Sad end

Dukes have victory snatched from their hands

It shouldn’t have ended this way. On this night the Dukes were the better team. Faster, smarter and more determined. They deserved at least one more game at home. But some bad luck, some questionable calls (and non calls) by the referees snatched the victory away from the Dukes. In doing so it ended Wellington’s season. It propelled the Kingston Voyageurs on to the next round of the OJHL playoffs.

It was a heartbreaking end to a game that had been an emotional roller coaster for the fans who traveled to Kingston to cheer on their team on Thursday night. The Dukes came from behind to lead the game 2-1 on goals from Craig Campbell and Nic Coric, both set up by Josh Finkelstein. Yet the Dukes were even better than this score—they had missed a yawning net. And most saddening—the Dukes had a clear goal called back because the referee was out of position. He blew the whistle way too soon—claiming he had lost sight of the puck. It was just one of several judgments that would go against Wellington in the game. (Click for photo)

With just over a minute left in the game and the Kingston netminder on the bench in favour of an extra attacker, the Dukes managed to clear the zone. But inexplicably the Dukes were called for redirecting the puck with a high stick.

The face off returned to the Dukes zone. With 49 seconds left in the game Kingston scored to send it to overtime.

The Dukes held strong for 10 minutes but it was Kingston that would score the overtime winner. It was a brutal end.

Especially so for veterans like Captain Jan Kaminsky, leading scorer Craig Campbell and netminder extraordinaire Matt Larose. Most of the young faces on this disappointed Dukes team should be back next season—having learned some very hard lessons in 2012/13.