Wild ride

Dukes wrangle a pair of wins to open the season

It was a roller coaster ride for the Wellington Dukes as they opened the regular season over the weekend. On Friday, the Dukes skated to a commanding 4-0 lead, only to watch it slip away in a matter of minutes at the end of the second period and into the third. Dylan Massie salvaged the win in that game. On Sunday, the Dukes spelled the host Milton Menace three goals before charging back with four unanswered goals in the third period for another improbable win.

Perhaps not improbable. The team, in the early going, is a young thoroughbred—the speed and talent embodied in this team are evident—but it is wobbly and erratic.

Jake Gagnon had a good opening weekend for his new club. The skilled forward is from the West Island of Montreal, but played most of his junior hockey in the US Prep school system. In his first two games in the Dukes jersey, Gagnon earned four points—three assists and the game-winning goal in Milton.

This is especially so in their own zone. The Dukes are, at times, an adventure around the front of the Dukes net. The bodies are there, and willing. But the poise and finesse are still lacking. So the puck doesn’t get cleared. It bounces around a few more times and either Matt Keeley or Matt Dunsmoor are forced to make a highlight-reel save— or the puck is behind them.

Yet, there is so much as-yet-unharnessedenergy on this team. Even when down three goals on Sunday going into the third period— it felt like the W was still within reach. It seems only time and practice before the defensive game gels to match the offensive exuberance.

DUKES 6 – BRAMPTON 5
On Friday night, the Dukes skated out to a brilliant start. Ben Addison lofting a drifting shot from the blueline through traffic on his first shift. Landon McLellan tallied to extend the lead. Evan Millar scored on the power play in the second. Then Frank Vitucci gave the Dukes the 4-0 lead midway through the second. It seemed the visiting Brampton Admirals ship was listing.

But penalties. The Admirals scored on their fourth power play man-advantage. Ninety-two seconds later Brampton scored again. On the power play. Then the intermission. An opportunity for the Dukes to regroup. It didn’t work. Fifty-one seconds into the final period, Brampton scored again. Thirty-nine seconds later they tied the game.

Brampton players couldn’t believe their luck.

But by midway through the frame, the Dukes had settled themselves and were taking the game to the Admirals. Tenacious forward Ben Woodhouse dug the puck off the wall. Tape-to-tape pass to Ben Evans in the goalmouth. The Dukes regained the lead.

Returning blueliner Ben Addison has set the pace for the Dukes defensively in the early going of the season. He has also contributed offensively, scoring a goal (the first Dukes goal of the season) and assist in two games.

There were still a couple more turns on this roller coaster. With the clock winding down and the Admiral net empty, Brampton got the puck into the muddle of feet in the near slot. Loose puck. Game tied. Just 58 seconds remaining.

On the next shift, Jake Gagnon feeds Dylan Massie in the mid-slot. Massie buries his wrister, salvaging the regular-time win.

This was a Dukes romp, save for five minutes in the middle of the game. A lesson for sure.

DUKES 4 – MILTON MENACE 3
On Sunday, the Dukes travelled to Milton for that team’s opening game as the shapeshifting Menace. The visiting Dukes carried the play from the opening face-off— yet it was the Menace that scored on their opportunities. By the end of the second period Milton had a 3-1 lead, the Duke’s lone goal coming off a blueline bullet while on the power play. The Dukes kept pressing into the third. A step faster. Drawing penalties. A power play goal from Daniel Panetta and an even-strength marker from Evan Miller, 40 seconds apart, and the game was tied.

Still, the Dukes pressed. Gagnon scored midway through the third to give the Dukes the lead for the first time in the game. Still the Dukes came on. But one last loop-de-loop. The Menace pulled their netminder for an extra skater. Then Dukes defender Brett Humberstone was penalized for a head check. Suddenly the Dukes were clinging to a one-goal lead, the other side with a two-man advantage for 50 seconds. This is when you want/need Dawson Ellis and Daniel Panetta. Jacob Breckles gamely laid down to block shots.

The Dukes escaped with another uncertain W.

UP NEXT: COBOURG & TORONTO JR. CANADIENS
The Dukes welcome the Cobourg Cougars to Wellington Friday night. It is too early in the season to know anything meaningful about the Cougar’s prospects this season. They downed Lindsay 4-0 in a lopsided affair that saw the Muskies squander nine power play opportunities. Team discipline could be key to a Dukes victory on Friday night.

The Dukes travel to Downsview on Sunday to face the Toronto Junior Canadians. The JCs emerged from their opening weekend with a win at St. Michaels and a loss to the Patriots. Both close.