Thriller in Trenton

The Dukes’ Luc Brown (7) and Chase St-Aubin (10) buzz the Golden Hawk net in Monday’s game in Trenton.

Dukes fall in game one

It was a capacity crowd at the Trenton Community Gardens on Wednesday night as the Wellington Dukes and Golden Hawks gave the folks lucky enough to get into the game, everything they could have hoped for—thrilling end to end action, heart-stopping plays and an ending that was in doubt to the final whistle.

Several arena officials had the unhappy task of standing outside the rink to advise the late-comers that there was no more room—the place was already full. Every seat and standing spot had been taken. Disappointed fans stood in disbelief, before turning back toward their cars, vowing to get the rink sooner for the next game.

Inside the Dukes came out of the dressing room like wild animals—for the first ten minutes they dominated play with sheer speed and determination—each line heading over the board intent keep the pressure on the flailing Golden Hawks. It was Trenton’s players who looked as though they were operating on just a single night’s rest—much to the chagrin of their animated bench boss Jerome Dupont.

The Dukes aggressive fore-checking paid off when seven minutes into the game, the Dukes Luc Brown forced the Golden Hawk defender to cough up the puck in the Trenton zone. Brown gathered the puck, studied the scene and fired a bullet just under the crossbar. A beauty. The Dukes had the lead.

Later in the period, Nic Mucci was cross-checked roughly into the boards. He would not return to the game.

Wellington carried the play through much of the first but emerged with just the single-goal lead. In the second, the wear and tear of the Aurora series began to catch up the visiting Dukes. But mostly Sam Tanguay and the sturdy Wellington defence corps kept the powerful Trenton offence at bay.

Except that is, for one single lapse early in the second period. An ordinary wrist shot from above the face-off circle eluded the Duke netminder. That is all it took. One miscalculation and the game was tied. Tanguay and the Dukes stiffened up after that as the Golden Hawks pressed even harder.

Wellington survived the second period and came out in the third with a much quicker pace and energy. Both teams turned up the intensity. Close-checking. High-speed. End-to-end. Toe saves. Two well-rung goal posts.

Netminder Sam Tanguay swats away a shot as defenceman Jacob Panetta guards the Dukes net.

With less than five minutes left in the game, it was still tied at 1-1. A questionable—and much questioned—icing call brought the face off into the Dukes zone. The Golden Hawk centre won the face off. The puck came cleanly back to the point. A hard, low shot from Nick Boddy beat Tanguay far corner. Trenton fans were on their feet. Perhaps their most intense fan, Wayne Baril crowned in a St. Patrick’s hat, pounded his drum as hard as he could. His team had the lead.

The Dukes didn’t wilt; rather they found another gear using the final four minutes to press for the tying goal. They almost got it—buzzing the net, shovelling the puck toward each and every crevice exposed. But the Trenton nets, it seems, are held in place by innuendo. No fewer than a dozen times in the game, scoring chances were thwarted when the nets were freed from their extremely tenuous lodging. Some of them were even accidental.

Tyler Burnie managed to get the shaft of his stick on the long pass into the Trenton zone as Tanguay headed to the bench for the extra attacker. But the referee in Burnie’s end—missed it. Others had seen it. So after a prolonged discussion the puck was dropped at centre ice. The Dukes lost the draw and time ran out before they could mount another offensive threat.

Those allowed into the Trenton rink had witnessed a game they will tell their friends.

Dukes coach and GM Marty Abrams said he was proud of the way his team played particularly after such a tough series against Aurora-completed just two nights earlier.

“It was a tight-checking game that could have gone either way,” said Abrams.

He allowed, however, that he has never endured a playoff run with such a depleted lineup—with many of the injuries long-term in nature.

Yet it means that others get to step up—the Dukes are leaning harder on Shaw Boomhower, Austin Labelle and Brody Maracle than was the plan. Chase St. Aubin, Greg Smith and Nick DeVito are also earning powerful minutes and proving themselves up to the task. Many of these players are the future of the Dukes—being called upon to play a larger role earlier than anyone expected.

So this sets up a titanic game in Wellington on Friday night. Trenton fans will be streaming into the County by late afternoon vying for seats with loyal Dukes fans—before the action on the ice.

Tickets are on sale now at Lavender Furniture shop until 4 p.m. on Thursday and then at the Wellington Arena box office from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday night. On Friday Betty Masterson will open the ticket office at the arena at 1:30.

Bring your maple syrup cans and come early.