A two game road swing through the Greater Toronto Area this weekend failed to produce any positive results for the Wellington Dukes.

The locals spent a rare Friday night away from Lehigh Arena and fell just short of manufacturing a massive comeback against the host Burlington Cougars.

The following night in Oakville, the much improved Blades cut down the Dukes 4-1.

With the pair of losses, the Dukes fell to 2-3-0 and a pair of neutral site games at the 2024 OJHL Governors Showcase lay in wait this week including a match against the league powerhouse Leamington Flyers tonight at 8 p.m. at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls. Caledon is on the slate for the following evening.

After going to the dressing room tied at 1-1 after the first at Central Arena in Burlington, the Cougars exploded in the second period for five goals. After Peter Kiousis pushed the Cats ahead 2-1 at the 7:42 mark, the Dukes presented perhaps the worst 1:19 of hockey in the last decade. Blake Power set up Noah Garthe at 14:30 to give Burlington a 3-1 lead. 19 seconds later, Mr. Power beat Wellington starter Jack Lisson to make it 4-1. 33 seconds later, Mr. Power was leading the goal train back to the host bench and Mr. Lisson was done for the night after surrendering five goals. 25 seconds later, Mr. Lisson’s reliever Gabe Donahue was fishing the puck out of the Wellington net for a sixth time Friday evening.

In the third, the Dukes rallied but the damage had been done. Jared McNeil bagged his second of the night and both Ryan Schapp and Ethan Murray had power play tallies to close the gap to 6-4. Mr. Murray doubled down at the 18:22 mark to get the visitors to within goal but Wellington was unable to cool Burlington starter Roman Batih who turned up the heat at the right time to preserve the result for the Cougars.

The next evening, Wellington was once again forced to change goalies in the middle of a period to stem the onslaught of an opposing team. Tied 1-1 after one thanks to a power play goal by Mr. Schaap, Mr. Donahue would surrender two Oakville goals in the span of 2:09 to start the second and got the hook from Wellington bench boss Kent Lewis. Wellington outshot the hosts in the third in an attempt to make a comeback but Oakville was the only team to score as Ben Theron beat Mr. Lisson at the 13:42 mark.

After a lengthy time away from Lehigh, Wellington is back at home Sunday, Oct. 6 against Collingwood.