Wellington’s Cole Ellis and St. Mike’s Josh Mandarino jockey for position in the corner during Tuesday night’s 6-2 win for the Dukes. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)
A tough 6-3 loss to second place to the Spirit in Stoufville on Saturday notwithstanding, the Wellington Dukes are showing some pluck as of late. They were 3-0-2 in their last five games heading into Saturday night’s action. The host Spirit are one point back of Conference leading Trenton and the Dukes were in the game until the 55th minute.
Inside the Wellington dressing room, the staff reinforces “Winning the week”. Picking up the points they should. Staying in the games they might not otherwise to add a valuable point via a regulation tie. There will be setbacks. The Dukes (20-14-8, 48 points) are a young, game club but mistakes creep into their play at inopportune times. That’s the nature of the Junior Hockey development curve.
Even with the loss, the Dukes won the week. And it was a busy one.
Wellington was behind Stoufville 2-0 midway through the second period. The locals finally solved Spirit goaltender Hayden Sabourin off a three way passing play that started just inside the host’s blue line.
Evan Erwin slipped a slick backhand feed to Tristan Williams who in turn found Liam Campbell busting in on the Stoufville mesh mansion at 7:40 of the second. Mr. Campbell went upstairs for his 18th goal in his 30th OJHL contest.
The tally went right to Wellington’s legs. A couple of inspired shifts where the Dukes started to exact a physical toll on the Spirit translated into another goal off a three skater weave.
This time, Aiden Lee found a seam to give Cooper Woron the puck with time and space and the Markham native went up and over Mr. Sabourin at 9:24 to tie the game 2-2.
But errors crept into the Wellington game towards the end of the period. Tied 2-2 and on the power play, dogged penalty kill determination by Stoufville’s Lucas Demiglio forced a turnover at the half wall in Wellington’s end. The Stoufville skater broke in alone on Wellington’s Dryden Riley and put a nifty backhanded effort past the Wellington goalie to break the tie at 12:36.
In the third and down 4-2, Wellington got back into the game with Mr. Woron playing triggerman once again, pouncing on a loose puck in the slot and driving it home at 14:11.
But within a goal, missed coverage in the Wellington end led to the Spirit’s Zack Corte rifling his second marker of the night and put the contest out of reach at 5-3. The Spirit added another into a vacated Wellington net in the late going to make the final 6-3.
A night prior, Wellington scored early and often against the visiting Markham Royals, winning 7-1.
Belleville native Evan Erwin got the icebreaker early in the first off a power play, sniping his 11th of the campaign at 4:58. The former pint-sized point producer had a heck of a weekend, picking up eight points in his last three contests.
Mr. Erwin helped set up Mr. Campbell later in the period and those two had helpers on Landon Marleau’s 19th of the season early in the second.
Zach Carrier (2), Mr. Woron and Gyle Grasby all lit the lamp to build a 7-0 spread. Markham’s Andrew Pacheco spoiled Royden Smith’s shutout bid with under three minutes left in the contest. The rookie netminder made 31 stops for his seventh win of the season.
The Wellington Dukes erupted for four goals in the third period on Tuesday night in their 6-2 win over the visiting St. Mike’s Buzzers.
The locals, appearing at Lehigh Arena for the first time in over a month, gave the 361 fans who braved the snowy conditions something to cheer about.
The Dukes doubled down on the Buzzers early in Tuesday night’s contest. Mr. Erwin broke the ice at 1:48, going high glove side on Jonathan Frattaroli for a 1-0 lead. Just five seconds later, Mr. Campbell busted in on the St. Mike’s goal and replicated his line mate’s successful tally, firing high glove side to make it 2-0. Mr. Marleau had helpers on both Wellington goals.
The Buzzers carved the Wellington lead in half with the only goal of the middle stanza.
Josh Caloiero benefited from a Wellington turnover below the goal line as he beat Mr. Riley from the slot area off a Joe Ferraro pass at 12:32 of the second.
Early in the third, Wellington re-established its two goal cushion. Mr. Erwin found Mr. Campbell wide open at the side of the St. Mikes net and the Elginburg, ON native potted his second of the game at 1:57.
The visitors would get to within a goal with under eight minutes left but Wellington won this game going away, beating a bath to the St. Mike’s net in the late going. Will Mitchell put the contest out of reach off the rush with his 7th of the year at 15:50.
With Mr. Frattaroli on the bench for an extra attacker, Cole Ellis dialled long distance from his side of the Wellington blue line for an empty netter at 17:53.
Then, to add insult to injury, Mr. Campbell capped off his evening with a hat trick effort at 18:24.
The trio of Mr. Campbell, Mr. Erwin and Mr. Marleau combined for 12 points in the outing.
In the Wellington net, Mr. Riley made 37 saves for his second OJHL win in as many nights.
On Monday in Cobourg, the Dukes moved past the host Cougars 4-1 in a workmanlike affair. Mr. Riley faced 16 shots with a Riley Misa power play goal in the first minute of the third period his only blemish.
Mr. Carrier paced the Wellington offence with a pair of goals while Blake Berthiaume and Cain Tucker fired singles.
Wellington’s Sunday night match up with Caledon was postponed due to weather.
The Dukes host the Milton Menace Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and then welcome Cobourg on Friday night for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.
The Dukes finish the weekend in Newmarket on Saturday evening.
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