralize bigger, older teams’ physicality. Reeves, however, plays the game with a bit of a grudge. He has found success using his size and checking forte to good effect. It means, however, that he attracts the attention of the recipients of his bonejarring hits. And the referees. Reeves is the most penalized Dukes player. But Reeves creates time and space for his linemates. It was Reeves who served up the long pass to release Mitchell.

Early in the third, Toronto scored to tie the game. But then a Dukes power play a couple of minutes later. Jacob Vreugdenhil gained the offensive zone. To Barret Joynt. To Harrison Ballard low. Ballard carried the puck to the net, stickhandled through the crease depositing it in the net on the way by.

But before the period was done, Toronto struck again. On the power play, after an iffy Too-Many-Men-on-the-Ice call. The game was knotted at two. A moment later, Brodie Mc- Dougall connected with Emmet Pierce, and the one-goal lead was restored. An empty-net marker by Graham Dickerson sealed the win.

DUKES 5 – LINDSAY 2
Lindsay came to Wellington on Sunday riding a seven-game losing streak. They were eager to break the pattern. But they came up against Pierce. The Dukes captain scored in the first period giving his squad the lead. But the Muskies responded shortly after with their own goal to tie the game. That would turn out to be the highwater mark for Lindsay. David Campbell and Vreugdenhil—on the power play—before the first intermission. Pierce tallied again in the second.

The Muskies scored to make things interesting a moment later. But that was it. Pierce scored an empty-net goal for the hat-trick.

UP NEXT: LINDSAY & HALIBURTON COUNTY
The Dukes travel to Lindsay on Friday for the fourth meeting between these teams. On Sunday, the Haliburton County Huskies visit Wellington for an afternoon game. The Huskies have won four of their last six games. They are solid defensively with strong netminding and attention to detail.