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Dukes head into October with .500 record

October is here. Pumpkinfest month tends to be when Dukes’ teams forge identity. Will it be a sleek roadster or a hard-driving mudbogging pickup? A Ferrari or a Chevrolet. Are they built for speed? Distance? Or comfort?

Wellington fans didn’t see much of the Dukes last month—just two games at home; six on the road. October offers just three home games among nine scheduled.

The Dukes return to Wellington on Sunday against the defending OJHL champs, the Collingwood Blues, at 2:30. This game may offer a window into the Dukes squad’s compete level. Wellington enters the game with four wins and four losses. 500 hockey in September.

The Dukes played powerful teams close—edged by a single goal by Leamington and Burlington—but allowed Oakville to steal a win against them. It was just the Blades’ second win of the season.

Since that loss, however, the Dukes regrouped, dropping a closely fought 2-1 decision against the Leamington Flyers and picking up wins in Caledon and Toronto.

So we’ve yet to figure out who this Dukes’ team is. And what we can expect. Perhaps we will get a glimpse on Sunday.

DUKES 7 – CALEDON 1
After dropping their first game in the Governors’ Showcase in Niagara Falls to the Burlington Cougars on Tuesday night, the Dukes rebounded with a solid victory over the Caledon Admirals on Wednesday. Ben Vreugdenhil and Sacha Trudel led the Dukes with two goals each. Zander Latreille had a goal and an assist.

DUKES 5 – TORONTO PATRIOTS 2
The Patriots started red hot in September, winning their first six games. Toronto stumbled at the Governors’ Showcase, but the Dukes knew Saturday’s match would be a test on the road.

But Jack Lisson, the young Dukes’ netminder was sensational in this game, turning away all but one of 17 shots in the first period (the lone Patriot goal coming on the power play). The period ended even at one goal apiece.

But as the game wore on, Wellington gained the upper hand and controlled the play. Jared McNeil scored to give Wellington the lead in the second. Logan Klaiber extended the Dukes lead in the third. The Patriots pressed at that end, getting a shot past Lisson and narrowing the lead to a single goal. Toronto pulled their netminder in the comeback bid. But two empty net goals from Ryan Schaap and Sacha Trudel sealed the road win for the Dukes.

UP NEXT: COLLINGWOOD AND NORTH YORK
Collingwood is a well-rounded team with an abundance of offensive weapons. The Blues are also strong defensively, with the third-best penalty-kill percentage in the league.

The Dukes, meanwhile, have acquired a new netminder, Noah Davis, from Red Lake Miners in Saskatchewan. The 19-year-old Calgary, Alberta native went 13-5-0 with a 2.53 goals against average and a .911 save percentage in 19 games last season.

The Dukes travel to North York on Tuesday to face the Rangers. The North York team is off to a terrible start to the season, winning just a single game in 12 starts in September. They have given up 70 goals over this span—spotting opposing teams nearly six goals per game.

Identities tend to get formed in October; we shall soon know who the Wellington Dukes of 24/25 are.