Streaks of brilliance

Dappled by splashes of ordinary

Consistency is a fleeting commodity early in the OJHL season. Moments of brilliance are overtaken by seeming indifference. A penalty, intermission or a great check or save can swing the direction of the game in a heartbeat.

On the ice, players are still working out timing. Still getting to know each other.

So it was that after giving up a goal seconds into the game against the Tigers on Friday, the Wellington Dukes took control and dominated. Every corner of the ice. Very soon they had tied the game. Ryan Smith finishing a fine play from David Campbell and Lucas Lapalm. More steam. Another just three minutes later. Corbin Roach, from Edward Moscowitz and Graeme MacAuley. Still chugging. A minute into the second, Lucas Lapalm scored his first of likely many for the Dukes this year.

Lapalm came over from the 2022 national championship contenders, Pickering Panthers, in the off-season. The 19-year-old Stirling native made an immediate impact in his first game in the Dukes jersey, earning a goal and an assist.

But at some undefined point in the second period the Dukes—now with a 3-1 lead—were suddenly drifting in the doldrums. The Dukes’ listlessness was underlined in bold relief when Aurora scored while short-handed. Another even-strength goal before the period was over. A tie game. Aurora had no business in this game. They knew it. Everyone in the Wellington rink knew it. Now, it was a scramble. Midway through the final frame, Connor Hunt found a loose puck in a tangle of feet in Aurora’s blue ice. The Dukes had regained the lead. But the Tigers were convinced they could find the equalizer. Wellington had let them off the mat once— why not again?

But the Dukes held strong. Ethan Morrow earned the win in the Dukes net. Smith had a goal and assist. David Campbell generated a couple of assists.

DUKES 7 – CALEDON 1
Captain Jacob Vreugdenhil led the Dukes to a romp over the Caledon Admirals on Monday in Cobourg—participating in the 2022 Governor’s Showcase tournament. The Dukes will play two games in the annual tournament, which provides an opportunity for aspiring college players to impress an array of scouts and officials from schools across the US and Canada.

Vreugdenhil scored a hat trick and added a couple of assists as the Dukes rolled over the listing Admirals. David Campbell earned three helpers while Edward Moscowitz scored once and assisted on another.

UP NEXT: ST. MICHAELS, HALIBURTON AND BURLINGTON
The Dukes will have an early season test this weekend against three good OJHL teams. On Friday, the Dukes will welcome the St. Michael’s Buzzers to Wellington. St. Mike’s has yet to win a game in five outings as of Tuesday morning and were blitzed 9-2 by Trenton on Monday. No one, however, not least the Dukes coaching staff, are expecting an easy go of it on Friday night. A tradition of success is steeped in St. Mikes. It is unwise to ignore it.

On Saturday the Dukes travel to Minden to face high-flying Haliburton. The Huskies sit atop the South East Conference with four wins in five games—Haliburton’s lone loss coming in overtime against Lindsay. On Monday they handily defeated the North York Rangers 6-2.

On Sunday, the Dukes head to the west end of Lake Ontario to tangle with the Burlington Cougars. Burlington has used a stingy defense to win three of four games early in the season.