After closing out 2025 with a bang, the Wellington Dukes opened 2026 with a thud.

A five game winning streak was snapped Sunday afternoon as the locals surrendered four goals in the third period against host Aurora in a 5-3 setback.

The loss moved Wellington’s record to 17-12-6. With 40 amassed points, the Dukes trail the sixth place St. Mike’s by a single point but have three points in hand on the Buzzers. However, the Dukes will need to be road warriors in the coming weeks as the OJHL schedule maker has done the organization no favours.

After hosting Milton on Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., the Dukes make stops in Trenton, Markham, Collingwood, Pickering and Cobourg. Their next home game is Tuesday, January 20 against St. Mike’s.

Non-Special Teams

Wellington had one goal leads at the end of the first and second period in Aurora on Saturday evening but they couldn’t close out the Tabbies in the third.

The Dukes couldn’t have ordered a better start to the contest as they tested the twine tent behind Tigers tender Matt Humphries half a minute into the contest.

Evan Erwin spotted Landon Marleau alone in the slot and the San Jose, CA native potted his 16^th of the year with ease. Since being acquired by Wellington, the son of former NHLer Patrick Marleau has 25 points in 22 OJHL contests.

Wellington might have had an inkling of what was to come midway through the frame when the Tigers took a pair of minor penalties back-to-back and the Dukes couldn’t capitalize.

In the second, the Dukes power play continued to sputter. Tigers penalty killer Cole Crawford pounced on a loose puck in the neutral zone, outskated a Wellington back checker and beat Colby Booth-Housego low to the glove side on a breakaway for Aurora’s first goal of the game.

Wellington re-established their lead later in the frame with offence from their defence. Leading a rush, defender Tristan Williams dropped the puck to Will Mitchell and motored to the Tigers net. A blast by the Wellington shooter was deftly deflected by Mr. Williams for his seventh goal in 13 contests and made the Dukes a 2-1 leader heading to the third period.

Lost in the Third

In the final stanza, a disastrous two minute sequence part way through the frame was Wellington’s ultimate undoing.

Aurora squared the affair at the 6:19 when Charlie Hotles played triggerman on a 2-on-1 rush and beat Mr. Booth-Housego short side to make it 2-2.

Just over a minute later and with Wellington back on the power play, the Tigers notched their second shorthanded goal of the night to lead for the first time in the contest.

Jonathan Cirone slipped his check off a neutral zone face off and went glove side to give the Tigers a 3-2 edge at 7:34.

Wellington ultimately converted on the power play just 64 seconds later. Zach Carrier’s point shot sailed into the Aurora net to momentarily stem the Tigers and their offensive push.

But the hosts moved ahead to stay at the mid-way point of the period. Thomas Leone shovelled the puck towards the Wellington net from below the goal line and Mr. Booth Housego didn’t quite seal himself to the post. The disc deflected off the Wellington netminder and into the net at 10:02 for the winning tally. The Tigers added an empty netter in the late going to make it a 5-3 final.