Special

Dukes maximize opportunities with odd-man advantage and disadvantage

While the Wellington Dukes are still finding their way five-on-five, the team is excelling on special teams. The Dukes, after 12 games, have scored 18 power play goals, scoring 39.5 per cent of the time with the man advantage. Only the Haliburton Huskies are marginally better (40 per cent) in the OJHL. Similarly, when killing penalties, Wellington has the third-best PK percentage overall. The Dukes have allowed just six goals so far with a player in the box— and managed to score three times while shorthanded.

The Dukes’ power play was humming on Friday in Markham.

DUKES 4 – MARKHAM 1
The Royals are struggling this season, but they were game for a couple of periods against the Dukes. Ben Vreugdenhil put the Dukes up in the first on the power play. But Markham responded with a goal to tie the game midway through the second period. It stayed this way until the middle of the third. Ethan Murray notched his fourth goal of the season. Captain Cory Jewitt tallied on the power play 30 seconds later. Cooper Reid scored his first as Duke before the end of the period, set up by Murray.

The Dukes racked up 18 minutes in penalties, but Jack Lisson and Wellington’s defence didn’t break.

DUKES 3 – TORONTO JC 1
The Dukes’ special teams were once again the difference on Thanksgiving Monday afternoon. Wellington was on the road in Toronto. Early in the game, the Junior Canadiens were caught with too many men on the ice. On the ensuing power play, Jared McNeil scored his sixth goal of the season.

But the Jr. Canadiens scored late in the second period to tie the game. Then, the backbreaker. Wellington was killing a penalty early in the third, when Colin Smith broke up the Toronto pass. Over to Zach Mascard, with Jewitt on his wing. Pass. Another shorthanded goal. His second of the season.

It sapped the energy from the hometown team. Ryan Schaap added another goal late in the frame to seal a gratifying road win for the Dukes.

The victory improved the Dukes’ record to seven wins and five losses. It also moved Wellington up the ranking as measured by winning percentage, sliding ahead of St. Mikes and Stouffville into fourth place by this measure.

UP NEXT: STOUFFVILLE AND ST. MIKES
Welcome home: The Dukes are at home for only their second Friday game in Wellington so far this season. They will face the Stouffville Spirit.

The Spirit got off to a solid start to the season, but has trailed off in recent weeks. Stouffville has just a single win in their last five games. Evan Breckles is the Spirit’s best threat to score, while Julian Demiglio is likely to set the table.

Stouffville only played the Dukes once last year, losing 5-1 in Wellington.

The Dukes head out to Toronto on Sunday to face the Buzzers. St. Michael’s is one of the teams the Dukes will have to climb over as they ascend the ranks of the East Conference. The Buzzers struggle to find offensive production, and their power play is among the most anemic in the league.