Sideways

Dukes struggling to find consistency

It was an up and down week for the Dukes. Sandwiched between a couple of losses was a thrilling overtime win in front of hometown fans. Injuries have wracked the lineup, and a lack of finish around the net is ensnaring Wellington in the middle of the East Conference as the team nears the midpoint of its season. A ton of skill and speed up front is not yet producing at a level required to bust out its sideways track.

DUKES 3 – COBOURG 2
After coming back from a 2-1 deficit, the Dukes tied up the game after pulling its netminder in favour of an extra forward. The Dukes controlled the puck in the Cobourg zone. Sacha Trudel scoured the puck from behind Cobourg’s net. Quick, sharp pass out to Connor Hunt. Snapshot. The game was headed to overtime. Halfway through the four-on-four frame, Cobourg took a penalty. Slashing.

Now, with a man advantage, Zander Latreille found Connor Hunt in the face-off circle. One-timer. Hunt’s stick exploded. He raced to the bench. Will Mitchell jumped over the boards to take Hunt’s spot in the face-off circle. Latrielle teed up a Mitchell. One-timer. Mitchell’s stick remained intact. The puck sailed past the Cougar netminder. Dukes win.

Wellington had dominated for stretches earlier in the game, but struggled to beat the Cobourg netminder. Early in the second, Cory Jewitt forced the Cobourg defender to cough up the puck at the Cougar’s blueline. Pretty goal.

But moments later, the Cougars raced up the ice to tie the game. Cobourg pressed in the third. The Dukes failed to cleanly get the puck out of the zone. Soon, it was behind Shane Shelest, and Cobourg had the lead. But Hunt’s goal and broken stick changed the trajectory of this game.

DUKES 0 – STOUFFVILLE 1
In this rematch against the Spirit, the Dukes produced a rather listless effort on the road—26 shots. No goals. All Stouffville needed was a goal or two. And that is what they got. And a shutout for their netminder.

DUKES 2 – MARKHAM 5
On Sunday, the Dukes visited Markham to face the Royals, with the East Division’s best winning percentage. It showed. The Royals scored five unanswered goals before the Dukes responded with a power play goal with four seconds remaining in the second period. Connor Hunt added another late in the third, but it was much too little, too late.

Wellington actually managed to outshoot Markham, hammering Sebastian Monoco with 48 shots.

UP NEXT: PICKERING, ON THE ROAD
On Friday, the Dukes visit Pickering to face the woeful Panthers. A mighty national trophy contender just two seasons ago, Pickering has won just four games in 20 starts so far this season. The Panthers have won just a single game in its last five.