Wellington fans 1 Villanova 0

Huge support assist in Dukes win in Toronto

The large contingent of Wellington fans celebrate Sean Rudy’s third-period goal in Toronto.

It was a game unlike any other. A game in which the score sheet offered little insight into the event.

The Wellington Dukes and their fans had traveled to the arena complex at York University on Saturday night for game four of the OJHL quarterfinal series with the Villanova Knights. It might have been the final game in a sweep of the Knights, but a lacklustre effort by the Dukes on Friday resulted in a loss—the team’s first in the playoffs.

To help stiffen the backbone of the Dukes’ team, a busload of fans and likely as many in their own vehicles made the trip to Steeles and Jane in Toronto for the Saturday night game. It became immediately evident the Wellington fans vastly outnumbered the smattering of parents and friends supporting Villanova in a half empty arena, a fact that became abundantly clear as the Knights skated onto the ice-in cold silence.

In sharp contrast the Dukes stepped onto the ice greeted by a thunderous cheer heard throughout the complex as well as the distinctive clang of a thousand pennies swirling in scores of Fosterholm syrup cans.

It was a dispiriting start for the Villanova Knights at home in a crucial game. It was about to get worse.

The Knights and Dukes skated to their respective goal lines to await introductions of the first lines. Silence. The lone volunteer (announcer/timekeeper/scoresheet keeper perhaps Zamboni driver) motioned frantically to the referees that he had nothing to offer.

The teams skated to their respective benches, the ref dropped the puck and the game was on. For the Wellington fans, this wouldn’t do. So as play continued, Dukes über fan Debbie Simpson rose from her seat and began belting out the first few words of O Canada. The rest of the Dukes fans quickly gained their feet to join in. Soon the entire crowd were singing along in as loud and boisterous version of the country’s anthem as was likely heard on this Saturday night.

Curtis Leonard leads a rugged Dukes blueline that has allowed an average of just 2.5 goals per game in the quarter final series.

The referees meanwhile snuck glances up to the crowd with confused looks on their faces, unsure whether to stop the game or let it play on. When the song was over another resounding cheer arose from the Wellington contingent.

On the ice the Dukes had all the momentum and the crowd’s vocal support. Soon they had the lead and would not look back.

The Dukes had just killed a penalty early in the first period when Wellington’s Darcy Murphy skated down the wing with the puck and made a bead on net. Stopped. Jeff Stanton took a swipe. Stopped. Cam Yuill picked up the next rebound and fired high past the netminder and in the net. The crowd erupted.

Then just as the period was about to end, Brian Bunnett navigated his way deep into the Villanova end, then spun around and delivered a long tape-to-tape pass onto Rusty Hafner’s stick out near the blueline.

Hafner fired a cannon shot on net. The Knights’ Jared Lockhurst managed to stop the blast but Bunnett was in the right spot for the rebound and wristed the puck into the gaping net. One second remained in the period. The Dukes led 2-0.

Steve Evans parks himself in front of Villanova netminder Jared Lockhurst.

The Knights regrouped in the second frame, playing smarter and using their speed well on the large ice surface. The Knights have demonstrated that they can be particularly dangerous when they tee up the third man on the rush—a skill that has served them well all season long.

Many, many times the Dukes’ Jordan Ruby was simply outstanding in net, stoning sure goals with an extra effort and an unbelievably athletic reach with both his pads and glove hand.

As the period wore on, several Knights players, sensing the game and perhaps the series slipping away from them, began taking out their frustrations on the Dukes players.

Ruby was behind his net attempting to control the loose puck when the Knights Shane Cavalleri sailed into the Dukes’ netminder crushing him into the boards. Ruby never saw the snivelling thug coming.

Fans will remember Cavalleri as the kid who jumped the Dukes’ Zach Jones in game one. Cavalleri earned a game suspension and a pummeling at the hands of Jones for that pointless adventure.

For his latest indiscretion Cavalleri will have sat out Tuesday’s game, possibly his team’s last. He also took physical reprimand from the Dukes’ Rusty Hafner.

The penalties kept coming. The Knights colourfully disputed each call. And the Wellington fans cheered on.

With a two-man advantage for the final minutes of the game Villanova threw everything they had at Jordan Ruby and the Dukes in a desperate bid to score. The Dukes closed the door and skated home with a 3-1 victory.

Tempers grew hot among the scattering of Villanova fans, and some isolated yelling skirmishes broke out in the stands until the instigators were ejected from the rink.

The Knights started the third with back-to-back-toback penalties. The Dukes patiently moved the puck around looking for the open lane. Sean Rudy found one and fired bullet that Steve Evans managed to put stick on, changing direction past the netminder.

The Knights finally got on the board late in the third period with a power-play goal. Joe Zarbo was penalized for hooking with two minutes remaining in the game. Villanova pulled their goaltender for a twoman advantage. But the Dukes shut the door, skating home to a 3-1 win. As they left the ice the team waved their sticks in appreciation to the Wellington crowd still on their feet.

“It was absolutely huge and timely,” said Marty Abrams, Dukes head coach and general manager about the show of support from Wellington fans. “The timing was perfect. After we lost on Friday, and the way we lost, it was vital that we bounce back on Saturday. The support from the Wellington fans was absolutely huge.”

Abrams said he is taking nothing for granted even with his team up three games to one in the best-of-seven series.

“Villanova is a very difficult team to put away,” said Abrams. “They like to sit back and wait. Then they pounce on their chances. That is how they beat Peterborough.”

By the time you read this the Dukes may well have the game and series on Tuesday night at home in Wellington.

If that is the case, the Dukes will be getting ready for the semi-finals. According to the playoff format developed by the OJHL this year the semi-finals are a cross-over round, meaning the Dukes will be playing the winner of either the Oakville/Burlington series or the Stouffville Spirit. Kingston will play the highest ranking remaining team from the Northwest conference.

This playoff format has been designed to help ensure that the two best teams in the league meet in the final rather than the semi-final series.